You Put What on Your Face?

My love affair with jojoba began in 2012. Native to the Sonoran Desert, it isn’t unusual to find jojoba shrubs growing wild in washes and empty lots. When I moved to the Tucson area, I began working for a company that produces jojoba from seeds to refined oil and derivatives for the personal care industry. And that’s kind of a misnomer because it’s a liquid ester rather than an oil, which is what makes it so perfect.

The composition of jojoba oil is extremely close to that of your skin’s natural oils so you aren’t putting some foreign substance on your face that will clog your pores and make you break out like crazy. I have oily skin and can still use straight jojoba oil on my face and neck during the winter/spring when the desert humidity is in the single digits. Did you know that’s a thing? I mean, I knew 1% humidity was theoretically possible but never imagined I would experience it.

You can use jojoba oil for a luxurious makeup remover. Again, it will not clog your pores and the moisturizing benefits are terrific. The slip is amazing and it will never feel sticky. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can mix it with olive oil and other emollients of your choice to create a nourishing hair mask.

I have also been known to make sugar body scrubs with jojoba oil to stretch it farther for dry winter skin. Add your coffee grounds to a mix of raw sugar, jojoba oil, and essential oils for the full spa experience without leaving your home. Eucalyptus works great in the shower for clearing your sinuses.

There are tons of videos and articles for DIY hair and skincare. The best DIY facial cleanser of all time is simply jojoba oil and raw, organic honey. You just put a teaspoon of honey in your palm, rub your palms together to heat it up a bit, and then add a few drops of oil and apply. Just make sure you rinse well afterward or your dogs will try to lick it off your face. I mean, yes they’re happy to see you but you also have honey on your face.

Native Americans have used jojoba for all sorts of skin ailments and it will help relieve sunburn somewhat but it is definitely not a replacement for sunscreen. It does have some antibacterial and antifungal properties and it can be used in conjunction with tea tree oil. Just be very careful if you’re going to use tea tree oil, as it is corrosive to mild steel. Always use glass jars to store it and take care not to inhale the fumes. It carries a hazardous label for a reason!

Make sure you only purchase from reputable sources. Believe it or not, there are counterfeit jojoba oil products on the market. If it looks like too much of a bargain, beware. You definitely do not want to rub some mystery vegetable oil blend all over your face. I wouldn’t worry too much about conventional versus organic jojoba oil but if organic is your thing, go for it. There wasn’t much of a difference in how my former employer farmed the two but it’s all about personal preference. Once you have a product that is the real thing, go forth and moisturize!