Benefits and uses

Improve the skin barrier

Jojoba oil is loaded with antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E, and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential components of the skin’s barrier. It also acts as a humectant, meaning it works to retain moisture in the skin. This protective layer, combined with the anti-inflammatory effects of the vitamin E, gives skin the breather necessary to focus on the healing process.

Soothe dry skin

jojoba oil is great for soothing dry and irritated skin (or preventing it from cropping up in the first place). Its anti-inflammatory benefits help calm the complexion, while providing the hydration it needs to restore itself, and because it’s a humectant, it forms a protective seal over the skin to prevent future moisture loss.

Use a few drops of jojoba oil straight-up after cleansing, or mix it into your moisturizer to amplify its effectiveness and super-hydrate your skin.

Treat acne

Jojoba oil’s chemical composition allows it to mimic the skin’s sebum, therefore it balances out the skin by not overproducing oil in areas of the skin where it’s not needed. It also contains antimicrobial properties that can ward off certain types of bacteria, making it an excellent choice for acne prone skin.

You can either swipe a few drops over your face with a cotton round—after cleansing and toner , but before any heavier creams and lotions—or use it as a carrier oil for other acne-fighters, such as Tea tree oil.

Delay signs of aging

Jojoba oil is naturally rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that helps the skin defend itself against free radicals that can cause premature aging and skin damage.

It’s also rich in amino acids, which are the building blocks of collagen. The result? A reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improvements in skin texture, tone, and elasticity.

How to use jojoba oil for better skin

To score these anti-aging perks, you can apply a few drops of jojoba oil to freshly cleansed skin, or you can use it to boost the efficacy of your go-to anti-aging products.

Fight cold sores

There are several essential oils, such as Tea Tree and Peppermint, which are known to help lessen the severity of a Cold Sore, even help ward one off, but these oils need to be diluted by a carrier oil so they don’t irritate the skin, and that’s where jojoba oil comes in.

Jojoba oil happens to contain Docosanol which inhibits the virus from getting to healthy skin cells.

Remove makeup

Jojoba oil makes for a great makeup remover, as it’s lightweight and non-greasy. Plus, it gets all of your makeup off without tugging at the skin.

Massage a few drops onto your face, and let it sit for about a minute. Wet a soft washcloth with warm water and gently wipe your makeup off, leaving your eye makeup until last so the oil has more time to do its thing. Lightly pat your skin dry, then continue on with your skincare routine.

Condition hair

As jojoba oil molecules are similar to sebum, which naturally coats your hair with oil, applying it to your scalp and hair can hydrate individual hair strands and help lock in moisture, leaving your hair feeling soft and healthy. And because it’s super-lightweight, people with thin or fine hair can use it to hydrate their strands sans the heaviness of regular conditioners.

You can add a few drops of jojoba oil to your go-to conditioner, apply the oil directly to strands post-shampoo and pre-styling—and if your hair’s Sahara-dry, you can also slather it on for a few hours (or overnight) for a deep conditioning effect

Ditch dandruff

Jojoba oil naturally contains palmitic acid and stearic acid, both of which are known for conditioning and protecting the hair, says Dr. Green. When massaged onto the scalp, the added hydration can help prevent dandruff or an itchy scalp. And because jojoba oil is skilled at balancing out the skin, ongoing use may also keep those pesky flakes from returning.

Depending on the severity of your dandruff, you could use jojoba oil as a pre-treatment before shampooing (say, letting it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing), or as a leave-in scalp conditioner post-shampoo

Promote hair thickness and growth

The vitamins and minerals found in jojoba oil (vitamins B and C, zinc, copper) provide nourishment to the hair and help keep it thick and growing. The zinc that’s found in jojoba oil is vital for the tissue in the hair to grow. It helps the follicles grow and maintains the functionality of the surrounding oil glands.

It’s also excellent for strengthening the hair, anyone suffering from hair loss may apply a few drops to their scalp as a regular leave-in treatment. This will help moisturize the follicles to prevent dryness, which can lead to hair falling out

Delay grays

Copper deficiency can lead to loss of pigment and premature grey hair, and copper itself is currently being studied as a potential topical anti-aging compound. Because jojoba oil contains copper, along with protective antioxidants like vitamins C and E, applying it could help slow down this process and restore some of the lost copper.

give it as much time to (potentially) combat grays as possible by using it as a leave-in conditioner. Massage a few drops onto your scalp and hair, after showering and before styling.