Jojoba Oil Is The Elixir Of The Gods
[ 22 September 2009 ]
Photo by Benjamin Alexander Huseby.
Perhaps this website needs a “Secret tricks, pills, potions & elixirs” section! I just keep discovering amazing things! So far we have discussed Multi+ Daily Glow, Perfect Skin & melatonin.
Here is my latest wonderful finding.
Jojoba oil.
I bought a little bottle of it the other day from an organic food store. It was next to all the essential oils, & I had gone out searching for it because my super-rad hairdresser Bee told me it would stop my extensions from tangling. (Extensions can be tricky because they don’t get any natural oil added to them over the course of the day like the rest of your hair, so it can be easy for them to get dry/matted/gross in general.)
I took it home, put a teeny amount into my palm, rubbed my hands together & finger-combed it through to the ends. I let it sit there for several hours before washing it. I used my normal shampoo & conditioner, & then combed another tiny amount (like, two little droplets) of jojoba oil to my hair. I gave it a blow-dry & it looked AMAZING. Really amazing. Like the hair of an angel, if angels had fuchsia tresses.
I was really excited, so I started reading the reviews for jojoba oil on Makeup Alley. These reviews are for a particular (American) brand but I would say they are all much of a muchness. The uses for jojoba oil seemed huge, so I decided to give it a shot myself.
I started using it as an in-between step: after cleansing but before moisturising. You only need to use a TINY amount. Rub it in well, let it sit for a bit, & then moisturise over the top. When you do this at night, you wake up with deliciously smooth, glowing skin. The difference is really quite remarkable.
After using it for TWO DAYS, I went into MAC Cosmetics to pick up some things (foundation, concealer, powder). The make-up artist was trying to match the powder to my skin tone, so was applying it with a big brush, when she said, “Your skin is so beautiful & smooth!” Believe me when I say that this is not usually a compliment I receive, especially from make-up artists! But it really does make your skin look good — smooth, glowing & radiant. Even my father noticed, & he is not typically known for being super-observant on matters of this nature!
Jojoba oil is the closest possible thing to the oil produced by human skin, which means that it is absorbed easily & also helps to prevent your skin from producing lots of oil on its own. When you have oily skin, that’s usually because whatever you’re using on it is too harsh, & so your skin is in overdrive, trying to bump up the oils it has been stripped of. When you use jojoba oil, you kind of fool your skin, & so if looking shiny under your make-up has been a common problem for you… Well, no more!
The best thing about it is that it is cheap cheap cheap! You only need to use a very small amount at a time, & it should last like mad. YAY!
Try it…
On a Q-tip to remove eye make-up
In your hair at night as a leave-in conditioner (to be washed out in the morning)
To replace your normal moisturiser
To soften & smooth your skin as a step between cleansing & moisturising
Added to shampoo or conditioner
On your cuticles
As an after-shaving moisturiser
Patted lightly around the eyes to improve the appearance of your concealer
For helping to fade old scars
To clean your make-up brushes
To reduce the amount of oil produced by your face (I often get shiny under my make-up & when I use this, I don’t!)
Added to your body wash or liquid soap in the shower
Moisturise your lips
As a treatment on damp hair before blow-drying (your hair will have never looked so good)
To even the tone of your skin
To moisturise dry skin on feet, elbows, etc.
Mixed into a sugar scrub
& the list goes on…
Have you used it before, & were you happy with it? I think this is truly a holy grail beauty product you should never be without!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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I have been using Jojoba Oil for awhile now, it’s perfect for the winter time on skin. I mix a tiny bit of my BPAL oils with it and put some in my hair. It’s like having a tiny diffuser on your head all day! :)
The old ladies at my office turned me on to that very brand of jojoba oil a few years back. I find it makes hair very gross after a few hours, but is nice on split ends before bed.
Apparently it’s the oldest-school of old-school moisturizers – that and cocoa butter. Old ladies give the best style tips. (Blue hair forever!!)
Ooooh! I love Jojoba oil (and it’s so fun to say “Jojoba!”). Thanks for reminding me to pick some more up and for the fantastic new suggestions!
I love using oil on my face, but I’m addicted to rosehip rather than jojoba. The benefits sound very similar.
So many great things to buy on this blog. Gala, you’re bad for my wallet!! ;)
I’ve been using Multi+ Daily Glow for a while now and now I think I have to try this as well! My skin is very finicky- I’m pale with freckles and tend to be a bit splotchy and irritated, so I don’t have that sexy pale freckle thing going on, more like tired and blotchy! Rawr!
Sounds very interesting! I will have to go buy some now~ I do have some very wicked split-ends that could use some work :\
I’ve been trying other kinds of oils lately- a couple drops of tea tree in the morning as a toner, and vitamin E on my legs for old bruises. I’m excited to see if these old-fashioned remedies work!
“Like the hair of an angel, if angels had fuchsia tresses”
LOL. You’re so cute. I gotta try this jojoba oil you speak of! It sounds amazing. I’ve noticed a lot of lotions/body moisturizers in stores that say “with jojoba oil” but I bet the ratio of it in there is slim to none. Might as well go with the real stuff. Thanks for the tips my deary!
Girl, you have totally convinced me to buy some!! I really would like to have angelic locks….
Thanks for the tip!
Jojoba oil is really great! Have you ever tried coconut oil? It’s good for all of those things as well, plus it’s great for cooking with! I don’t know if you can cook with jojoba oil
I’ve never used jojoba oil but I’ll definitely have to try it now! I have used olive oil on my hair and on in the winter when my hands get painfully dry. Hemp seed oil is really good too, its right up there with jojoba!
I have to agree with you – jojoba oil is totally the bomb! It took me a while to love it, but now it’s my best friend (:
I use jojoba oil every day on my face and neck. I love it! I usually put it on first thing in the shower, then after a few minutes I rinse it off with a very light face wash. Sometimes at night I also put a few drops on for extra moisture while I sleep. I have curly hair and while it loves the moisture this stuff gives it, it weighs my bounciness down too much and makes me look like a mop-head, so that’s only for night treatments.
Yes yes yes yes. I’ve been using this for a couple years now. It is SO amazing for so many different things.
i am loving these new series. great tips and i will defo have to try this – i too want fuchsia angel tresses!
I am going to Wholefoods Market ASAP to purchase some of this. Le sigh!
Gala,
I will definitely take your advice on the Jojoba! Something else you might want to look into is using Apple Cider Vinegar to help keep the face smooth & clear. After using regular facial cleanser, you can pour a little amount on a damp washcloth and apply to the face, then rinse it off afterwards. I do this every morning and it keeps my face insanelllyyy soft and clear. My boyfriend even started using it after he noticed the improvements in my skin. I hear there are Ayurvedic uses for drinking a little Apple Cider Vinegar with warm water in the morning, but i’m not too sure about that.
Lastly, my mom uses something called Argon oil in the same way you described Jojoba… not sure how well it works though.
Cheers!
Manijé — Oh yes! Apple cider vinegar is amazing for the complexion. I used to drink it in the mornings (it makes for kind of a brisk start to the day, haha) & apply it topically sometimes. I haven’t used it since I moved away from Melbourne — it’s really good though!
I also use almond oil and it has similar benefits.
And yes, definitely this website needed a “Secret tricks, pills, potions & elixirs” section..
and now that you add it..this SITE is PERFECT ♥
lol. Francesca
Jojoba oil sounds really great, but I have one concern. Don’t oils clog pores, keeping toxins from leaving your body through your skin? Or is jojoba oil different? Sorry if the answer is obvious. You can never be too safe when it comes to your skin, I say.
TOTALLY going to try this. You sold me! :)
The Ancient Greeks used olive oil!
I use it on occasions, but it does make you smell like your mother’s cooking..
Does jojoba oil have a distinctive smell?
Mouse: Vegetable oils absorb into the skin (like food for your skin!), use only carrier oils (almond, avocado, jojoba etc see www.zhealthinfo.com/carrier.ht…) and essential oils, that can be applied straight on (lavender, tea tree)— other essential oils must be mixed with a carrier oil before application because they are too strong.
The molecules of mineral oils are too large to absorb into your skin and sit on top making it greasy and irritated. Vaseline is very bad stuff!
I love Jojoba Oil and Castor Oil together as a cleanser. It makes your pores shrink so much!
At the moment I am using rosehip oil though, which is lovely and makes my skin glow :)
I was wondering how I could clean my make-up brushes with jojoba oil though? apply it and then wash the oil off with shampoo?
i use the desert essence jojoba oil during winter because my skin gets a bit dryer than usual. i tend to store it away during summer, however. i have yet to use it extensively in my hair because it’s so thin, i’m afraid it will look greasy even if i use a tiny bit.
Miranda — Yep! Jojoba, then shampoo. It will take the make-up off the brushes really quickly (it is an amazing make-up remover in general) & soften the brushes.
brittney — It won’t look greasy if you use literally one or two TINY droplets on a finger. & you can always put it in a couple of hours before you wash your hair if you’re worried about it!
Hm. I wonder if this will help my combination skin issue. I have a VERY oily T-zone, but when I wash my face it gets terribly DRY.
Definitely seems worth the trip to the vitamin isle.
I have been using this oil for a few years now as an all over body lotion, I often mix it into my keihl’s moisturiser at night time and slather it everywhere :) I would love to use it on my face, but am terrified of it making me break out.
I’m pretty sure what you’ve described is the Oil Cleansing Method.
I tried it with a carrier and castor oil with a few drops of rose and tea tree oil in it. My skin felt fabulous afterwards. I should really do it again as my skin is in shocking condition at the moment due to stress.
Zoe: Wow, that’s really cool. Thank you for explaining all of that (it does make a lot of sense). And thank you for that link. You are a health genius!
I use virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer for face & body & have had similarly fantastic results. Every time I get too lazy/busy to use it for a couple days, I always notice acne, tightness, & oiliness, none of which happens when I’m properly moisturizing. Yayyy natural beauty products :)
About how much does it cost and wear could I find it? I am quite intruiged!
Hmm, this sounds interesting. I may have to give this a try!
I absolutely love coconut oil in my hair. I have extremely damaged, dry hair (naturally coarse and curly and then I stripped out black semi-perm dye in two back to back bleachings in order to get my pink hair back. :X), and coconut oil is the only leave in conditioner I’ll use. I pull a small glob through when it’s wet and by the time it’s dry, it’s nice and soft. And if it starts to feel straw-like and dry at the ends once it dries, I work a tiny, tiny bit in and it makes it better. And I like to mix cocoa butter, almond oil, coconut oil, and beeswax in order to make a solid moisturizer for my legs, which get really dry, and it works like a charm. Sometimes I’ll add some extra vitamin E for healing and then I use essential oils to get lovely fragrances. I haven’t really tried jojoba, though. I might have to pick up a little bottle to try it out, especially on my face where my skin is really grumpy and finicky.
I’ve been using olive oil for my hair (it works WONDERS) but I’ve been looking for something to use on my face that will also work for a weekly feet & hand soak! This sounds perfect. I’ve loved jojoba oil since my adorable grandma bought mass orders of jojoba-based lip balms when I was in middle school, & jojoba oil just never occured to me for some reason! It’s so good.
I hate what oil does to my hair and my face. But I use almond oil on my nails and it keeps them healthy and strong. I assume jojoba oil should have the same effect.
I picked this up when you mentioned it a while ago (a LONG while ago you made a post about using this and md forte) and love it! So many great uses for it, and super cheap!
When I had really long hair, I used to use it to keep the ends from breaking so much in the winter. Mine came from my dad, which I realize sounds kind of weird unless I explain that he hasn’t cut his hair since before I was born. Now that my hair is shorter I haven’t used it in a while, but maybe I’ll try it on my face and see how it works since I have the whole bottle left!
I discovered it when I was out in Bourke, far west NSW, visiting my Boyfriend a few years ago. Use it in lipbalm form. Amazing for winter lips. Will try all these other methods and will check back for more!
gala, you are a great persuader. i definitely just ordered some online!
Wow, that’s REALLY interesting! How could a girl not be sold with a product description like that? :) Thanks for letting us know about all of your secret pills and potions Gala, it’s appreciated immensely!
I love these beauty posts! I use Vitamin E oil as my nighttime “moisturizer” and spot treat with tea tree oil (the smell is so strong though!)
Gala, is the Perfect Skin link supposed to go to the Magical Pills post?
I have been using Jojoba oil for years as make-up remover at night. I love that I don’t have to use any harsh chemicals that could irritate my eyes or delicate skin area. I will try it for hair now!
I use it mostly for my ears at night…my boy and I have our ears stretched, and it’s great for keeping them soft and elastic to promote better stretching and because it keeps the blood flowing in the ear lobe.
I also like it for my elbows and heels—it’s magic stuff.
I’ve been using coconut oil in my hair for as long as i can remember and it has stayed thick and i always seem to get compliments on it.
I’ve also been using rosehip oil on my face for a few years and i really like the results.
Haven’t tried jojoba oil but should give it a go :)
i just came across your blog.
and im obsessed.
loveeeeee it.
I will try some on my split ends… but I had a haircut yesterday so my hair isn’t AS damaged anymore. I wonder if they sell it in Australia in the health food stores… I haven’t seen it anywhere. Next to the essential oils you say? I will check next time.
You must’ve been a pretty good salesperson in Lush, you have me sold every single time you mention a product on your site that I can buy in my country! I even got my mum to try the Bach rescue remedy flower thingo after you mentioned it in your style tips – she suffers from anxiety. So far, so good!
I think the thing that has me sold is that you are recommending stuff that you are not even paid to advertise, so I figure you must really like the product!
Kerry – they definitely do have it here! It’s not in short supply, I get mine at the supermarket, haha =P
Thanks for the tip! This could do me good, I have terribly oily skin but I think it’s my own fault for washing my face with my boyfriends Lynx shower gel every day…I’m a lazy girl :/
I love jojoba oil, it’s like magic! I also wrote a little about it’s effects on hair on my blog a while back. (number four)
jasminumrex.blogspot.com/2009/...
I use jojoba on my stretched ears. I rub a drop or two into my lobes and it keeps them soft and helps when I move up a size. Its great stuff! I hadn’t thought to use it in any other capacity. I love using a drop or two of tea tree oil as a cleanser as well
Gala, if you’re not adverse to animal products, emu oil is amazing. Much like jojoba oil, it is very similar to human sebum. Emu oil is said to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Using it on myself and my clients has yielded great results, even on problem skin. It helps promote healing (if you’ve picked at a zit like I did) and reduce scarring As a bonus, because emu oil is transdermal, it acts as a carrier to help other products reach the deeper layers of the skin. Emu oil and copper peptide serum are a great combination for fine lines and wrinkles. I asked a few dermatologists and they all gave emu oil a thumbs up.
Yay, jojoba! Lovely stuff! I use it to wash my face, mixed with 10% castor oil. Massage a teaspoon-full onto the face, leave a few minutes in the shower, then gently remove with a washcloth.
Gala, like you say, jojoba seems to reduce the excess oiliness of the skin, precisely by satisfying its protective needs.
I’ve learned that jojoba is very similar to skin’s natural oils, and so conditions and strengthens the skin. Castor oil acts to draw out and dissolve blocked sebum, cleaning the pores. I really recommend this mix if you have combination skin; it’s helped mine a lot.
I learned about all of this from an incredibly talented masseuse and skin therapist in San Francisco, Kirsten of Apotheca. Her own business, and well worth a visit if you’re there. No one else in her bracket has ever impressed me so much, never mind given such helpful and economical beauty advice!
Thank you so much for the tip. I must give it a go.
I LOVE jojoba oil for many, many things! A new favorite for my hair is Moroccan Oil that was given to me by my hair stylist and it is AMAZING and makes your hair smell really good! Try it and you will love it too! :)
I love jojoba! I started using it after my little sis suggested it. I use it in place of hand lotion cause it does such a better job…I feel like my skin is actually drinking it up as opposed to just slathering on something that just sits on top of it. Same goes for dry heels and knees…aw heck, just fill up a bathtub with the stuff and go swimming!
Plus it’s fun to say. “Ho-ho-buh!”
Sweet wonderful Gala! I went out and bought some straight away after work yesterday and it is a GODSEND. I put a teensy bit in my hair, waited 2 or 3 hours and shampooed it out, put in a bit more and massaged through to my ends, then blow dried. My hair looks INCREDIBLE. AMAZING. The best it ever ever ever has. Thank you so so much, my love!
PS: I have magic pills on the way from Canada and I’m so excitedddd.
I love jojoba!
Another great use is putting it on your ear lobes for stretching. I also use it when I’m putting my tunnels back in every day since my piercing holes tend to start closing as soon as I take jewelry out.
I recently started using almond oil for my face. I find it to be a little lighter and thinner, and very close to my skin’s natural oil. It sinks in really quick and I can put on makeup 5 mins later.
Wow! I used to use a lotion that had some in it. I’ll try anything to make my skin glow xoxo
Oooh! I’ve been meaning to get some jojoba oil for ages and you’ve just reminded me! Have now bought some online, so looking forward to trying it out!
I’m hoping it will fade some post acne marks (after I FINALLY solved my acne issues haha) and maybe stop my hair from looking so flyaway and split-endy…
I LOVE jojoba oil! While I don’t use it for moisturizers, I mix it with Tea Tree Oil and use it for bug bites and any kind of scars or blisters. Works like a charm to drain them out and it stops them from feeling itchy and sore.
Gala!
Everythin’s beautiful – BUT!
I used to use it a lot, liked it, loved it : hair, de-make up etc.
My only concern is…how fast does it go RANCID?
We know that only tropical oils stay stable ( coconut, cacao etc).
If jojoba is in clear bottle, plastic one, is exposed to the light, air and heat..it goes rancid quickly…
I wouldn’t eat the rancid oil.
I would not put it on my face without making sure it is IN GOOD CONDITION.
Love you all
Marta
ARRGH DA SECRET’Z OUT!! haha. yes i just love ho oil and mostly do the tea tree/jojoba oil mix too and leave it in ma hurr ova nite bout once a week… den in da mornin rinse it owt and it lukz and feelz gr8! i use da tea tree heapz cos i gotz bad scalp dermatitis… so yez dey r ma best oily friendz!
oh, la-la! i’m eyeing a full bottle of the stuff on my fiance’s desk right now! thank you so much for the advice Gala [and i will be blaming you if he notices it missing].
cherry — Haha, you need a shirt which says GALA MADE ME DO IT!
Gala, you’ve made me run to the shop today to buy it. That hasn’t happend before.. I’m curious what it will do for me! Thnx, for the tip!
Oooh… Must try this! I’m totally skin obsessed… I already have pretty good skin because I do my best to take good care of it – but why not try something new! Yay! Thanks for sharing! ♥
Gala, I have to report back on this one. For the last two days I’ve scrapped my face wash for a jojoba/castor oil and steam cleanse – my face is so soft and the blemishes are clearing up! It even helps plump up the fine lines, and my pores look smaller. Amazing! Thanks for the tip :)
gala, darling
among your list of magic potions and pills ought to be Bach’s Rescue Remedy. works for any sort of stress (emotional, mental, physical, including illness) almost immediately. it comes in liquid form, which works quicker, and in chewey pastille form, which is more handy. i have a bottle of it in my cupboard, and a box of the candies in my handbag.
you’re beautiful, i love your blog, and i send all sorts of love and happiness your way.
i picked this up yesterday, used it last night, & WOW. i mixed with a drop of tea tree oil for my face, & this morning, a mere six hours later, my pores are smaller & my face didn’t feel even a DROP oily (i have weird extremely oily-in-places combination skin). this has never happened! thanks so much for the rec.
ps: i reaaaally want to try the multi+ daily glow, but i just can’t afford it at the moment. someday though, i will!!
Thanks! My skin has been dry of late. Can’t wait for the natural food store to open so that I can try some of that Jojoba oil!
I HAVE to get some of that! MY skin is naturally the oily type + I live in a tropical country so I have to wash a lot.
Same with my hair that’s been bleached and dyed (naturally black) so it tends to be a real tangly mess but I don’t want it to get greasy.
How it’s closest to our natural skin oils totally won me over.
Thank you, Gala!
Another update – I’ve just started using this too and it’s done wonders for my hair, but I think it’s given me a wind-burn-esque thing on my face…has this happened to anyone else? Should I keep using it and hope it clears up, or stop and just use it on my hair?
Yeah … meanwhile back in reality :
If you purchase Jojoba oil in a plastic container know this – Jojoba reacts to plastic, absorbing it into the oil resulting in very low grade jojoba oil while also carrying any contaminants it absorbed directly into the epidermis. duh. Buy it only expeller pressed and bottled in GLASS or Stainless Steel drums ( lots of other types of metal containers should also be fine but any knowledgeable supplier / grower will choose Stainless & glass ). Huel Howser did a segment recently on PBS ‘California’s Gold’ series that you can look at for more info. Or just check out La Ronna Jojoba Co. web site ( they were featured on show ). Not that any of this matters because everyday you take a shower with city water your epidermis is soaking in all the Rocket Fuel contaminants & other off the radar ( and not tested for ) chemicals into your body thereby completely negating all the purified water we drink. Don’t believe me ? Watch FLOW (For Love Of Water) on YouTube. Not being mean ladies. It’s just time to grow up.
Oh yeah … one more thing …
Jojoba is NOT an oil but a liquid wax, with the chemical composition of Sperm Whale oil. Yes that’s true and yes I have a huge grin on my face as I type this fact. enjoy ladies !