JOJOBA OIL

📋 Quick facts

Description: JOJOBA OIL — EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING.

All Functions: EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Also Known As: SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL
• Comedogenic Rating: 1/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Jojoba oil is a liquid wax made up of over 98% wax esters, plus vitamins and sterols—structurally different from typical plant oils
• Contains long monounsaturated esters that give it unique properties valued in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
• Research suggests antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-acne properties
• Used for thousands of years in folk medicine for skin and scalp issues
• Increasingly used in topical skincare formulations and drug delivery systems

📊 Comedogenicity

1/5

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Jojoba oil stands apart from other plant oils because of its unusual chemistry. While most oils are built from triglycerides (three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone), jojoba oil is composed of long monounsaturated esters—a fundamentally different molecular structure (J Med Food, 2024). This wax-based composition makes up over 98% of the oil, with the remainder being free fatty acids, alcohols, sterols, vitamins, and various plant compounds like flavonoids and phenolic compounds (Polymers [Basel], 2021). #1: Moisturizing and conditioning properties. Multiple sources describe jojoba oil as an excellent moisturizer and conditioner (ACS Omega, 2024). The oil works by creating a protective barrier on skin that reduces moisture loss and maintains skin suppleness (ACS Omega, 2024).

This is likely connected to its wax-ester composition, which mimics skin’s natural lipids. #2: Antioxidant activity. Research documents antioxidant properties in jojoba oil (J Med Food, 2024; Polymers [Basel], 2021), meaning it may help neutralize harmful free radicals, though the sources don’t specify which compounds are responsible or measure the strength of this effect. #3: Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial potential. Studies identify anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (J Med Food, 2024; Polymers [Basel], 2021), suggesting possible benefits for inflamed or acne-prone skin. One pharmaceutical study demonstrated that jojoba oil-based formulations enhanced the ability of drugs to permeate skin (Res Pharm Sci, 2021), which indicates it can alter skin permeability, though this was studied in a drug-delivery context, not for cosmetic use alone.

#4: Anti-acne activity. Research notes anti-acne properties (J Med Food, 2024; Polymers [Basel], 2021), though the sources don’t detail how jojoba oil exerts this effect or provide clinical evidence of efficacy in humans. It’s worth noting that while these sources review jojoba oil’s documented properties, most claims come from literature surveys and in vitro studies rather than large-scale human clinical trials. The sources represent what researchers have observed, but don’t always distinguish between traditional uses, laboratory findings, and proven effects in real-world skincare.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Abdalla S et al. (2024). A Comprehensive Review of Plant-Based Cosmetic Oils (Virgin Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Argan Oil, and Jojoba Oil): Chemical and Biological Properties and Their Cosmeceutical Applications. ACS Omega.
• Scott MJ et al. (1982). Jojoba oil. J Am Acad Dermatol.
• Chakrabarty S et al. (2024). Bioactivities of Jojoba Oil Beyond Skincare. J Med Food.
• Gad HA et al. (2021). Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity. Polymers (Basel).
• Assaf SM et al. (2021). Jojoba oil-based microemulsion for transdermal drug delivery. Res Pharm Sci.

🧴 Products Containing JOJOBA OIL

• Gemey Maybelline Dream Mat Mousse
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Black Mascara
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Color Riche Matte Obsession Moka Chic
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Maybelline Color Riche Lipstick Matte Paris Cherry
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Maybelline Color Riche Lipstick Matte Haute Rouge
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise Waterproof Zwarte Volume Mascara
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Mascara Lash Paradis Moonlight Noir Brown
• Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Almond Pure-Castile Soap
• Dr. Bronner’s, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps All-One Rose Pure-Castile Bar Soap
• Dr. Bronner’s Cherry Blossom All-One Magic Soap
• Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Rose Pure-Castile Soap
• Irish Spring Deep Action Scrub Men’s Exfoliating Face & Body Wash
• Softsoap Coconut Shea Butter
• Softsoap Coconut Gentle Wash
• Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium Precision
• dessert essence Bulgarian lavender hand and body lotion
• Deluvia Miracle, aloe cream
• Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser
• True Botanicals balm
• Frank Body Coconut Coffee Scrub
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Maybelline New York The Colossal 36H Longwear Waterproof Mascara
• Baebody Baebody Eye Gel for Dark Circles and Puffiness
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick Matte Mon Jules 430
• DESIGN ESSENTIALS Le Site Officiel Des Nouvelles Coiffures
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Maybelline New York The Colossal 100% Black Waterproof Mascara
• L’OREAL NORGE AS,L’Oréal L’Oreal Mascara Volume Million Lashes Balm Noir
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Mascara Falsh Lash Bambi Eye Extra Black
• Garnier Pure Active Gel Désincrustant Anti-points Noirs. Tube
• R+Co Tzatziki
• L’arbre vert Shampooing nutrition
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Mascara Performance Double Extension Beauty Thear
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Million Lashes Mascara Extra Volume Brown
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Mascara Telescopic Magnetic Black
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Waterproof Black Mascara
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Mascara Volume Million Lashes Fatale
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’oreal Color Riche Lipstick Matte Erotique 640
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Color Riche Lipstick Matte Blush in a Rush 103
• L’OREAL NORGE AS SuperLiner Le Kohl 120 Immaculate Snow
• L’OREAL NORGE AS SuperLiner Le Kohl 110 Midnight Black
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oreal Superliner Le Kohl 116 Rainforest Green