What is jojoba oil in skincare?
Jojoba oil is pressed from the seeds of the Simmondsia chinensis shrub, native to the deserts of the American southwest. Technically it is not an oil at all but a liquid wax ester – and that distinction is the whole point.
Human sebum is roughly a quarter wax esters, so jojoba’s structure is unusually close to what skin produces naturally. That is why it absorbs cleanly and rarely feels greasy. It is also exceptionally stable and resists going rancid.
What skin concerns does jojoba oil treat?
It suits almost every skin type. On dry skin it softens and seals; on oily skin its similarity to sebum can help signal that less oil is needed; and it is non-comedogenic enough for acne-prone skin to tolerate.
It has documented anti-inflammatory activity, useful for eczema, psoriasis and general irritation, and laboratory work on human skin shows topical jojoba wax increases pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid synthesis while lowering inflammatory markers.
What ingredients are best paired with jojoba oil?
Use it as the sealing step over humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and alongside ceramides and squalane for barrier repair.
It also works as a carrier for essential oils and as a buffer for retinoids, taking the edge off dryness without blocking absorption. It is one of the few plant oils that dissolves hardened sebum, so it doubles as a gentle first-step cleansing oil. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is dry skin?
Dry skin – xerosis in clinical terms – is a skin type that lacks oil rather than water. It feels tight after cleansing, looks flaky or rough, may show fine cracking, and often reads dull because the uneven surface scatters light.
It is worth separating dry skin from dehydrated skin: dryness is a lack of lipids and is usually lifelong, while dehydration is a temporary lack of water and can happen to oily skin too. Many people have both at once.
What causes dry skin?
At the root is a compromised moisture barrier. When ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids and natural moisturising factors run low, water evaporates out of the skin faster than it can be replaced.
Age, genetics, cold weather and low humidity, long hot showers, harsh surfactants, over-exfoliation, some medications, and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis all deplete those lipids. Consistent moisturising is the single intervention with the strongest evidence behind it.
What ingredients are best for dry skin?
Rebuild in layers. Humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea and panthenol draw water in; emollients such as squalane, jojoba oil and shea butter smooth the surface; and occlusives seal the whole thing in.
Ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids are the priority, because they replace exactly what a dry barrier is missing, with niacinamide helping the skin make more of its own. Apply to damp skin, and swap foaming cleansers for cream or oil-based ones. Take our Skin Quiz to find the right combination for your skin.
