Jojoba Oil for Herbal Skin Care

Unusual CompositionAt least half the weight of every jojoba seed consists of a mixture of oily substances. Technically, they are not similar to other plant oils. If anything, biochemically it is more like sperm whale oil. Indeed, it turns out that jojoba oil is a superior replacement for sperm whale oil. This is a good thing, too, since sperm whale oil has been banned from import into the U.S. since 1971.Although jojoba seed oil has been loosely referred to as an oil for decades, chemists categorize it as a liquid wax. As such, certain of its components resemble the sebum in human skin oil. This similarity is thought to explain how this plant oil helps skin balance the natural production of skin oil.Jojoba oil exhibits a remarkably long-term stability. It never oxidizes or get rancid. This is one of its key properties in helping stabilize other botanicals in herbal skin care products. It spreads evenly and absorbs well and it is helpful in very low concentrations. It serves very well as an all-day moisturizer that won't dry out like.Many UsesA quick look at the possible uses of jojoba seed oil for skin health gives you an idea about how versatile it is in cosmetics. It is used for enhancing the benefits of clays (kaolin and bentonite) for deep cleansing without disrupting the skin's natural protection. It mixes well with antioxidants and other herbal components. And it offers the unique property of stimulating specific kinds types of skin cells that are important for healing.Jojoba oil is also known to reduce inflammation that occurs in damaged and aging skin. Its moisturizing action adds to its importance as an ingredient in natural skin care products. Furthermore, it is also known to fight skin infections and to heal damaged skin.


Healing PropertiesIn 2011 researchers in Alessandra, Italy, at the University of Piemonte Orientale, evaluated the potential for jojoba oil in healing skin wounds. They found that it stimulates the actions of two kinds of skin cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Both of these types of skin cells are closely tied to the repair of skin wounds. The results of their study showed that both types of cells accelerated their healing action when jojoba oil was applied to them.The details of this study explain how jojoba oil works. First, skin cells become stimulated to make more collagen, which is critical for maintaining healthy skin. Second, the normal breakdown of collagen due to aging is reduced.This research shows why the oil from jojoba seeds has been so important in helping to heal skin against aging, acne, psoriasis, and sunburn.Helping Other HerbsEven though jojoba oil is often sold in pure form, its most significant benefits come from its ability to augment the absorption of other herbal skin care ingredients. For example, the active components of ginseng, green tea, and astragalus are readily soluble in jojoba oil. Mixing them into this remarkable seed oil drives them deeper into skin, where they can do their magic for skin health.