Jojoba Oil
AT THE HEART...
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The liquid commonly known as Jojoba Oil is not really an oil but rather a liquid wax ester.
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In the 18th century, Native Americans ground Jojoba seeds into a salve to medicate the skin and condition the hair
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Jojoba Oil is well-known for having a chemical composition that closely resembles the sebum found in human skin.
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Jojoba Oil is most commonly used to moisturize, cleanse, and control oil production in skin and hair.
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Jojoba Oil improves the look and feel of skin and hair, soothes irritation, and reduces the appearance of blemishes.
BENEFITS OF USING JOJOBA OIL
The main chemical constituents of Jojoba Carrier Oil are: Gadoleic Acid (Eicosenoic Acid), Erucic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Palmitoleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Behenic Acid, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B Complex.
GADOLEIC ACID (EICOSENOIC ACID) is known to:
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have emollient properties
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be non-comedogenic (does not block the skin’s pores)
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be readily absorbed by the skin
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balance the oil in the skin, making it less oily
ERUCIC ACID is known to:
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be a natural lubricant for skin and hair
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have non-greasy emollient properties
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provide oxidative stability
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have a silky texture
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be an effective natural alternative to silicone in skin care products
OLEIC ACID is known to:
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maintain the softness, suppleness, and radiance of skin and hair
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stimulate the growth of thicker, longer and stronger hair
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reduce the appearance of aging, such as premature wrinkles and fine lines
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eliminate dandruff and thereby support hair growth
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boost immunity
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exhibit anti-oxidant properties
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prevent joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain
PALMITIC ACID is known to:
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have emollient properties
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soften hair without leaving a greasy or sticky residue
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be the most common saturated fatty acid
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have antioxidant properties
PALMITOLEIC ACID is known to:
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delay the appearance of premature aging
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moisturize and tighten the skin
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promote the growth of shiny hair
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enhance the brightness of the complexion
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boost the growth of healthy-looking nails
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enhance skin elasticity to prevent symptoms of premature aging, such as wrinkles
STEARIC ACID is known to:
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have cleansing properties that purge dirt, sweat and excess sebum from hair and skin
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be an ideal emulsifying agent that binds water and oil
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help products remain potent when stored for long periods of time
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condition and protect hair from damage without diminishing luster or making it feel heavy
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have exceptional cleansing properties
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soften skin
BEHENIC ACID is known to:
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lubricate and soothe skin
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have emollient properties that restore skin's natural oils
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and improve overall levels of hydration
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condition and smooth out hair follicles
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be a thickening agent and surfactant,
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opacify clear liquid solutions
VITAMIN E is known to:
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have antioxidant properties that slow the look of aging and boost circulation
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repair scarred and blemished skin
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prevent moisture loss from skin and hair
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offer soothing relief to skin that has been burned
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deeply cleanse pores and balance oil production
VITAMIN B COMPLEX is known to:
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prevent the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines
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improve skin’s moisture retaining ability
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maintain hair’s texture, color, and strength
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regulate skin’s pigment production and thus prevent hyperpigmentation
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promote the faster healing of wounds
Used topically, Jojoba Oil acts as a non-comedogenic, fast-absorbing yet long-lasting emollient that gently moisturizes, soothes, nourishes, and softens skin without leaving a greasy residue. It cleanses skin to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and to promote the growth of new skin that is clear, cleansed, healthy, and supple. Due to a chemical composition that closely resembles the sebum found in human skin, Jojoba Oil is readily accepted and endured by skin. Jojoba Oil can balance skin’s oil production to reduce the effects of acne by eliminating excess natural oils in the pores. By creating a moisturizing and protective barrier on the skin, it guards against the harsh effects of the natural elements. Used on nails, Jojoba Oil strengthens and hydrates the cuticles while preventing infections from forming on the nail beds.
CULTIVATING AND HARVESTING JOJOBA OIL
The Jojoba shrub is a wild, woody botanical that is endemic to the hot, arid regions of southern Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico. It can be found in the Sonoran Desert, the Colorado Desert, and the Baja California Desert; however, Jojoba plantations can be found in other desert and semi-desert areas, such as Argentina, Australia, Israel, Mexico, Peru and the United States. Due to their ability to endure high heat, Jojoba plants can be damaged or can even die if exposed to frost. The Jojoba plant can withstand poor-nutrient soils as well as those with salinity. It can tolerate droughts and requires light, coarse, well-drained, sandy soil with a pH between 5 and 8, thriving on exceptionally small amounts of water per year as well as minimal cultivation. If Jojoba plants are established on heavy soil, their growth is slower, causing them to bloom later and to potentially acquire fungal diseases.
The Jojoba shrub can grow up to 19 feet tall and looks like a small tree with multiple stems. Thick, broad, waxy, and grey-green in color, the Jojoba plant’s oval leaves are aerodynamic, as they stand erect with only the tips visible to the sun, which draws wind-borne pollen from male flowers. Their waxy protective layers, or their “cuticles,” prevent the loss of water while the tree’s taproots tunnel deep into the earth for water.
The flowers of the Jojoba shrub are divided into male and female and grow on separate plants. The flowers grow on 5 or 6 sepals and do not have any petals. The small, pale green female flowers grow in clusters at the nodes. The male flowers also grow in clusters, but they are larger and yellow in color. The pollen of the male flowers is critical for the fertilization of the female flowers, which are pollinated through the wind or with the aid of insects. Once the female plant has been pollinated, its flowers bear the seeds that are rich in oil.
The Jojoba fruit, which grows from the flowers on the sepals of the female plant and is partly enclosed at the base by its sepal, is an ovoid green pod or “capsule” that can contain up to three nuts. A mature Jojoba nut is a dark brown and hard oval that contains the liquid wax or the “oil.” Generally, Jojoba plants begin to produce seeds after the third year of growth, at which time farmers use a drip irrigation method to deliver the ideal amount of water to the plants. After 3 to 6 months after they are fertilized, the ripe Jojoba capsule splits open, which reveals the wrinkled brown seed that is approximately the size of an olive. Typically, Jojoba seeds are harvested by hand, as they do not all mature at the same time, thus sometimes more than one harvest is required.
HOW IS JOJOBA OIL EXTRACTED ?
Jojoba Oil is derived from the cold pressing of its nuts/beans/seeds. After they are placed in an expeller, the nuts have their oil pressed out by the mechanism’s screw. In this method, the oil does not heat up, as heat can cause the loss of some of its beneficial properties, which would render the oil less effective. Unrefined Jojoba Oil is clear golden in color, liquid at room temperature, and its scent is slightly nutty.