In the late ’60’s and early ’70’s, an event happened to bring natural jojoba oil into the limelight of cosmetic research and development. As people started to become more “environmentally conscious” and realized the finite limitations on many of the world’s resources. These nations identified endangered plant and animal species around the world, and soon outlawed the hunting and harvesting of these species and prohibited the use of any materials derived from these sources. Among the endangered species was the sperm whale, whose spermaceti waxes, a mixture of long chain esters, was greatly valued for its functionality in cosmetic applications. Scientists looking to the past, re-discovered jojoba oil. Native Americans have used jojoba for hundreds of years. In the 1700s, Father Junipero Serra, the founder of 21 California missions, noted in his diary that the Native Americans were using the oil and the seeds for many different purposes: for treating sores, cuts, bruises, and burns; as a diet supplement and as an appetite suppressant when food was not available; as a skin conditioner, for soothing windburn and sunburn; as a cooking oil; as a hair or scalp treatment and hair restorative; and as a coffee-like beverage by roasting the seeds. Jojoba oil could not only replace the spermaceti waxes in all applications, but discovered that jojoba oil was actually superior to it.
The importance of jojoba oil derives from its similarity to the natural restorative oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the dermal layers of the skin. Jojoba oil is non-allergenic and will not clog the pores.
Jojoba oil will help reverse damage to the epidermis caused by harsh soaps, facial washes, and irritation from topical medications. Jojoba oil also helps replace moisture lost from the use of facial washes and topical medications. It is beneficial in enhancing skin healing (cell division and growth) within the middle layer of the epidermis. Jojoba Oil helps balance sebum excretion (related to acne) and helps normalize keratin sloughing off from the dermis (related to acne).
Jojoba oil is one of the oils that has the best affinity to human skin, and is a moisturizer par excellence and can be used on extra-dry and flaky skin, to help restore elasticity and smoothness.
As a cosmetic, jojoba oil is an effective cleanser, conditioner, moisturizer, and softener for the skin and hair. Jojoba oil can be applied directly to the skin to reduce wrinkles and strecch marks, it can lighten and help heal scars and promotes . healthy scalp and hair. Jojoba oil is similar to, and miscible with, sebum, which is secreted by human sebaceous glands to lubricate and protect skin and hair. When sebum production decreases due to age, pollutants, or environmental stresses, jojoba oil can be used to replicate sebum oil. Jojoba oil can accumulate around hair roots, thereby conditioning hair and preventing it from becoming brittle and dull. If there is too much sebum buildup on the scalp, it dissolves and removes the sebum, leaving the hair clean. Jojoba oil as a solubilizing agent can also remove sticky buildup on hair from hair preparations as well as airborne particulates deposited on the hair. It forms a lipid layer on the skin, acting as a moisturizer, as well as penetrating and being absorbed by the outer layer of skin.
Jojoba oil is widely used as an ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, facial, hand and body lotions, cuticle and nail care products, baby care lotions, creams, and oils, cleansers, moisturizers, bath oils and soaps, sunscreen lotions, and makeup products. Jojoba oil is also used as a base in the manufacture of perfume. The potential therapeutic uses of jojoba oil include the treatment of acne, cold sores, and such skin diseases as psoriasis.
Natural jojoba oil serves as an excellent moisturizing agent with exceptional spread. The lubrication properties leave a rich velvety non-oily feel on the skin, while retarding water loss and enhancing the flexibility and suppleness of the skin.
Jojoba is completely miscible with the natural sebum of the skin, and when used on the skin forms a very thin, non-greasy lipoid layer. This layer is partially porous and provides exceptional trans-epidermal respiration and moisture control. Unlike greasy occlusive materials such as petrolatum, mineral oils and some lanolin products, jojoba oil provides an absolutely non-tacky, non-oily and non-greasy, dry softening to the skin.
It also significantly reduces trans-epidermal water loss, without totally blocking the transpiration of gases and water vapor. The kinking of jojoba’s “cis” configuration helps to avoid the tight packing of hydrocarbon chains, thereby preventing this water-loss function.
References:
Rosacea and Moisturizers
Jojoba Oil as a remedy for Skin Diseases
