The many health benefits of jojoba oil have made it one of the most versatile natural remedies for skin, hair, and nail health. Thanks to its gentle action, jojoba oil will be a great fit even for those with sensitive skin prone to allergies, irritation, and dryness.

That’s why many people are adding this natural wonder to their daily skincare routines, but what  exactly can you expect from it? 

Let’s take a closer look at the 20 most useful jojoba oil benefits for your face, skin, and hair.

1. Moisturizes the skin

Jojoba oil is a natural emollient and humectant, meaning that it softens and moisturizes the skin. Hands down, this is one of the most useful jojoba oil benefits for the skin.

How does it work? A thin layer of jojoba oil on the skin prevents the skin moisture from evaporating, basically working as a ”water trap.” In general, well-hydrated skin is more resistant to damaging factors and is less prone to forming wrinkles.

As a moisturizer, jojoba oil works best on open parts of the body like the face, neck, shoulders, and hands.

2. Soothes skin inflammation

Studies have confirmed that jojoba oil has significant anti-inflammatory properties.

Essentially, this means you can use this remedy to treat any sort of skin damage, allergic process, infection, or autoimmune condition. Since all of these issues are accompanied by inflammation, jojoba oil may provide significant relief.

3. Deeply nourishes the skin

Jojoba oil is a fabulous source of vitamins E and B, minerals like zinc and chromium, and various phytonutrients (mainly quinones and terpenoids). All in all, the effectiveness of jojoba oil for skin nourishment is based on these compounds.

However, remember that you should never take jojoba oil internally as it’s rich in erucic acid. While harmless when applied topically, high levels of erucic acid may be toxic for the heart. Most experts state it’s impossible to absorb erucic acid from jojoba oil taken by mouth, but there’s no reason to risk in the first place.

4. Treats sore and cracked lips

Thanks to its moisturizing and nourishing properties, jojoba oil can be applied to the lips to treat soreness. Not only will this gently restore the moisture in the local tissues, but also help to heal the cracks faster.

Gently rub a few drops of jojoba on your lips 2 to 3 times per day, then use a protective balm for better results. Expect significant relief in a couple of days.

5. Softens cuticles and promotes nail health

Among all oils, jojoba oil is one of the most effective natural remedies for cuticle and nail health. Studies report that it’s effective in retaining moisture and enhancing nail elasticity, which is excellent for preventing nail splits.

The best time to use jojoba oil for nail health is after a hot shower or bath. Try rubbing some jojoba oil into your nails using your fingertips or a cotton swab as part of your morning or evening beauty routine.

6. Controls sebum production

The sebum is an oily liquid produced by the sebaceous glands to moisturize the skin and hair. Having both too much or too little of this substance can cause all sorts of unpleasant issues.

When too much sebum is produced, it can clog the skin pores, contribute to the development of acne, and make your hair greasy. When the skin doesn’t produce enough sebum, it quickly gets dry, cracked, and inflamed.

One of the greatest jojoba oil benefits is that it can regulate how much sebum your skin produces.

This is because jojoba oil is similar in texture and properties to human sebum. As a result, when you apply it to the skin regularly, the skin feels as if it already has produced enough sebum and dials down its secretion of the substance. That’s exactly what makes jojoba oil fabulous for anyone with oily skin and hair!

7. Promotes hair growth and health

By nourishing the scalp, keeping it moisturized, and preventing the production of excess sebum, jojoba oil gently supports hair growth. Besides enhancing hair growth speed, this amazing oil also increases the number of active hair follicles in the skin—essentially promoting the growth of new hairs. 

Don’t expect results fast, though, as studies indicate that jojoba is less effective than peppermint oil or conventional medications like minoxidil. However, if your goal is a delicate and long-lasting effect with additional benefits, jojoba oil may be one of your best options.

8. Fights potentially harmful fungi

Studies report that jojoba oil seems to have antifungal properties, at least against some types of fungi. Simmondsin, one of the main active compounds of jojoba, inhibits the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans.

Although these fungi aren’t very dangerous for healthy people, in some cases, they may contribute to the development of dandruff and various fungal infections.

9. Wards off harmful bacteria

Jojoba oil has great potential as a natural antibiotic. 

Studies reported that it can effectively inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria, including Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus.

10. Alleviates dandruff and seborrhea

Both dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (seborrhea) are long-term inflammatory conditions of the skin with an unclear cause. Scientists believe that the main contributors may include bacterial and fungal infections, weak immunity, stress, poor hygiene, and some cosmetic products.

Jojoba oil may be great for people with dandruff and seborrhea thanks to several of its actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antifungal
• Antibacterial
• Sebum-controlling

For better effects, wash your head with your usual shampoo, and then gently rub a few tablespoons of virgin jojoba oil into your scalp. Let sit overnight, then rewash your head in the morning. Repeat daily, or at least every other day.

11. Prevents and fights acne

The four main factors that contribute to the development of acne are:

• Excess production of keratin around the hair follicles
• Excess production of sebum
• Bacterial infection, often caused by Propionibacterium acnes
• Local inflammation

As you already know after reading the previous health benefits on this list, jojoba oil helps with all factors besides the first one. That’s why it’s an awesome natural way to prevent or fight acne!

12. Reduces oxidative stress and neutralizes free radicals

Jojoba oil is rich in natural vitamins E and B, both of which are powerful antioxidants.

Antioxidants capture and neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals. Free radicals are formed naturally in the human body, but they become dangerous when their levels become too high (in other words, when you’re in a state of high oxidative stress). High oxidative stress contributes to a whole lot of diseases:

• All inflammatory conditions
• Immune deficiency
• Gastric ulcers
• Hypertension
• Disorders of the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases)

The skin is exposed to oxidative stress non-stop due to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun, so giving it a bit of extra support never hurts!

13. Improves collagen synthesis

Collagen is one of the main structural proteins in the human body, meaning it’s largely responsible for the shape of all your organs and tissues. In fact, collagen makes about 25-30% of all proteins in your body!

Collagen production goes down with age, and this eventually leads to the age-related changes that you can see in aging skin. Luckily, antioxidants seem to improve collagen synthesis when applied topically. Well, that’s one more reason to use the antioxidant-rich jojoba oil daily!

14. Speeds up healing of wounds

Thanks to its ability to soothe inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and improve collagen production, jojoba oil significantly improves the healing of wounds. It also enhances the signaling between skin cells and promotes their ”sticking” to one another, thus enhancing regeneration.

This makes jojoba oil a great remedy for all sorts of minor skin lesions, bruises, acne, and post-acne scars.

15. Prevents and treats sunburns

A few studies reported that topical applications of vitamin E might prevent sunburn, and there’s plenty of that nutrient in jojoba oil.

Jojoba oil can also help with existing sunburn due to its anti-inflammatory action and the ability to promote wound regeneration.

16. May make scars less visible

Although it’s a bit inconclusive right now, there’s preliminary evidence of the potential effectiveness of topical vitamin E in improving the appearance of scars. Some other studies reported that ensuring proper hydration of immature scars and recent wounds prevents them from growing into deformed scars.

In both cases, jojoba oil seems to be a great remedy!

17. Slows down skin aging

Skin aging is a complex process based on several factors:

• Decreased collagen and elastin production
• Decreased skin hydration and elasticity
• Increased oxidative stress

All in all, these changes lead to the wrinkles and flabbiness we usually see in aging skin. Good news: modern studies reported that antioxidant-loaded botanical products effectively decrease oxidative stress in the skin and reduce the formation of wrinkles.

Although there are no studies on the effectiveness of jojoba oil specifically for this matter, it should work just great thanks to its outstanding content of antioxidants.

18. Soothes razor burn

Razor burn is an inflammation of the skin caused by micro-lesions and scratches from a shaving razor. Luckily, jojoba oil is an effective and all-natural remedy for this unpleasant condition.

In fact, you can apply jojoba oil before shaving to soften the skin and then put it again after shaving to soothe the skin and heal the micro-cuts sooner. Double the healing action!

19. Gently removes makeup

In terms of the benefits of jojoba oil for your face, one of the most unexpected ones is that you can use it as an effective makeup remover. 

Jojoba oil is gentle, hypoallergenic, and doesn’t clog skin pores. At the same time, it’s effective in restoring skin function in an all-natural way. 

Thanks to these features, you can use jojoba oil even around the eyes, as it doesn’t cause irritation. Works exceptionally well for oil-based makeup.

20. Can be used as a massage oil

As you see, the jojoba oil benefits go way beyond just skin health, but did you know you can use it as a massage oil too?

Jojoba oil features a delicate, slightly nutty aroma, and feels really pleasant on the skin. Some studies indicate that, when used as a massage oil, it may help to relieve stress.

Last but not least, a massage with jojoba oil would likely improve the absorption of the oil’s beneficial compounds, resulting in more prominent health benefits for your skin.

Types of Jojoba Oil

The are several types (grades) of jojoba oil. The one you should look for in the first place is cold-pressed jojoba oil, also known as virgin jojoba oil. Here’s how you can tell your jojoba oil is virgin:

• It features a beautiful golden color
• Is liquid at room temperature
• Solidifies at a temperature of 44 to 50 F (7 to 10 C)

If you are looking for the most natural type of jojoba oil product, this is your best choice.

Refined and bleached (lite) jojoba oil is transparent due to several rounds of bleaching and filtration. As a rule, this type of jojoba oil is used as an ingredient for cosmetic preparations and different oil blends, and shouldn’t be used for personal care.

Winterized jojoba oil is a type of jojoba oil that has been treated to be more cold-stable. While virgin jojoba oil freezes at 44 to 50 F, winterized jojoba stays liquid at temperatures well below that point. This feature makes winterized jojoba oil better suited for use and storage in cold regions, but it comes at a price. Winterized jojoba has significantly lower levels of certain lipids that are naturally present in virgin jojoba oil, and this may impair its health-enhancing properties.

All in all, we recommend using only cold-pressed (virgin) jojoba oil for better results.

How to Use Jojoba Oil

Now that you know about the many benefits of jojoba oil for your skin, hair, and nails, you’re likely curious about how exactly you can use this natural wonder.

Here are a few ways to try out!

• Use it as your go-to makeup remover
• Apply directly on your skin to reduce local dryness or irritation
• Put a bit of jojoba oil on your scalp and gently spread it all the way down to your hair tips. Let sit for 15-20 minutes, then wash off with your favorite shampoo
• Alternatively, you can add a few drops of virgin jojoba oil to any shampoo or conditioner and use it as you’re used to
• Rub a few drops of jojoba oil into your nails to enhance their health and soften the cuticles
• Gently rub a bit of jojoba oil into recent (but not open) wounds and scars to speed up the healing
• Use a cotton swab to dab some jojoba oil on acne spots to reduce local redness and inflammation
• Use jojoba oil as a pre- and post-shaving oil to prevent razor burn
• Put on a bit of jojoba oil on your face before going out in winter to protect your skin from the cold weather
• Apply a few drops of jojoba oil on your lips to reduce dryness and heal lip cracks