Not sure if you've noticed but skin care oils are having a major moment. The thing is the use of natural oils to help nourish and feed our skin has been around for ages. People have also been using oils as a treatment for wounds, scars, and other ailments. It’s just now becoming a lot more mainstream with new beauty companies putting their hand in the pot and developing insanely overpriced oil concoctions. Consumers are wanting to reduce their chemical exposure and introduce more natural ingredients. My first foray into using oils for my skin was back in college when I was using a cleansing oil to remove my makeup. I remember back then it was the weirdest feeling and the concept seemed a bit out of wack. Especially considering I had really oily skin back then so the thought of using oil didn’t make sense. However, now that I’m older and wiser (#wink) I’ve learned that there is nothing bad about fighting oil with oil even if it does seem counterintuitive. It’s helped level my skin out and has gotten it to a condition of being able to go make-up free.

Nowadays, I have a few different oils in my beauty cabinet but the one I can’t get enough is jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba, which I was pronouncing as yo-ho-ba; tomato; tomoto right?!) It wasn’t until I was searching for an alternative to coconut oil that the door to jojoba oil was opened. I can see you guys dropping your jaws in disbelief that someone doesn’t like coconut oil. I know people swear by it and it’s their holy grail of oils but coconut oil is not for me. Don’t get me wrong, coconut oil has its place and is great for many things but when it comes to my skin, jojoba oil is queen bee in my opinion.

So what exactly is Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba Oil is extracted from the seed of the jojoba shrub. It is native to northwest Mexico, southern Arizona and California, where the region is hot and dry. The pure version has a bright, clear golden color; basically it’s liquid gold. Jojoba oil is light, non-greasy (so long as you don’t have a heavy hand) and virtually has no scent.

Oils have been long praised for their great benefits they provide to our hair and skin. What makes jojoba oil so great and why it reigns supreme is because it closely resembles the natural oil our skin produces (sebum). Because of this, it not only absorbs faster than other oils, it works great to restore the natural balance of moisture in our skin and hair. This also means it works great for all types of skin; young, mature, acne-prone, dry, or oily.

Jojoba oil is full of nutrients such as vitamin E so it has naturally built in anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it great to treat topical skin ailments like sunburns, small cuts, and scars. 

This one oil is a beauty multitasker that can easily be incorporated it into your beauty routine.

1. Facial Cleanser & Make-Up Remover: Jojoba oil is great as a facial cleanser and make-up remover. Take a few drops in the palm of your hand and massage it over your face and eyes, then rinse with warm water. Alternatively, you can apply a few drops to a cotton pad or onto your finger tips to dissolve mascara and eyeliner. Because it mimics the oil in our skin it won’t clog your pores.

2. Body Moisturizer: It's a great summertime option when a cream lotion might feel too heavy. All you have to do is apply a few drops right after you shower to lock in the moisture. You can easily use it all year round but if you happen to live someplace cold and like a thicker moisturizer in winter you can apply some shea butter over the jojoba oil for some extra hydration.

3. Cuticle Oil: Using jojoba oil is a great option to keep your cuticles and nail beds moisturized and healthy looking. Since jojoba oil contains Vitamin E it's naturally anti-bacterial so no worries if you have a small cut or cracked cuticle. Take a small drop of jojoba oil and massage it gently into your cuticles and nail bed. If you're using jojoba oil as a body moisturizer than you can easily tackle those cuticles with any leftover oil on your hands.

4. Moisturize Hair (& Beards): Jojoba oil is a great oil to use on hair. The oil softens, strengthens, and hydrates your hair. You can apply a quarter size amount to your hands and then smooth it over damp hair concentrating on the ends. Additionally, massaging jojoba oil onto your scalp will also help to keep dandruff at bay. Leave the oil on for 10-15 minutes and then wash it out. If you have split ends, you can rub a couple of drops to the ends. As for beards, this oil does wonders to keep the beard mane looking healthy and feeling soft. Even if the man in your life isn't a big on "beauty" or grooming of his beard, the oil is such a quick and easy way to tame it. Take a few drops in the palm of your hand and massage it into the beard hair and skin. It's just as important for the skin under the beard to be moisturized along with the beard hair.

5. Reduces stretch marks & scars: Jojoba oil is rich in Vitamin E which is known to reduce scarring and helps to speed up the healing process. Massage some drops onto the effected areas to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars.

6. Pre/Post Shave Treatment: Due it's ability to resemble our natural oil production using jojoba oil has pre-shave oil is a great foundation before you shave. Additionally, applying a few drops post-shave will sooth and condition the skin, leaving it soft and smooth, but not greasy. It also won’t sting like many aftershaves or lotions that contain alcohol and other harsh ingredients.

7. Carrier Oil: If you like dabbling in making your own oils then you probably already know that Jojoba Oil is a great starting point. Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils prior to applying them to your skin/hair.

As you can see this oil is a beauty must-have that can conquer a lot for a little. You can find decent sized bottles for under $15, which ends up lasting a long time. Keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different and what one person’s skin might love could be an irritant to someone else. With all the fancy oils out there costing in excess of $150+ it’s nice to get back to basics with something simple, all natural, inexpensive, and so good for your skin.