Information on Jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
In reality, jojoba oil is not an oil but a liquid wax, and is pronounced “ho-ho-ba”. It became important in the 1970s when whaling was banned, since it has almost the same properties as the oil obtained from the sperm whale.
Since Jojoba Golden Oil is composed of wax esters, it is an extremely stable substance and does not easily deteriorate. The structure closely resembles that of your own skin sebum, making it an excellent moisturizer and ideal for all skin types.
When used as a massage medium, Jojoba acts as an emulsifier with the skin’s natural sebum and gently unclogs the pores and lifts grime and imbedded impurities.
Jojoba contains myristic acid, which also has anti-inflammatory actions, and since it has a similar in composition to that of the skin’s own oils, it is quickly absorbed and is excellent for dry and mature skins as well as inflamed conditions.
If a good nourishing ingredient is ideal when used for hair care, jojoba oil is also sometimes added to commercial hair care products, but due to the cost of jojoba, quantities included are low.
Jojoba can in most cases be used on acne skin without any problems as it helps to control acne, it is also an antioxidant – so the oil does not become rancid and can prevent rancidity in other oils. It can be used pure in massage, or can be mixed with other carrier oils.
Other Carrier or Base Oils
Other fatty oils (also called excipients, base or carrier oils in Aromatherapy) can be mixed with grapeseed oil to provide their therapeutic properties:
Grape Seed Oil is commonly used for body and facial massages, in hair care products and skin care products. This oil can be mixed with Jojoba ,as Grapeseed will provide extra anti-oxidant and toning properties to the blend.
Jojoba oil (actually a form of plant wax) can also be added to this oil in a blend. Jojoba oil is more expensive, so mixing it with a cheaper carrier may be a good idea, and will provide its mild anti-bacterial properties to a blend. Jojoba oil mimics the natural sebum of the skin and emulsifies dirt (the filament) in the pores, helping to cleanse the skin.
Aloe Vera can be added to a carrier oil blend for healing purposes, Avocado for it’s rich moisturising properties and wheat germ oil is a marvelous base oil that contains vitamin E which helps to preserve the shelf life of a blend, while encouraging cell growth in the skin and combating dermatitis.
All carrier oils offer their own therapeutic properties which can be blended together or used on their own for various treatment option on the skin.
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