While it may seem like beauty oils and butters are having a moment, we’ve known about their incredible benefits for years. That’s why we use a variety of organic, cold-pressed oils like the gorgeous rosehip oil in our Hella Hydrating Serum and a rich blend of organic plant-based butters and oils including organic cocoa butter and shea in our bestselling Ultra-Moisturizing Body Butter. However, one of our favourite oils found in both our Fresh Face Cleanser and Eye Elixir deserves a special shout out: organic golden jojoba!
While it often doesn’t get as much attention as rosehip oil, jojoba is packed with incredible skin-loving benefits making it a no-brainer addition to any well-rounded skincare routine. Below we’ll outline everything you need to know for a natural glow up including what jojoba oil is, the difference between golden and regular jojoba, its incredible beauty benefits, and why you want to look for certified organic oil!
What is jojoba oil?
While we refer to jojoba as an “oil” it’s actually a wax that looks like an oil. This oil is pressed from the seed of the Simmondsia chinensi plant, also known as the jojoba plant. It is a hearty, shrubby perennial plant that is native to North America and can grow in harsh, desert climates.
This oil is gentle and safe enough to use on its own or as a carrier oil for other plant extracts. It has a long shelf life, making it perfect for products that don’t rely on preservatives, and remains quite stable at high temperatures. It’s comprised primarily monounsaturated fatty acids, which is what provides its stability. While they aren’t quite as stable as saturated fats, they are less prone to rancidity than polyunsaturated fatty acids.
What’s the difference between regular and golden jojoba oil?
You might notice that our Fresh Face Cleanser and Eye Elixir are made with organic golden jojoba and be wondering what the difference is between that and regular jojoba oil. The main difference is in the pressing.
Golden jojoba oil is cold-pressed, a process that ensures that the final product retains all of the incredible healing, nourishing, and skin-loving benefits outlined above. During cold-pressing there is never any high heat or intense processing used to extract the oils from the seeds.
Cold-pressing jojoba oil also helps protect the stability and shelf life of the monounsaturated fatty acids, since they can be sensitive to heat, light, and air. Regular processing with heat can cause rancidity and destroy all the delicate antioxidant properties found in the golden oil. Cold-pressed oils don’t have that problem since the process is done at a much lower temperature. You want your jojoba oil to have a beautiful golden hue and a slightly earthy smell that isn’t sour or rancid. That’s how you know it’s as close to pure and fresh as possible.
On the other hand, clear jojoba oil is often highly refined and decolourized. That means that many of the nourishing and healing antioxidants and plant compounds have been removed. So while it will still be moisturizing, you likely won’t see the same nourishing benefits that you would get from golden jojoba. Cold-pressed golden jojoba is the way to go for a natural glow!
Why choose organic jojoba oil?
At Hello Joyous we’re just as passionate about the health of the planet as we are about skincare. That’s why in addition to all of our products being cruelty-free, vegan, and made with plant powered formulas we’re also a proud member of 1% for the Planet. That’s also why choosing organic ingredients is our top priority.
Non-organic plants are farmed conventionally, which means they are often heavily sprayed with synthetic herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides and non-organic fertilizers to increase crop yield. These pesticides can contaminate the oils from jojoba and over time lead to build up of pesticide residues in your body. Unfortunately, many of these synthetic pesticides contain hormone-disrupting chemicals that can have long term effects on your hormone and skin health and the health of the planet. In addition to using safer alternatives to conventional pesticides, organic farming tends to be better for the environment and uses sustainable practices that increase soil fertility and biodiversity.
The best way to ensure that you are getting the purest, most potent, and least contaminated jojoba oil is to always use organic. In order to be certified by a third party, organic products cannot be treated with conventional pesticides or irradiation, nor can they contain artificial colours, preservatives, or caking agents. That’s why you’ll only see organic plants, oils, and extracts in all of our skincare products, including organic golden jojoba in our Fresh Face Cleanser and Eye Elixir.
1. Jojoba is rich in antioxidants
You’ve probably seen vitamin E advertised in many drugstore brand skincare products as an added antioxidant for skin health. Well, when you use golden jojoba oil there’s no need for additives because it’s a rich source of natural vitamin E. This vitamin functions as an antioxidant on the skin to help protect against free radical damage and support a healthy glow. It’s also rich in other nutrients such as vitamin B, minerals, and phytonutrients to nourish your skin. Organic, golden jojoba has the highest concentration of these nutrients, which is why we use it in our Fresh Face Cleanser and Eye Elixir!
2. Jojoba deeply moisturizes skin
Thanks to its humectant properties jojoba oil is an incredible moisturizer for the skin. As a humectant, it attracts water to the top layer of your skin for maximum hydration and moisture protection, which is great for skin barrier health! A healthy skin barrier is the foundation of a natural glow, which is why we wrote a whole piece about it here.
3. Jojoba is antibacterial
Since it contains high levels of iodine, jojoba has natural antibacterial benefits, making it a great choice for those who may struggle with bacterial acne. Combined with the antibacterial benefits of the organic lemon balm and rose geranium distillates in our Magical Mist Toner, you’ll have great support for acne-prone skin!
4. Jojoba is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic
We love jojoba for skin because its chemical makeup is so similar to sebum it is non-comedogenic, making it perfect for anyone with sensitive skin prone to breakouts or clogged pores. Another benefit of this composition is that when you apply it to your skin, it can send a message that your body has already produced enough sebum, helping to regulate your skin’s oil production. Since over producing oil can be one cause of acne, it makes it one of the safest oils to use on acne-prone skin.
This similarity to the skin’s natural sebum also makes jojoba hypoallergenic and safe for all skin types.
5. Jojoba helps soothe skin irritation
All of the benefits outlined above work together to help protect and soothe your skin from irritation. It can help alleviate dry, flaky, itchy skin thanks to its high levels of antioxidants and the nourishing and hydrating benefits of the fatty acids. People with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis may find the soothing properties of this oil especially beneficial.
6. Can help your skin age gracefully
Dry skin is skin that looks tired and can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. Because jojoba is such a strong moisturizing oil, it can help improve the softness and suppleness of your skin, especially when combined with the anti-inflammatory power of its antioxidants. Since it’s such a potent skin saver, we added it to our Eye Elixir to help protect the delicate skin around your eyes from premature aging.
Whether you are looking for a gentle cleanser to help balance sebum production, while gently hydrating your skin or you want to protect and moisturize the delicate skin around your eyes, golden jojoba makes the perfect “it” oil to add to your routine! Shop for a Fresh Face or give your Eyes an Elixir and get ready for a natural glow up!
