Whenever possible, most people would prefer to swap out processed beauty products filled with chemicals for ones that are made from natural ingredients. There are a few natural beauty products that are worth trying, but one of the best that you can use is jojoba oil because of a number of health benefits.
While it’s technically not an oil, but a wax ester, jojoba oil is distilled from the seeds of the jojoba tree native to the Southwestern US and Mexico. It offers numerous properties that make it beneficial for healthier skin and hair.
Jojoba oil is gentle enough that you can apply it directly on its own, but you can always add other oils to it as well for added benefits.
If you’re interested in trying out jojoba oil, here are six different benefits for your health and ways you can use it.
1. Soothes and Eliminates Unsightly, Cracked Heels
At some point, everyone will likely experience cracked heels. Cracked heels are not only unsightly, they can be painful. This is especially a problem during the summer when you might feel like you have to ditch sandals for something that covers feet because of dry skin.
Thankfully, jojoba can help as it’s very similar to sebum, a natural oil present in the body. Grind a tablespoon of oatmeal into a fine powder and then create a paste by adding a small amount of jojoba oil.
Apply to any cracks in your heels and then gently massage it in, allowing the mixture to sit for approximately 30 minutes before rinsing and patting dry. Repeat once a day until the cracks have become smooth once again.
2. Moisturizes Multiple Skin Types
One of the top reasons that people use jojoba oil is for its moisturizing properties. It can even be more useful for different skin types than many of the other essential oils. As jojoba oil has a consistency and molecular structure like sebum, it works very well for moisturizing skin without leading to breakouts.
Ideal for acne sufferers, it can actually trick the skin into thinking its produced enough oil. In turn, that decreases sebum on the surface of the skin. Studies have also shown that it contains anti-inflammatories which can help prevent or reduce redness and swelling.
Since jojoba oil is so moisturizing, it can greatly benefit dry skin prone to conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. While talking dryness and flaking, it also helps reduce inflammation that can come with these conditions.
Jojoba oil is also effective when used as an anti-aging moisturizer. As it doesn’t evaporate like water-based moisturizers, it’s ideal for providing a substantial, long-acting layer of moisture. As it’s also chock full of nutrients, as mentioned previously, including a high level of antioxidants, it helps to nourish and protect the skin while keeping it younger looking too.
3. Get Rid of Athlete’s Foot
Repairing cracked heels isn’t the only way jojoba oil can benefit your feet. Jojoba is one of the best natural products that you can use to treat fungal infections. Thanks to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, jojoba can help get rid of athlete’s foot.
All you need to do is apply two or three drops of the oil to the affected area, allowing the skin to absorb it. Apply three times each day until the condition has cleared. You can use jojoba oil for some other types of fungal infections as well, such as warts and toenail fungus.
4. Prevents Razor Burn
Razor burns can cause pain in large areas of your body, as well as making your skin look unattractive. To help prevent razor burn, try using jojoba oil.
Be sure to keep a bottle of jojoba oil around to use before shaving as it creates a smoother surface while moisturizing beforehand to prevent razor burn. This will help razors glide easily over skin, preventing it from nicking any rough patches.
Simply rub a few drops onto your skin to ensure a smooth shave without razor bumps or a rash. After you are done, you can even apply more oil to make skin extra-soft and help retain moisture.
5. Repairs Damaged Hair and Promote Healthier Hair Growth
Similar to its skin-saving abilities, jojoba oil can also do wonders for your hair. As jojoba is jam-packed with nutrients like vitamins A, E, and D, it’s well known for helping to nourish all types of hair. If you’re suffering from damaged hair and want to promote new, healthier growth, it can be particularly effective.
To use it for this purpose, add a small amount of jojoba oil into a microwave-safe bowl, using just enough to saturate your hair. Heat the oil in a microwave until it’s warm but not too hot. Next, dip your fingers in to apply.
Start about one inch from the scalp, working it through your hair with your fingers, coating it evenly to ensure the hair shafts are thoroughly saturated. Wrap your head in a towel and allow the oil to sit for 20 to 30 minutes before washing and conditioning as normal.
6. Helps Heal Cuts and Other Injuries
If you have minor scrapes and cuts, jojoba oil might be the perfect way to encourage them to heal quicker. If you’ve suffered from an open wound, one of your top priorities should be getting it to close back up.
Putting jojoba oil on an injury can help skin heal and bind the wound. Although it’s not pain caused by an open skin injury, it can also help soothe and heal the pain caused by sunburn. In fact, using jojoba oil can help keep you from getting a sunburn to begin with.
By applying jojoba oil to open wounds, not only do you heal the wounds faster, but you also help prevent scars from forming. This isn’t just applicable to scars from cuts and scrapes, but scarring from acne as well. By healing wounds faster and keeping the skin in that area well moisturized, it reduces the chances of scars forming after it’s healed.
Jojoba oil contains vitamin E oil, which is commonly recommended for reducing the appearance of scars. Even if you have a scar that’s formed from a wound that wasn’t treated with jojoba oil, applying it to the affected area may help.
