Jojoba oil: what is it and how do you use it?

Short answer: Jojoba oil comes from the seeds of the jojoba shrub (Simmondsia chinensis) and is chemically not really an oil but a liquid wax: about 98% of it is wax esters. You use jojoba oil externally, on your face, body and hair. The label of our jojoba oil says 2 to 3 drops on cleansed skin and 3 to 5 drops for hair and scalp. Do a small patch test first and keep it out of your eyes.

Last updated: 5 November 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

Here you can read what jojoba oil is, why it differs from other skin oils, how to use it and what to look out for. To be upfront: at GOYU we sell skin oils ourselves, including jojoba oil. That is why we stick to facts with a source and to what is on our label.

What is jojoba oil?

Jojoba oil is the liquid wax pressed from the seeds of the jojoba shrub. The shrub grows naturally in the deserts of North and Central America, such as the Sonoran Desert, and is now also cultivated in countries including Chile, Egypt and Argentina. About half of the seed (50 to 52% of its weight) consists of this wax (Gad et al., 2021).

• Latin name: Simmondsia chinensis. The name "chinensis" is misleading: the plant does not come from China.
• INCI name (the name on cosmetic labels): Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil.
• Other names: jojoba, in Dutch jojobaolie, in German Jojobaöl, in French huile de jojoba.

Cold-pressed jojoba oil is golden yellow and has almost no smell. Refined jojoba oil is almost colourless (Gad et al., 2021). According to its label, our jojoba oil is cold-pressed, organic and 100% pure: the only ingredient is Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil.

Why is jojoba oil really a liquid wax?

Jojoba oil is called a liquid wax because about 98% of it consists of wax esters and only very little of triglycerides (Gad et al., 2021). Most plant oils, such as argan oil and castor oil, consist mainly of triglycerides: three fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule. In jojoba, one long fatty acid is bound to one long fatty alcohol.

That is why jojoba is chemically very similar to spermaceti, the wax of the sperm whale (Gad et al., 2021). This is the composition according to the literature and our suppliers' specifications:

You notice this in two ways:

• It turns cloudy or solid in the cold. Jojoba melts at around 7 °C (Gad et al., 2021). In the fridge or in a cold place it can turn cloudy or solidify. At room temperature it becomes clear again. That is normal and says nothing about the quality.
• It goes rancid less quickly. Unprocessed jojoba oil is highly resistant to oxidation, partly thanks to the tocopherols it naturally contains. In refined jojoba most of these have been removed and the oil is less stable (Gad et al., 2021).

How do you use jojoba oil on your face?

On your face, use 2 to 3 drops of jojoba oil on cleansed skin. That is what the label of our jojoba oil says. You don't need more: a thin layer is enough. How to use jojoba oil in your daily face routine is explained in jojoba oil for your face: how to use it.

1. Cleanse your face and pat it dry.
2. Put 2 to 3 drops in your palm and rub your hands together briefly.
3. Gently press or pat the oil onto your skin. Stay away from your eyes.

Using jojoba oil for the first time? Do a small patch test first: one drop on the inside of your forearm, then wait a day or two. If you get redness, itching or bumps, don't use it.

Jojoba oil for your body and hair

For hair and scalp, our label says to massage 3 to 5 drops into your hair or scalp. You can use it on your body the same way as on your face, but for a larger area, such as your legs, you will naturally need a few more drops.

• Hair: rub the drops between your hands and spread them over your lengths and ends. Start with a little, otherwise your hair quickly looks greasy.
• Scalp: massage the drops in and then wash your hair as usual.
• Body: apply the oil to clean skin, for example after a shower.
• Mixing: jojoba is thin and easy to mix. Castor oil, on the other hand, is thick and viscous. A few drops of castor in your jojoba make the castor easier to spread.

What jojoba does to your hair has hardly been studied in humans. That is why we make no promises about its effect on your hair.

What does research say about jojoba oil on the skin?

A lot is known about the composition of jojoba oil, much less about what pure jojoba oil does to your skin. Much of the research is about lab tests, animals or medicines in which jojoba is used as a carrier (Gad et al., 2021). That says little about a cosmetic oil on your skin.

A small German study in 6 healthy volunteers looked at how deep four plant oils, including jojoba, and paraffin oil get into the skin (Patzelt et al., 2012). All oils stayed in the top layers of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of your skin. The researchers also measured how much water evaporated through the skin. Most oils reduced this water loss about as much as paraffin oil, jojoba did not. It involved 6 people, so see it as a pointer, not as proof.

Is jojoba oil comedogenic?

Whether pure jojoba oil clogs your pores has not been studied well in humans. Online, jojoba often gets a low "comedogenic rating", but such ratings come from old lists that are partly based on animal tests. A re-evaluation in humans showed that products containing supposedly comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic (Draelos and DiNardo, 2006). So such a rating says little about what jojoba does on your skin.

What about acne or spots? The only study in humans we found was about a clay mask containing jojoba oil: an open study without a control group, in which participants counted their own spots (Meier et al., 2012). You cannot draw any conclusions about pure jojoba oil from that, and we make no promises here either. If you struggle with acne, ask your GP or a dermatologist for advice.

Is jojoba oil safe? Side effects and allergy

You can be allergic to jojoba oil too. The medical literature contains a few case reports of contact allergy to jojoba (Wantke et al., 1996; Di Berardino et al., 2006). How often it happens is not known.

• Eyes: keep jojoba oil out of your eyes. In rabbits, refined jojoba oil in the eye caused temporary irritation that had cleared after 24 hours (Gad et al., 2021).
• Irritation: if you get redness or itching, stop. That is what our label says too.
• Children: keep the bottle out of the reach of children. If you want to use jojoba oil on a child, talk to your GP first.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding: jojoba oil is for external use only. If in doubt, talk to your GP or midwife.
• Do not swallow: our jojoba oil is a cosmetic product and is not meant to be eaten or taken internally.

How do you store jojoba oil and how long does it keep?

Store jojoba oil in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and close the bottle tightly after use. That is what our label says. The packaging also shows an open jar with "24 M": it means you can use it for 24 months after opening. Such a symbol is mandatory for cosmetics that keep for more than 30 months; with a shorter shelf life, a date is printed instead (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19).

If your jojoba oil suddenly smells sharp or rancid, stop using it.

Buying jojoba oil: what to look for

When buying jojoba oil, look mainly at what is in the bottle and how it was made. These points help:

• One ingredient: the ingredient list only says Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, without fragrance or other oils.
• Cold-pressed: cold-pressed jojoba is golden yellow. Almost colourless jojoba is usually refined.
• Organic: if you want organic, check whether the label says so.
• Packaging: a dark, tightly closing bottle keeps light out.

Torn between jojoba, argan and castor? In castor, jojoba or argan oil: which one to choose we put them side by side. Read more about argan in argan oil: what it is and how to use it.

Summary in 3 points

• Jojoba oil is a liquid wax from the seeds of Simmondsia chinensis: about 98% wax esters, golden yellow when cold-pressed, and cloudy below 7 °C.
• According to our label, use 2 to 3 drops on cleansed skin and 3 to 5 drops for hair and scalp, externally only and not in your eyes.
• There is little research in humans on the effects of pure jojoba on skin and hair. Do a small patch test first.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use jojoba oil in your hair?

Yes. The label of our jojoba oil says to massage 3 to 5 drops into your hair or scalp. Start with a little, because too much makes your hair greasy.

Why is my jojoba oil cloudy?

Jojoba melts at around 7 °C. In the cold it can turn cloudy or even solid. At room temperature it becomes clear again by itself, and the quality is unaffected.

Can you remove make-up with jojoba oil?

That is not on our label. If you do it anyway, don't use it around your eyes: the label says to avoid contact with the eyes.

Does jojoba oil help with eczema?

There is no evidence for that, and we don't promise it either. Jojoba oil is a cosmetic product, not a remedy for skin conditions. If you have eczema, ask your GP or a dermatologist what your skin needs.

Can you take jojoba oil internally?

No. Our jojoba oil is a cosmetic product and is for external use on skin and hair only.

Sources

1. Gad HA, Roberts A, Hamzi SH, Gad HA, Touiss I, Altyar AE, Kensara OA, Ashour ML. Review of the chemical composition, properties, uses and safety of jojoba oil. Polymers (Basel). 2021;13(11):1711. doi:10.3390/polym13111711. PubMed 34073772
2. Patzelt A, Lademann J, Richter H, Darvin ME, Schanzer S, Thiede G, Sterry W, Vergou T, Hauser M. Study in 6 healthy volunteers on how deep plant oils and paraffin oil penetrate the skin and on water loss through the skin. Skin Res Technol. 2012;18(3):364-369. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0846.2011.00578.x. PubMed 22092829
3. Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept, with a test of finished cosmetic products in 6 people. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(3):507-512. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1058. PubMed 16488305
4. Meier L, Stange R, Michalsen A, Uehleke B. Open observational pilot study without a control group of a clay mask containing jojoba oil. Forsch Komplementmed. 2012;19(2):75-79. doi:10.1159/000338076. PubMed 22585103
5. Wantke F, Hemmer W, Götz M, Jarisch R. Case reports of contact allergy to jojoba oil and two other cosmetic ingredients. Contact Dermatitis. 1996;34(1):71-72. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1996.tb02126.x. PubMed 8789240
6. Di Berardino L, Di Berardino F, Castelli A, Della Torre F. Case report of contact allergy to jojoba. Contact Dermatitis. 2006;55(1):57-58. doi:10.1111/j.0105-1873.2006.0847e.x. PubMed 16842559
7. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, Article 19 (labelling). EUR-Lex
8. GOYU, label Jojoba Oil 500 ml (ingredients, directions for use, warnings, storage advice and period after opening) and our suppliers' product specifications (fatty acid profile), consulted 5 November 2026.

You will find all our skin oils on the page buy skin oils.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Our skin oils are cosmetic products for external use only. If you have a skin condition or are in doubt, talk to your GP or a dermatologist.