Monday 5 May 2014

Jojoba Oil



Jojoba oil has to be one of my favourite natural skincare products. There are countless things you can use this oil for. And because you rarely need more than three or four drops at any one time, one bottle is going to really last you a long time.
This amazing multi-purpose oil is the liquid produced in the seed of the Jojoba plant, native to Southern Arizona, Southern California, and North West Mexico. It is a clear golden liquid with a slightly nutty odour.
A lot of products catered to skin and body now include Jojoba oil in their ingredients, because of its many benefits for our skin.


So let's take a look at some of the ways it can be incorporated into anybody's beauty regime!

Regulates oil production
A lot of people are scared to use oils on their face, especially when they suffer from acne or already have oily skin. But Jojoba oil has a composition similar to our skin's natural sebum and this actually regulates the oil production in our skin! A couple of drops is plenty and you can massage this into your face alone or else under your moisturiser. Jojoba Oil will not clog your pores either, so that's another reason for those of you with oily skin to give it a go!

Promotes Healing
Centuries ago, Jojoba oil was originally used for healing wounds. This function of the oil is great for those of you who suffer from acne/scarring as it will help to clear up blemishes and marks on the face. By no means will this work overnight, but incorporate it into your daily skin regime and you will really see the results in a couple of weeks.

Makeup Remover
I adore using this as a make-up remover. So many cleansers I have tried which claim to be 'gentle' have irritated my skin or dried it out. (All those nasty additives/chemicals can really strip your skin of moisture). 
All you have to do with this oil is place a few drops on a cotton ball/pad and gently wipe your make-up away. The oil instantly dissolves it so you won't need to pull and drag on your skin. Keep placing a few drops onto your cotton pad and continue the previous step until all your make-up is gone. Before putting any water on your skin, massage a creamy cleanser onto it for a few seconds and then rinse. This will effectively remove the oil off of your face. You'll notice how soft your skin feels afterwards!

Jojoba oil is gentle enough to be placed around the eyes, so it also makes a fantastic eye make-up remover. There's nothing more annoying than having to pull and tug at your eyes with an eye make-up remover, only to leave them stingy and sore. Jojoba oil won't sting or irritate your eyes and does a really good job at getting eye-liner, eye-shadow and mascara off (even the waterproof kind!), with a few gentle swipes on cotton wool.

Moisturiser
If you want skin that is oil controlled yet hydrated, this oil is for you. After I cleanse my skin at night I put 2-3 drops of this on my finger and massage it all over my face and neck. You definitely don't need any more than this as a little really does go a long way. If there is a lot of greasy residue left behind on your skin then you have used too much. Using the bare minimum will ensure that the oil will absorb into your skin quickly and completely and not cause any breakouts.
It is also amazing as an all over body moisturiser. I like to use it on slightly damp skin so it can lock in even more moisture. Your skin will feel silky smooth afterwards!

I avoid using this as a daytime moisturiser/under my moisturiser. The main reason is that I don't want any oils on my face when I'm exposed to UV rays. Oil attracts the sun and this will only invite harmful rays onto your skin.

Other Uses:
  • As a leave in conditioner. Place a few drops onto the ends of dry hair before you shampoo-makes hair silky and soft (only use a few drops to ensure it doesn't leave your hair greasy)
  • Great for a dry/itchy scalp (massage into scalp before shampooing hair)
  • Prevents cracked heels when applied regularly to feet
  • When applied before shaving it will prevent razor burn and leave your skin nice and smooth
I buy mine at Holland & Barrett. While the price has gone up recently, at €20.99 it is still fairly reasonable as it is a large bottle and lasts a long time. As well as this it can also replace a number of expensive beauty products, thus saving you money in the long run. You'll only ever be using a few drops at a time! Plus it's lovely to know that the product you are using on your face/body/hair is completely natural and free from any harsh chemicals/additives.


Why not give this versatile oil a go and see what you think!






Sinéad









2 comments:

  1. I'll be keeping an eye out here in Spain to see where I can buy it :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Any health food store should have it :)

    ReplyDelete