Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Jojoba oil is an important and highly valued ingredient in skin care for its moisturizing and protective properties. Being originally native to southwestern North America, where environmental conditions are arid, the plant is primarily grown for its oil. Oil is extracted from seeds containing about 50% oil by weight.
Although it certainly does share the moisturizing and nourishing benefits many plant oils share, there is no doubt that it differs from most oils out there with regard to its chemical makeup. While most plant oils are naturally triglycerides and simply a compound made up of glycerin bonded to three fatty acids, jojoba oil is actually a wax ester. It takes up a single molecule that results from a relationship between a fatty acid and a fatty alcohol. It is this more than anything that gives jojoba oil very particular properties.
One of the excellent features of jojoba oil is its good chemical stability. In contrast to most plant oils that become degraded or rancid with time, jojoba oil can maintain itself intact under a variety of extreme conditions, even maintaining stability up to a temperature of 370°C for a long period of time. This, in turn, makes jojoba oil resistant to oxidation, hence remaining active in cosmetic formulation over many years without a reduction in properties.
Mechanistically, when applied to the skin, jojoba oil acts via two major modes of action. First, it forms a thin semi-occluding film on the surface of the skin, which amalgamates with the natural sebum of the skin into a sort of barrier. This physical barrier protects the skin not only from external environmental stressors but also prevents water loss, thus maintaining skin hydration. Second, jojoba oil diffuses through open pores and hair follicles into the outermost layer of skin, known as the stratum corneum. The deeper absorption helps soften the skin from the inside out, keeping it nourished, supple, and well-hydrated.
Wax esters, found in nature, form a thin layer on the surface of leaves and protect them against hostile environmental conditions. In human sebum, wax esters are 25-30% and play a very important role in skin protection and hydration. The structure allows jojoba oil to stay longer on the skin compared to other types of oils. Therefore, jojoba oil is especially effective for long-lasting hydration and protection.
Simply put, jojoba oil is a special and unique wax ester that is highly stable and has double-action moisturization. It differs from other plant oils in that it is able to combine with the skin's natural oils, performing protection while deeply infiltrating it and enhancing skin suppleness. Unable to oxidize and with lasting hydration, jojoba oil is set to become an active ingredient of choice within personal care formulations that will help ensure improved skin health and hydration continuity.