Jojoba oil is beneficial for almost every skin type and age, and is super versatile. Today we’re talking about what it can do to help combat dry winter hands.
My plan for this post was to tell you about my experience using jojoba oil as a hair conditioner — following the suggestion of another natural beauty blogger. BUT…before I could even talk about what it was doing for my hair, I realized how amazing this oil was for my hands. So here we are, my friends!
With cold weather and rough dry skin coming our way soon, I thought the timing was perfect to talk about jojoba oil as the perfect solution to soften and moisturize dry, flaky or even cracked hands.
I’m sure you already know that our skin gets drier in the winter months due to dry indoor heating combined with cold, windy outdoor elements. Our skin also tends to dry out more easily as we age. But I’m happy to say, there’s a natural solution to help prevent this!
What is Jojoba Oil?
Jojoba oil (pronounced ho-HO-ba) is actually a liquid wax ester — not an oil — that closely resembles the natural sebum in our skin. It comes from a desert shrub known as the Simmondsia Chinensis plant found in the southwestern U.S.
European missionaries first discovered indigenous people in the Sonoran desert in the 1700s collecting the jojoba seeds, pressing them, and utilizing them for skin, hair and medicinal purposes. I love it when a natural ingredient has been used successfully for hundreds of years!
Today, jojoba oil is cold-pressed by machine from the seeds of the plant — which are about the size of a coffee bean. This waxy substance is sometimes further refined or bleached. When unrefined, it has a golden hue and when refined, it’s clear.
What are the benefits of jojoba oil for dry hands?
- Jojoba absorbs very easily into our skin and is able to penetrate deeper than other oils and lotions. I’ve already mentioned that Jojoba is a wax that very closely resembles the natural sebum in our skin. As a result, it absorbs easily because it’s more biocompatible with our skin than other oils like coconut, argan and almond, for example. [Source: Healthline]
- Jojoba oil adds moisture. There are two things at work here: Jojoba has both humectant and emollient properties. Humectants draw moisture in (from the air or from the deeper layers of our skin) and emollients help to seal in that moisture.
When the top layer of your skin dries out — this can cause your skin to crack, leaving open spaces between the cells. Emollients found in jojoba fill those spaces with fatty substances, called lipids, which make your skin smoother and softer. - It’s rich in antioxidants and other nutrients. Jojoba contains the skin-nourishing antioxidant Vitamin E, plus vitamins A and D. It also has Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, which help to plump our skin and keep it healthy.
- It helps to soothe skin. Vitamin E and the B-complex vitamins in the oil can alleviate temporary redness, cracking and irritation. And while I haven’t done a ton of research on this: there are many claims that jojoba is antibacterial and promotes healing for cuts and wounds.
Before discussing how to use jojoba for
dry hands…let’s take a quick look at traditional lotions.
What’s wrong with store-bought hand lotions?
Since I’m not a cosmetics chemist, I can’t tell you that drugstore hand lotions are bad for you. From what I know, most of them are just fine and not harmful when used properly. Some of them even contain jojoba oil.
But here on Honest and Simple — I like to offer a minimal approach to skincare because that’s what I practice myself with good results. And I’ll be honest with you when the results aren’t so great.
Here’s what I’ve learned after five years of a minimal approach to skincare: in many cases, simple ingredients work just as well as fancy, more expensive formulas that are “over-marketed.”
Over-marketing is when brands make empty or hard-to-prove claims to entice you to buy. One example is when they use a tiny amount of a desirable ingredient — like argan oil, for example — so they can hype it on the label. In reality, there’s not enough of the premium ingredient to make a difference to your skin. The company saves money (by using a tiny amount) and you get duped into thinking you have a superior product.
Tips on Buying Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is readily available at some department stores, drugstores and natural product suppliers, as well as from Amazon. Personally, I tend to steer clear of Amazon for skincare oils because there are reports of some adultered oils or cheap substitutes being sold there. [I have no proof, but some reviews seem to bear this out.]
Prices for jojoba vary widely. I’ve seen it for $1.75/per ounce (or $6.99 for a four-ounce bottle) on WalMart.com and as much as $3.74/per ounce or $14.95 for four-ounces on Mountain Rose Herbs, which is one of my favorite vendors.
All Mountain Rose Herb products are ethically and sustainably sourced and of the highest quality. [This is an affiliate link, which means if you purchase from them I’ll receive a small commission. Read my full policy here.]
If you haven’t used jojoba before, I recommend starting with a 4-ounce bottle — which should be enough for one winter season.
How to Store Jojoba Oil
Because it’s a wax and not a true oil, Jojoba is extremely shelf-stable and not prone to rancidity, unlike a lot of other beauty oils. Translation: It has a long shelf-life.
Note that jojoba oil may become cloudy and solidify as the temperature drops. No worries — this is a normal process that occurs from the hardening of the fats and waxes, and it will become stable at or around room temperature.
Consider a Patch Test: Jojoba oil is typically good for all skin types, including sensitive skin. But if you have allergies or sensitivities, you still might want to do a patch test before using it. Apply a small amount to the inside of your arm and wait 24 hours to see if any reaction develops.
How to Use Jojoba Oil to Soften and Moisturize Your Hands
Now to the good stuff! It’s very simple to use jojoba for your hands. Just pour a small amount into your palm and gently massage it into your hands until it’s all absorbed. A little goes a long way — about a nickel size for each hand should be good.
As I see it, the biggest problems people have when using carrier oils are choosing the wrong oil for the application or using too much, resulting in a greasy feel. This shouldn’t happen with jojoba if you go easy with it.
Jojoba is also great for your cuticles and nails. If those are problem areas for you, be sure to give them some extra love.
Bonus: Jojoba Oil is Environmentally Friendly
Interesting side-note: Jojoba only started to get more attention in the cosmetics industry in the 1970s — after the use of whale oil was banned for beauty products. Some of us remember “Save the Whales” campaigns around this issue. Turns out, whale oil and jojoba are quite similar molecularly. Thankfully, we’re no longer killing whales for beauty products {shudder…} and we now have a much more sustainable option.
In fact, jojoba has a low environmental impact, compared with many other natural ingredients. Only the seeds are harvested, so re-planting isn’t necessary. Plus the plant is drought-tolerant and pest-resistant — minimizing the use of water and pesticides. For the environmental win!
Let’s Sum Up
If you type “jojoba oil” into a search engine, you’ll quickly learn it has a whole lot of other beneficial uses for your skin, lips and hair. Today, we only touched on what it can do for dry hands. But just be aware this oil is versatile! I’m hoping to blog about some other ways to use it soon.
Aside from using it on my hands, I’ve been using jojoba successfully on my face for the Oil Cleansing Method for two years now.
What’s to Love About It:
- Jojoba is a safe and beneficial oil for all skin types.
- It absorbs easily and penetrates into the deeper layers of your skin.
- Jojoba contains both humectants and emollients, helping to attract moisture and lock it in.
- Its antioxidants help to fight the signs of aging.
- It contains skin-nourishing vitamins, which help to maintain healthy skin.
- In short, it can leave your skin smoother, softer and well-moisturized.
While I can’t guarantee it will work for you — there are a lot of great reasons to give jojoba oil a try and decide for yourself if it’s worth a spot in your cosmetics bag!
Now it’s your turn. Let me know if you’ve used jojoba before or if you’re planning to try it.
I am not a licensed nutritionist, medical professional or cosmetics expert. The information provided on Honest + Simple is for general informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food + Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease. Before making decisions about your health or other concerns, please consult a qualified professional and do not rely on this website for medical advice.
