Definition: Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is referred to as a vegetable oil, but it's actually a liquid wax that comes from the seed of the Jojoba, a shrub found in the Southwest. The oil is usually refined to be odourless and colourless.

When it became illegal in the US to use sperm whale oil in the mid-'70s, funding was provided to investigate where Jojoba oil could take its place. Native Americans used the oil to heal wounds, protect the skin, condition the skin and soften the scalp. The ingredient proved to have a wide variety of uses, from dissolving excess sebum from the scalp to protecting crops from white flies.

Try Endota Spa Aloe & Jojoba Face Scrub ($45), Dr. Hauschka Jojoba and Marsh Mallow Conditioner ($37), Ella Baché Crème Jojoba ($83) and Aveda All-Sensitive Body Formula ($54.95).

Stockists: Aveda (1300 300 054), Ella Baché (1300 136 661), Endota Spa (1300 363 682).