The Scoop on Jojoba Oil

I feel like I talk about Coconut Oil all the time, without giving a whole lot of attention to the other amazing natural oils that we can use in our skin and hair care routines - these types of natural ingredients not only cut down on the amounts of chemicals and toxins our bodies absorb on a daily basis, but they also save us money - Who doesn't want that?

So today I wanted to give you the scoop on Jojoba Oil.  This one has a funny name, so it's easy to remember, but not a lot of people actually know WHAT jojoba oil is.  Technically speaking, jojoba oil is really a wax.  It's extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant, a species of shrub native to North America.  It is used - widely - in beauty products, and has a huge range of benefits for the hair and skin.

Skin Care

Jojoba oil is a hugely beneficial ingredient for the skin because of it's moisturizing and conditioning properties.  Used alone in small amounts (we're talking 5-10 drops), jojoba oil can double as a makeup remover, skin moisturizer, massage oil, and even a lip conditioner.  It is ideal for those with sensitive skin and can even assist in preventing razor burn following a shave or in repairing skin with sun damage. 

An additional benefit to using jojoba oil on your skin is that it doesn't leave the oily residue that many store bought creams and lotions do.  If you have a favorite body lotion that you just can't part with, you can even add jojoba oil to your store bought products to assist them in softening and moisturizing the skin - typically these products become even more effective with only 2 or 3 drops of jojoba oil added to them.

Hair Care

Because of the conditioning and moisturizing properties of natural jojoba oil, it can be a miracle worker on dry and damaged hair.   Applying a small amount (quarter-sized amount to the palm of your hand) of jojoba oil to your damp hair after a shower, concentrating on the ends, will work as a conditioning treatment to repair damage and limit frizz.

Be careful about buying shampoos and conditioners with jojoba oil already in them - because of the high frequency of chemical toxins in many store bought hair care products, you need to be wary of the "Dirty Dozen."  Many times, using the oil in it's natural form will get you the best results.

Where to Buy Jojoba Oil

While jojoba oil isn't the toughest thing in the world to find, it's not going to be in every grocery store like coconut oil is - it's also slightly more expensive than coconut oil, but still cost effective.  Depending on the size of the container, jojoba oil generally retails between $10-$20, and you can purchase it in bulk for $30-$40... though, given the tiny amount you need for hair and skin care, you likely wouldn't ever need to buy it in bulk.  Below are a few online resources for purchasing jojoba oil if you aren't able to locate any in health stores near you:

Want to know more about beauty products and their impact on your health?
Check out these articles from The Cozy Life.

Is it "Safe?" - eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

I've done a lot of talking about what types of chemicals and toxins to avoid in your skin, nail, and hair care routines lately, so I thought that I'd go through my stash of beauty products and find something that we can really dive into.  I decided on a product that many, many, MANY women have bought in the past year or two - eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm. 

This product is cute, comes in numerous flavors and colors, and has more celebrity endorsements than Wheaties.  I bought my first one about a year ago after seeing how obsessed my boss was with them - she literally collects them.  I'm pretty sure she has one of every color, even the new Visibly Soft flavors, Coconut Milk and Vanilla Mint (the striped packaging is adorable).  These are a bit pricier than "off brand" lip balms, but definitely still super affordable - I typically see them around $3-$4 each depending on where I'm shopping.

Are eos Lip Balm products "safe cosmetics?"

Each flavor varies slightly in ingredients, but the core components are the same.  Because blue is one of my favorite colors, we'll take a look at the ingredients of the Blueberry Acai flavor.

Ingredients:
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax/CERA ALBA (Cire d’abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract*, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract*, Limonene**, Linalool**.  
*Organic. **Component of Natural Flavor. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. 

Quickly you'll notice that every single ingredient is classified as "organic," which is a huge step in the right direction for a lip balm.  Many lip balms contain petrolatum, a moisture barrier that can potentially cause cancer, among other things.  So... so far, so good!  Now here's a breakdown of each ingredient and what it's purpose is when used in cosmetics:

• Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil: Used in beauty products most commonly as a conditioning agent, and can also be used in cooking as a healthy oil alternative.
• Beeswax/CERA ALBA (Cire d’abeille): Commonly a moisture barrier when used in lip products and is considered a naturally safe ingredient.
• Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil: Can be used as a binding agent to keep beauty products in shape, and can also assist with bringing balance to dry skin.
• Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil: Naturally conditions skin and sometimes used as a stabilizer in cosmetics.
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter): Soothes dry and rough skin naturally - is also in many lotions and natural skin products.
• Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract: A masking agent and sometimes used for fragrance.
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil: A skin conditioner and cleansing agent in many natural beauty products.
• Tocopherol: The fancy name for vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and skin conditioning agent.  If you want to get picky on this one, some studies have shown potential cancer concerns at extremely high doses - doses far higher than you'd ever see in a lip balm.
• Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract: Protects your skin and works as a soothing agent.
• Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract: A natural conditioning agent for the skin and hair.
• Limonene: Made from a variety of citrus fruits, this liquid is used for flavor and fragrance.
• Linalool: Natural floral scent, also used for flavor and fragrance.

Verdict: SAFE

Overall, this is a product that utilizes safe ingredients and has zero presence from the "dirty dozen" chemicals that are often hidden in our beauty products.  Given it's popularity, this is a major win in the battle for safe cosmetics.