Ingredient decoder

Jojoba oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

Acne verdict Fine

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic0-2 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Liquid wax that softens skin and mimics natural skin oils.

  • Moisturizer
  • Emollient
  • Hair conditioning
  • Skin conditioning

Jojoba oil in plain English

Jojoba oil is technically a liquid wax, not a true oil, and is used to soften skin and reduce moisture loss. Its wax esters are similar to some found in natural skin oil, which is one reason many people with oily or acne-prone skin tolerate it well. It is very stable and rarely irritating.

Is jojoba oil bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Jojoba oil is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 0 to 2 out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

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Also called

  • Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
  • Jojoba seed oil
  • Simmondsia chinensis seed oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is jojoba oil comedogenic?

Jojoba oil scored 0 to 2 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low to moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does jojoba oil do in skincare?

In short: liquid wax that softens skin and mimics natural skin oils. In formulas it is used for emollient, hair conditioning and skin conditioning.

What else is jojoba oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, jojoba oil can also appear as Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Jojoba seed oil or Simmondsia chinensis seed oil.

Sources