INGREDIENT · LIQUID WAX
Jojoba oil in skincare: acne, wounds and what's tested
Jojoba is called an oil, and it is technically a liquid wax. It is liked for acne-prone skin, and the evidence behind that is a pilot study with clay in it.
You may see it written as
- Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
An oil that is really a wax
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is an arid shrub grown in several American and African countries, and its seeds are rich in what the research calls liquid wax. Jojoba seeds were used in folk medicine for diverse ailments.1
So the label says oil, and the chemistry says wax.
What the lab and animal work found
In rats, jojoba liquid wax reduced paw swelling, reduced ear swelling caused by a skin irritant, and reduced neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory signals in several models. The authors say further work is needed to identify the active constituents.1
On human skin cells, it was only tested in a dish. Jojoba liquid wax had extremely low toxicity to keratinocytes and fibroblasts, sped scratch-wound closure in both, and stimulated collagen I synthesis in fibroblasts. The authors suggest it could be used in wound treatment in clinical settings.2
What the acne data is, and is not
A prospective observational pilot study followed 194 people with acne-prone skin and acne, nearly all women, who used clay masks containing jojoba oil two to three times a week for six weeks. Among the 133 who gave complete lesion counts, total lesions fell by a mean of 54%, with pustules, papules, cysts and comedones all reduced, and quality-of-life scores improved.3
The study had no control group, and the product was a clay mask. Clay does a lot of work in that result, and a six-week wash-off mask is not a jojoba-only leave-on oil. It shows the trend with the mask was good, and nothing about jojoba oil's own effect on acne.
Jojoba oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.4
What you will see on the label
On a label, look for Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil. Snifff shows it as Risk-free. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
As Snifff shows itSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Pregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about jojoba oil
Is jojoba oil good for acne-prone skin?
In a 194-person observational pilot, clay masks containing jojoba oil cut total lesions by a mean of 54% over six weeks,3 but there was no control group and the clay confounds the result.
Does jojoba oil reduce inflammation?
In several rat models it reduced swelling and inflammatory signals,1 but we found no controlled human trial of it on skin inflammation.
Is jojoba oil safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence for Jojoba oil. Ask your doctor or midwife about the product you use.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- Anti-inflammatory effects of jojoba liquid wax in experimental modelsHabashy RR, et al. · Pharmacological Research · 2005
- Wound healing properties of jojoba liquid wax: an in vitro studyRanzato E, et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 2011
- Clay jojoba oil facial mask for lesioned skin and mild acne: results of a prospective, observational pilot studyMeier L, et al. · Forschende Komplementärmedizin · 2012
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.