Jojoba Oil vs. Argan Oil
As a multitude of all-natural beauty products have entered the market, the dependence on traditional moisturizers and lotions has decreased considerably.
In fact, essential oils such as jojoba and argan oil can easily be considered skin and hair care staples of today’s generation. The secret behind their immense popularity lies in their vast range of benefits. That’s why incorporating either of the two in your skin and hair care routine is undoubtedly a great idea.
But to pick the ideal choice among the two, you must know their differences. And to help you out, we’ve prepared this simplified guide. We’ve conducted in-depth research and market surveys for compiling it; rest assured, our findings should clear all your doubts.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Argan Oil vs Jojoba Oil
First off, know that you’ll need to develop a basic idea about each of these natural oils and their uses to understand the differences between them clearly. So, let’s proceed to take a closer look at each.
What Is Jojoba Oil?
Surprising as it might sound, jojoba oil is, in effect, a wax ester that’s available in the form of a pale yellow, transparent liquid. Owing to its appearance, this highly beneficial extract eventually came to be known as an oil.
The oil is obtained from the Jojoba plant[1] (Simmondsia Chinensis) that mainly grows in the southwestern states of the US and in Mexico. This plant can live for hundreds of years and withstand harsh climates, making it a highly sustainable natural resource.
Interestingly, the composition and properties of jojoba oil are very similar to sebum, which is naturally produced by the skin. That’s what makes it capable of treating several skin issues. So, it’s not surprising that this oil has been utilized for generations by the natives of the arid deserts of California and Arizona. And that’s not all; it can be essential for improving hair and bone health too.
Composition Of Jojoba Oil
The versatility of jojoba oil stems from its rich and varied nutrient content.
First of all, this oil is abundant in Vitamin E[2], a skin-nourishing antioxidant capable of controlling the signs of aging. It also includes Vitamin A and D that can support bone growth and development. It also offers the goodness of nourishing minerals, such as zinc, copper, chromium, and Omega 9 and 6 fatty acids.
Beneficial Properties Of Jojoba Oil
Here’s a brief round-up of the most significant beneficial properties of jojoba oil:
1. Powerful Moisturizer
The waxy nature of this oil, akin to sebum, makes it a great moisturizing agent. Notably, it works by forming a layer on the skin to hold water in place, thereby preventing the skin from turning dry.
2. Anti-Inflammatory
Another significant characteristic of this oil is, of course, its high antioxidant content, which provides it with strong anti-inflammatory properties. As such, this oil can be useful in preventing pimple breakouts and even treating acne-prone skin in the long term.
3. Balances Natural Oils
You’ll be glad to know that the similarity to sebum makes jojoba oil beneficial for regulating the oil production and natural sebum content of the skin. Here’s how— the skin accepts the oil as a part of its natural supply and consequently doesn’t generate more.
Long story short, it can help you deal with oily skin too.
What Is Argan Oil?
First things first, this oil comes from argan trees that are an endangered species native to Morocco and are cultivated in Spain, Israel, and Libya as well. These thick and thorny trees are now protected owing to the large-scale production of the oil.
Notably, the oil extracted from the kernels of argan nuts is found in a pure form, so it’s completely safe for application even before processing. Some significant features of this oil include its ability to heal a vast range of skin disorders and prevent lifestyle diseases.
Furthermore, it’s no less versatile than jojoba oil, as evident from its large-scale use in various beauty and healthcare products. But it would be best to keep in mind that the rarity of argan trees makes the oil much more expensive than many other essential oils.
Composition Of Argan Oil
Argan oil comes packed with a diverse range of powerful nutrients that work in the body in different ways to create an overall beneficial impact.
Notably, it contains high amounts of polyphenols[3], which are plant-based compounds capable of preventing skin damage caused by free radicals. And by teaming up with other compounds such as tocopherols, they might help counter hair loss problems.
Apart from that, the components of argan oil include oleic acid, squalene, Vitamin E, and linoleic acid, a vital omega-6 fatty acid.
Beneficial Properties Of Argan Oil
Interestingly, the nutrients we discussed above are nowadays referred to as “hero ingredients” owing to their multiple benefits for the skin and hair. These, in turn, lend several powerful healing properties to organic argan oil, some of which are discussed below:
1. Conditions And Nourishes The Hair
Argan oil acts as a great healer for damaged, dried, or split hair as it has a soothing and nourishing effect on the damaged parts. That’s why applying it directly to problem areas can work wonders for your hair.
2. Skin Protector And Moisturizer
This oil is also highly effective in shielding the facial skin from harsh natural elements. Moreover, it can cure dry, patchy, and sensitive skin and lend a natural glow to arms, legs, and knees. Needless to say, this property makes it one of the significant ingredients in various body oils.
3. Cures Scalp Problems
When applied to the scalp, argan oil can be effective in treating dandruff problems. Plus, its rich antioxidant content makes it useful for reducing severe scalp inflammation and itchiness.
Now that you’ve gone through the various key aspects of both these oils, it’s time to know how they compare with each other in addressing hair and skin issues.
Comparing The Two For Haircare
While both these oils are capable of improving hair health, you should note that their different composition leads them to bring about different kinds of benefits.
For instance, since jojoba oil closely mimics sebum, it’s able to moisturize the scalp more thoroughly than argan oil, giving it a healthy but slightly greasy texture. That’s why the former will be especially useful for those faced with extremely dry hair.
On the other hand, argan oil can nourish the scalp but won’t make it too oily. It can also help combat oxidative stress to leave the hair feeling much softer. Plus, as mentioned earlier, it can help treat damaged hair and tame frizzy hair.
Besides, jojoba oil can penetrate the hair follicles clogged with sebum to clear all blockages. That’s why regularly using this oil can help reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth.
Comparing The Two For Skincare
First and foremost, you must note that argan oil has a richer composition than jojoba oil, which is why it can’t penetrate the skin as easily as the latter. But you may be able to improve the absorption by combining it with another oil, such as rosehip seed oil. As for jojoba oil, its greater penetration power is due to a molecular structure similar to natural sebum.
Now, coming to their benefits, argan oil mainly acts on the signs of aging and improves the ability of the skin to act as a shield against rough elements. On the other hand, jojoba oil has a more calming effect on the skin and fights wrinkles and dry skin like a pro.
Final Words
That’s about it for today. Hopefully, you will now be able to distinguish between the two oils and how they’ll impact your skin and hair. Each has its own benefits and disadvantages and is suitable for different skin and hair care needs.
So, you’ll have to consider your skin and hair type before choosing the right one. We’ll wrap things up for now, but we’ll be back soon with more guides on skin and hair care. Till then, take care and stay safe!
References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5571488/