Jojoba Oil • Neve's Bees

There’s one ingredient that quietly underpins many of our natural skincare products: jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis).

Golden, silky and endlessly versatile, jojoba has the ability to balance, soothe and protect the skin. What makes it special is how closely it mimics our skin’s own natural oils, making it one of the most compatible and effective moisturisers nature has to offer.

Quick facts

Botanical name: Simmondsia chinensis

Texture: Lightweight, silky and non-greasy

Best for: All skin types, including oily or sensitive skin

Key benefits: Balances sebum, hydrates, protects and supports skin resilience

Used in:

Facial Serums like Happy Glow Lucky Daily Serum – for balanced, nourished skin
Moisturising Balms like Face The Day Moisturising Balm – contribute to hydration and softness
Lip Balms including Lavender Lip Balm (hydrating and soothing)
Hand Salves and Body Oils throughout the range

Jojoba Oil & the bees

Jojoba shrubs aren’t known for their nectar, but they play an important ecological role. Native to the deserts of North America, they provide food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife in arid climates where little else thrives. Their resilience in dry, sandy soils makes them an anchor plant for biodiversity: an unsung friend to bees and the ecosystems they depend on.

That resilience translates beautifully into skincare: just as jojoba thrives in tough conditions, it helps skin stay balanced and nourished no matter what life throws at it.

Origins

The jojoba plant has been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, California and Mexico. They prized the liquid wax from its seeds as a natural balm to treat wounds, condition hair and protect skin from the harsh desert sun. Spanish missionaries recorded its use in the 18th century, and by the 20th century, jojoba had become an important ingredient in cosmetics worldwide.

Interestingly, jojoba oil is not technically an oil but a liquid wax ester: the same structure as the sebum our skin naturally produces. That unique chemistry explains why it blends so seamlessly with our skin.

How it's made

Jojoba oil is extracted by cold-pressing the seeds of the jojoba shrub. This gentle method preserves its rich profile of fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants. The result is a clear golden liquid with a light texture that sinks effortlessly into the skin without greasiness.

Skin benefits of Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is a true multitasker. Some of its most remarkable benefits include:

Balances oil production: Because it mimics natural sebum, jojoba signals to the skin that it doesn’t need to overproduce oil, helping both oily and dry skin find equilibrium.
Deeply moisturises: Its lightweight texture delivers hydration that lasts, without clogging pores.
Supports healing: Jojoba’s natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it useful for calming irritation and supporting skin repair.
Protects the barrier: Rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, it shields the skin from environmental stressors while strengthening its natural barrier.

Well-being benefits

Although jojoba has very little scent of its own, that’s part of its magic. It makes the perfect carrier oil, blending beautifully with essential oils like lavender, rose or frankincense for aromatherapy. In massage and skincare rituals, jojoba’s silky texture creates a sense of comfort and grounding.

The experience

What does jojoba oil feel like? Silky, smooth and non-greasy: a gentle powerhouse of hydration that melts seamlessly into your skin. It leaves behind softness and suppleness without heaviness, making it a joy to use in daily skincare.

Why we use Jojoba Oil in our skincare

We love jojoba because it works in harmony with the skin. It doesn’t overwhelm or coat, it balances, nurtures and restores. For us, it’s one of those quietly powerful ingredients that makes all the difference, especially when blended with other natural oils and beeswax.

And in keeping with our ethos, jojoba is a sustainable crop, grown in challenging climates without the need for heavy irrigation or chemicals. It’s kind to your skin and kind to the planet.

Sustainability and sourcing

Jojoba is grown in desert regions where few crops could survive, making it a sustainable choice. Its deep roots help prevent soil erosion and support biodiversity. Our suppliers use cold-pressing and sustainable farming methods, ensuring purity and responsibility at every step.

Fun fact

During World War II, jojoba oil was used as a substitute for whale oil in machinery and weaponry lubricants. Its similarity to whale oil helped reduce the pressure on endangered whale populations: an early example of jojoba stepping in as a sustainable alternative.

Used in

Final thoughts

Jojoba oil is one of nature’s quiet heroes: a balancing act in a bottle. It hydrates, calms, protects and restores, all while working in harmony with the skin’s natural systems. For us, it’s an indispensable part of our balms and salves, bringing both performance and purity.

We’ll always have a soft spot for jojoba, an ingredient that proves gentle can also be powerful, and that true beauty comes from balance.

Julie Macken

After graduating with a Chemistry Degree and subsequent MBA, Julie spent 25 years 'in corporate life' working in Sales and Marketing for companies including Unilever and GSK. Her 'aha moment' came whilst running a marketing workshop in Brazil persuading South Americans to eat plastic-packed frozen chips instead of fresh potato.

Realising there were more fulfilling ways to utilise her skills, Julie founded Neve's Bees a family skincare business – creating a unique range of waterless skincare, using only natural and sustainable ingredients blended with Oxfordshire beeswax, promoting healthy skin and a healthy eco-system. Following a lifelong passion, Julie is also studying part time for a degree in Traditional Herbal Medicine.

Julie lives in Rural Oxfordshire with her husband, 2 children, 3 cats, 4 hens, 5 beehives, 6-acre wildflower meadow…and Bella the Dog.

Jojoba Oil - the natural skin balancer