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Jojoba Alcohol

What Jojoba Alcohol is & what it does

Jojoba Alcohol is a fatty alcohol obtained from jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) oil, which is chemically a liquid wax rather than a true oil. In cosmetic and sunscreen formulas it acts as an emollient and can help stabilize emulsions, giving products a smooth, conditioned feel on the skin. Fatty alcohols like this one are valued for contributing a soft, non-greasy texture rather than a heavy oily finish.

What does Jojoba Alcohol do in skincare?

Jojoba Alcohol is a fatty alcohol that works as an emollient and emulsion stabilizer. It helps give products a smooth, conditioned skin-feel and supports the texture of creams and lotions. It is typically used to refine the overall feel rather than as an active ingredient.

Is Jojoba Alcohol the same as drying alcohol?

No, fatty alcohols like Jojoba Alcohol are very different from the volatile alcohols (such as ethanol or denatured alcohol) that can feel drying. Jojoba Alcohol is a waxy, oil-derived material used to soften skin and improve texture, not to evaporate or degrease.

Is Jojoba Alcohol natural or synthetic?

Jojoba Alcohol is derived from jojoba oil, which is pressed from the seeds of the jojoba plant. The fatty alcohol is processed from this plant material, so it is considered a naturally derived ingredient.

Sunscreens with Jojoba Alcohol

We rate 13 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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