jojoba

noun jo·jo·ba \ hə-ˈhō-bə \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of jojoba

: a shrub or small tree (Simmondsia chinensis synonym S. californica) of the box family of southwestern North America with edible seeds that yield a valuable liquid wax used especially in cosmetics

Recent Examples of jojoba from the Web

While shea butter mixture is melting, combine jojoba or rosehip, rose water, and aloe gel in a large glass measuring cup.

— allison young, Good Housekeeping, "How To Make A DIY Face Cream With Skin-Protecting Essential Oils," 15 Nov. 2017
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil $44, Sephora This lighweight oil comes with a sunflower and jojoba oil blend. $44 at Sephora Buy 4.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "Everything You Need to Know About Putting Oils on Your Face," 12 July 2018
Try a Gentle Scrub Created with ultrafine jojoba beads and exfoliating glycolic acid, this new face and body scrub sloughs off dead cells without overdrying and controls skin’s oil production.

— jenna rennert, Vogue, "6 Ways to Get Rid of Acne for Good This Summer," 8 July 2018
Wander Beauty's Wanderlust powder foundation will take your face on an international journey via its wide-reaching ingredient list, which includes Korean aloe leaf and honeysuckle, U.S. jojoba esters, and French hibiscus.

— wendy gould, Allure, "The 9 Best Powder Foundations to Thwart Summer Sweat," 3 July 2018
Plus, it's infused with some heavy-duty hydrating ingredients — like vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil — so your lips will feel refreshed and supple when you're done, too.

— tanisha pina, Allure, "Yes, E.L.F. Makeup Is Under $1 — But Only for a Limited Time," 13 June 2018
The massages are done with a special jojoba oil that has a similar pH to human skin and is nonallergenic.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Discovery Cove adds animal tour, massage options," 4 June 2018
Warm stones and cleansing muds using sage, aloe, rosemary and jojoba growing naturally in the environment add to the serene experience.

— brian sodoma, azcentral, "World-class Tucson spas more than skin-deep experiences," 31 May 2018
Add 4 drops rosemary oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil (like jojoba or grapeseed) and massage into scalp.

— Sunset, "Your Guide To Essential Oils," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jojoba.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.