Jojoba oil is not technically an oil and is uniquely biocompatible with the skin's cellular makeup. It is a liquid wax that consists of mono esters structurally similar to the natural restorative esters human sebaceous glands produce. This similarity enables it to be effortlessly absorbed into the skin, where it balances the skin's natural oil production, stimulates oil production when necessary to combat dry skin, and controls overproduction of oil by communicating with the body when there is a sufficient amount of oil already present in the skin. Most other choices regarding oils can be too occlusive for certain skin types, causing breakouts and greasy skin. Whereas, jojoba oil can be used without diluting and is not greasy.

When topically applied, jojoba oil seals in the skin's present moisture, while also protecting it from external environmental stressors. It can be used as an anti-aging moisturizer, as it inhibits the effects of ultraviolet exposure on collagen expression; and it can be used as a treatment for wounds, as it greatly accelerates the rate of healing. Bacteria and fungi cannot reproduce and consequently die when they encounter jojoba oil, which makes it an extremely powerful option to consider.