Hydrolyzed jojoba esters are a mixture of fatty acids and compounds derived from Jojoba oil. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a slow-growing evergreen shrub endemic to North America; young plants produce small greenish-yellow flowers and reach full maturity at around 8 years. The oil or liquid wax extracted from jojoba seeds is prized for its unusual composition, which is more similar to human sebum (the oil produced by your skin) than to typical vegetable oils. Jojoba oil is known to have a long shelf-life and high-temperature resistance, and can be used in personal care and skincare products for its moisturising and skin-soothing properties. Hydrolyzed jojoba esters usually appear as a pale gel, and are produced when jojoba oil is saponified (turned into soap) and the resulting esters undergo a process of hydrolysis (broken down by water, changing their composition). They can be used to help shampoos and conditioners adhere to the surface of the hair, while also improving the performance of conditioning ingredients.
