Review: Desert Essence Jojoba Oil

Not only am I an urban zucchini mama, but I'm also a frugal and neurotic mama. So, there's nothing I love more than a relatively inexpensive product that serves multiple purposes and is safe for the environment and our bodies.

Whether you're using a drop in your bath, or slathering it on your skin (even your face), Desert Essence oil is light and moisturizing. It even softens coarse hair and soothes flaky scalps. I know! I use a few drops every day in place of hair products.

Jojoba oil also removes eye makeup and those nasty few-day-old kid tattoos. I have even used jojoba in place of shaving cream - on dry skin - in an emergency, and it did the trick painlessly.

What's more, jojoba oil is all-natural and gets a "1" (low hazard score) rating on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database.

Not too shabby for one little bottle, huh?

The oil comes in 2 ml and 4 ml bottles, in organic and conventional formats, and is available in many health food stores, Whole Foods and even Trader Joe's. A little goes a long way. This is one case where I say pick whichever fits your budget because there's only one ingredient. (Although, there is definitely a stronger, nuttier odor with the organic oil.)

Two product warnings:

1) If you take your jojoba oil on the road (which I do regularly), make sure you put it in a waterproof case. I'll admit, this is a time I need to be practical, and I use a Ziploc. It simply doesn't travel clean.

2) If you are using jojoba oil to remove your makeup, make sure to rinse your skin before wiping with a towel or laying on your sheets. You don't want grease stains.

Depending on the size and whether or not it is organic, Desert Essence Jojoba Oil will cost you anywhere between $6.00 and $15.00. It is, in my mind, a perfect product: affordable, simple, multi-purpose, eco and health-friendly.