From Desert Gold to Glowing Skin: Visiting the Jojoba Farm That Powers Our Skincare

When you open a jar of our skincare, what you’re really holding is a story—a labor-of-love that begins long before it reaches your hands. One of those stories starts in the quiet, sun-drenched stretches of Southwest Arizona, where the air smells faintly of mesquite and the earth glows golden under the desert sun. This is where we source the rich, nourishing jojoba oil that forms the silky, nutrient-packed base of many aos Skincare products.

A short time ago, I had the privilege of visiting the farm where our jojoba oil is grown, harvested, and pressed. It’s a breathtaking place, tucked away from the rush of city life, where time seems to move with the rhythm of the land. There, I met Kirk—farmer, inventor, and steward of the land. Spending time with Kirk was like being invited into the soul of the desert itself. His knowledge of the jojoba plant runs deep, rooted in decades of tending to these resilient shrubs that thrive under the hot sun and cool desert nights.

Kirk took me on a long, meandering tour of his farm, the dry air filled with the hum of bees and the soft crunch of sand beneath our boots. The jojoba plants—tough yet graceful—stretched out in neat rows, their silvery-green leaves catching the light like sagebrush halos. As we walked, Kirk explained how jojoba is not actually an oil, but a liquid wax that so closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum it becomes a kind of nectar for the skin—balancing, healing, and deeply hydrating.

The harvesting process is as thoughtful as the plants themselves. Each jojoba "bean" is gathered at the peak of ripeness, then stored carefully to preserve its delicate properties. After a sun-soaked morning learning about planting cycles and soil care, we paused for lunch. Our new friends had prepared a simple yet unforgettable meal—fresh vegetables from their garden, handmade tortillas and home made beans. Every bite was infused with the same care and intention they bring to their jojoba.

That evening, we stayed the night at Kirk’s home—a modest, cozy sanctuary filled with the scent of dried herbs and desert wind. At dawn, we toured his lab, a space where innovation meets reverence. There, he showed me a custom cold-press machine that he designed himself, specifically to keep the temperature low during extraction. This step is crucial—cold-pressing preserves the precious vitamins and fatty acids that make jojoba oil so transformative for skin. No other jojoba farm that I know of has taken the time to invent a press like this- all other jojoba oil is pressed at a high temperature, due to the hardness of the jojoba beans. Watching the golden liquid stream slowly from the press felt like witnessing the earth share one of its most intimate gifts.

At aos Skincare, meeting our farmers in person and visiting the places where our ingredients are born is not just part of our sourcing process—it’s part of our soul. It’s how we know, without question, that the ingredients we use are the very best the earth has to offer. There is magic in knowing the face behind the farm, in walking the land where a plant was grown, and in feeling—deep in your bones—that this plant has a purpose far beyond itself.

Jojoba oil from Kirk’s farm isn’t just an ingredient. It’s a story of place, of patience, and of partnership. It’s why our products feel like nectar on your skin—because they were crafted with care from seed to bottle, with every step infused with intention.

And that’s what slow beauty means to us. It’s not just about what’s inside the jar. It’s about honoring the journey it took to get there.