Jojoba beads are derived from the jojoba shrub, which grows in the wilds of the deserts in the southern part of the United States, and the northern part of Mexico. The main use of jojoba beads is to exfoliate skin. One of the main reasons they are so commonly used is because they gently clean, and do not damage the skin or leave it open for bacteria to invade. The small jojoba beads will not irritate or scratch skin. Jojoba beads are also biodegradable, so they are friendly to the environment.