Your Bag
Enjoy 15% off + Free Shipping for orders above 70 USD
A woman is standing at the green farm

Castor Oil: Benefits, Uses for Hair, Skin, and Lashes

Overview of Castor Oil

Castor oil, once an age-old folk remedy with an infamous taste is now a trendy, budget-friendly beauty hack. Thanks to fans such as actress Charlize Theron, castor oil has gained massive street cred among skin and hair care aficionados.

What Is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is a thick, odorless oil made from the beans of the castor plant, Ricinus communis, naturally found in Africa, India, and South America. Its usage dates back to ancient Egypt, where Egyptians used it as lamp fuel and then later during beauty treatments. It's said that even Cleopatra believed that castor oil would brighten the whites of her eyes.

Are you in a hurry?

If you don't have much time, use the links below to find the Best Castor Oil on Amazon quickly.

BUY NOW - Organic Castor Oil On Amazon at 8$

CleCleopatra was close! Today, castor carrier oil is sometimes used to give lads and ladies full lashes for a captivating gaze, but its benefits don’t stop there. Its nourishing qualities have also made it a must-have for natural skincare enthusiasts.

To make this nourishing carrier oil, castor beans undergo an extraction process known as cold-pressing whereby the beans are pressed until it becomes a pale-yellow vegetable oil. This method captures the "essence" of the plant's beauty benefits for skin and hair.

Name Castor Oil
Botanical Name Ricinus communis
Native to Tropical regions
Main ingredients Ricin, linoleic acid, ricinoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid
Aroma Slightly unpleasnt
Blends well with Coconut, olive and sesame seed oils
Category -
Substitute Pumpkin seed oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil
A castor plant

Castor Oil Benefits

Read on to find out why castor oil is now the upcoming, budget-friendly beauty must-have that’s great for beautiful skin and hair.

1

It Nourishes Dry Hair

Dry or damaged hair can especially benefit from an intense moisturizer like castor oil. Adding fats like castor oil to the hair on a regular basis helps lubricate the hair shaft, thereby increasing flexibility and decreasing the chance of breakage.

2

It’s Moisturizing For The Face & Body

Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. It’s a humectant that retains moisture by preventing water loss through the outer layer of the skin, keeping all the moisture you need locked in for softer, smoother skin.

3

Useful in Skin Treatment

The carrier oil has undecylenic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid that is known to treat skin diseases. It can even treat skin ulcers resulting from bacteria and fungus. The benefits of castor oil for skin make it an irreplaceable natural remedy.

4

Treat Minor Skin Irritation

Inflammation of the skin can cause redness, itching and swellings. Clean the part of the skin and topically apply castor oil. A few tablespoons or drops of castor oil can be applied directly without any fear.

5

It is Also A Libido Booster

Who knew that a carrier oil can increase libido? It was usually a property reserved for essential oils. But, castor oil absorbs the fat molecules and thus regulates the hormones and increases blood circulation.

6

Causes Bowel Movement

Constipation is one of the problems occurring during pregnancy. Castor oil is used as a laxative to clear out the bowels. However, consult a doctor before using castor oil when pregnant. The ricinoleic acid not only improves bowel movement, but also improves the absorption of nutrients. Research conducted by L. Ayuba, and S. Agboire published in 2017 reported that castor oil could be useful in treating infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. (2)

7

It is Good for Hair and Scalp

The properties of castor oil including fungicidal and insecticidal protects the scalp from infections, thus this oil preventing dandruff, hair loss and other conditions. It also nourishes the scalp.

8

Oil Good For Eye Care

Eye conditions including dry eyes, puffy eyes, etc. can be treated with the help of castor oil. The oil is also useful against puffy eye bags and dark circles. A study published in 2021 highlights the importance of castor oil for eye health. (3)

9

Good For a Foot Rub

In fact, castor oil does more than just a foot rub. It is used as a natural remedy for Plantar Fasciitis. The oil has shown to provide relief to people suffering with plantar heel spur.

Uses of Castor Oil

1

Eliminates Stretch Marks

The stretch marks caused during pregnancy can be diminished by applying castor oil. Mix it with coconut or almond oil and massage several times in a day for quick results. Castor oil along with other carrier oils penetrates deep into the skin & removes stretch marks.

2

Acne Treating Carrier Oil

For using castor oil to treat acne, first cleanse the face with steam which opens the pores and allowing the oils to penetrate the skin. Later apply the castor oil and massage it into the skin. Clean the face with cold water after 30 minutes. Doing so regularly will eliminate the risk of acne. It is also good for treating skin inflammation. Castor oil pack is available in the market for acne. Castor oil may help both dry skin and oily skin. Do not leave the oil on your face too long; if you do so, wash it off thoroughly.

3

Get Rid of Constipation

Getting rid of constipation is one of the popular uses of castor oil. Here, mix 30 ml of castor oil in warm water with crushed ginger and ingest the mix. It takes a few hours for the medicine to take effect. The oil from the seeds of the castor plant is popular natural laxative.

4

Better Eyes and Vision

Regularly massage the face and eyelids with castor oil to avoid the ailments that bother eyes. The oil is results in thicker eyebrows.

5

Perfect Oil for Nail Health

Castor oil is rich in vitamin E and when applied on a regular basis softens the cuticles and prevents nail breakage. You can soak the fingers in a mix of castor oil, baby shampoo and warm water.

6

Castor Oil For Hair

Apply castor oil on the scalp and massage it for a few minutes to spread the oil uniformly and trigger blood flow in the scalp. Avoid the hair as the thickness of castor oil will be hard to remove. Do this for two months and promote hair growth. It is used in other hair treatments for hair health.

7

Oil for Soft Heels

Apply castor oil on the feet before bedtime. It hydrates the heels and treats cracked heels.

5 Recipes of Castor Oil

1. Hair Growth Serum With Castor Oil

Ingredients

  • One and half tablespoons Castor oil
  • One tablespoon of argan oil
  • 5 drops rosemary essential oil

2. Scalp Treatment with Castor Oil

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon castor oil
  • 1 drop tea tree essential oil

3. Hair Mask Oil Blends

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon castor oil
  • 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oill

Instructions

  • Gently warm the mix before applying on scalp.

4. DIY Lip Balm

Ingredients

  • 2 drops lavender oil
  • 2 tablespoons castor oil
  • 1 drop Vitamin E oil

5. Makeup remover Oil Blend

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon castor oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 drops of grapefruit essential oil
  • 1 drop Vitamin E oil

How To Use Castor Oil

Historically, castor oil was used as a natural laxative and to induce labor. Today, it’s widely used as an ingredient in cosmetics, which makes sense because this rich oil is packed with beauty benefits from head to toe.

Castor Oil For The Face

Moisturizing castor oil is really thick so you should mix it with coconut oil or almond oil before putting it on your face. You can also add it to shea butter to make an extra-moisturizing concoction! Apply castor oil to the face after cleansing and before bed. Leave it on overnight or wipe it off with a warm wet cloth after 10 minutes for soft, supple skin.

Castor Oil To Thicken Brows & Lashes

Applying a little castor oil daily can help nourish your eyelashes and eyebrows. Due to its moisturizing properties, castor oil can help condition and thicken the hairs of brows and lashes. Our tip is to buy empty mascara bottles on Amazon and fill them with castor oil to brush on your lashes and eyebrows before bedtime.

A woman has closed her eyes and shadow of hat is falling on her face

Castor Oil As A Moisturizer For Rough Skin

A bit of moisture goes a long way when you’ve got dry, rough and bumpy skin. After applying your usual body cream, rubbing in a little castor oil on the knees, elbows, heels and other dry patches will help seal in the moisture for better results. Use it once or twice per day as needed and enjoy softer skin in no time.

Castor Oil As A Carrier Oil With Essential Oils

Carrier oils such as castor oil are often used to dilute essential oils to ensure they are skin-safe. We’d recommend pairing castor oil with essential oils that share similar benefits, such as cedarwood oil for hair growth, turmeric oil for scalp cleansing or myrrh oil for flawless skin. As a good rule of thumb, one drop of essential oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil is enough dilution for topical application.

Using castor carrier oil for skincare & haircare

Safety When using Castor Oil

  • Castor oil is safe but excess use of the oil will lead to nausea and vomiting.
  • Excess use of castor oil can result in dehydration.
  • Castor oil might be allergic to some skin types and may cause rashes, hives and itching.
  • Side effects of castor oil when applied to the skin include irritated skin and it may aggravate skin condition.
  • The laxative nature of castor oil can cause side effects like muscle cramps
  • Excess use of castor oil can cause Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeats.
  • Castor oil must not be used on infants and children.
  • Pregnant women and nursing mothers must avoid consuming castor oil or consult their doctor before using castor oil.
  • Castor oil is a multipurpose vegetable oil, but it can result in weakness.
  • Large volume of castor oil consumption can cause potassium deficiency.
  • Do a skin patch test taking the oil directly to the skin.

Recommended Skincare Oils

Our gentle carrier oils are ethically sourced and contain only 100% pure and organic ingredients. Check out our full range of ECOCERT Certified carrier oils for your skincare needs here.

Frequently Asked Questions
5 Sources
Facebook Chat Messenger