We’re all familiar with castor oil and most of us probably have it in our homes right now. But did you know the beauty benefits of castor oil?! Read on to find out!
Castor oil is obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant, also called castor beans. It has long been used throughout the world for its amazing benefits for health, industrial uses and medicinal effects!
In this article, we shall explore the beauty benefits of castor oil: from healing chapped skin to promoting longer eye lashes! Let’s first check out the ingredient profile of castor oil:
Castor Oil Ingredient Profile
♥ Scientific Name:
Ricinus communis
♥ Origin:
It is said to have originated from India.
♥ Color and Smell:
Castor oil has a clear slightly yellow color and it smells nutty.
♥ Texture:
Castor oil has a thick sticky consistency.
♥ Shelf Life:
1 year
♥ Comedeogenic Rating:
1
♥ Precaution & Tips
Before use, do a patch test on your inner elbow/wrist to see that castor oil does not irritate your skin.
Composition of Castor Oil
Castor oil contains the following nutrients including essential fatty acids & vitamins including the following:
- Alpha linoleic acid
- Linoleic acid
- Oleic acid
- Palmitic acid
- Ricinoleic acid
- Stearic acid
- Vitamin E
25 Beauty Benefits of Castor Oil for Skin, Hair & More
Below are 25 extraordinary beauty benefits of castor oil for skin, hair and more!
1. Moisturizer for Dry Skin
Castor oil is an excellent emollient for dry skin! It is a natural humectant which draws moisture from the surroundings and seals it into the epidermis or top layer of skin.
If your skin is ever dry, consider mixing ¼ cup of castor oil with ¼ cup of olive oil and using this as an easy moisturizer that works!
2. Oil Cleansing
Probably the most popular oil for the Oil Cleansing Method is castor oil! It’s commonly used because it is a ‘purging’ oil. This means it pushes out dirt, grime, stale sebum, pollution and other impurities from deep within the skin’s pores! To know more about oil cleansing, an effective way of cleansing your face, please see Oil Cleansing Method Recipes
3. Promotes Wrinkle-Free Skin
Want wrinkle-free skin? Make castor oil your best friend! It has a thick consistency that softens skin and makes it supple! It also has antioxidants that ward off pro-aging free radicals. Use castor oil as a primer, in your oil cleansing method or as a facial massage oil before bed to benefit from its anti-aging properties.
4. Enhances Hair Growth
Probably the most known beauty benefit of castor oil is that it boosts longer, thicker hair growth like no other oil! In fact, I think castor oil is the number one oil you should turn to if you suffer from thinning hair!
Here’s my Castor Oil Rosemary Hair Growth Oil for Thinning Hair – it’s very easy to make but gives magical results fast!
5. Good for Eczema & Psoriasis
Dry itchy flaky and painful eczema and psoriasis patches can be treated using castor oil! I recommend applying it onto your affected areas to help soften the rough skin and speed up healing.
6. Dissolves Warts & Skin Tags
Some of the magical properties of castor oil include its ability to dissolve warts and skin tags! It literally removes warts and skin tags painlessly and quickly! Apply a drop of castor oil onto the warts every night and watch it fall off in record time!
7. Removes Corns on Feet
This is something I personally witnessed – castor oil removed a corn from my friends sole just overnight! Miracles do happen with castor oil! Apply a drop of castor oil on your corns and watch them disappear fast!
8. DIY Makeup Primer
Want your makeup to stay matte?! Then you have got to try castor oil as a makeup primer! I simply apply a layer of castor oil on my face right before applying makeup for that matte finish!
See How to Use Castor Oil as a Skin Primer for more information. Also try my DIY Makeup Primer starring castor oil!
9. Longer Lashes
As mentioned above, castor oil promotes hair growth! This is because of its high ricinoleic acid content. It stimulates longer and thicker lashes so use it as an eyelash growth serum!
- Eyelash Growth Serum: Using a syringe, fill an empty clear mascara tube with castor oil. Apply just one coat on your eyelashes right before bed every night. Here’s to longer fuller lashes!
10. Heals Cracked Heels
Are cracked heels making you embarrassed to wear open shoes? Then use castor oil as an overnight treatment to remove flaky skin and deeply lubricate those heels! Remember to throw on a pair of comfy socks after application to prevent oil stains on your sheets!
11. Grow Your Eyebrows
Over plucked eyebrows can take ages to grow on their own! However, with castor oil in your midst, you can grow back your eyebrows thicker and bolder – just like the latest thick eyebrow trend many celebrities are sporting! Apply it with your index finger on your eyebrow area every night before bed.
12. Lubricates Lips
Dry cracked lips are so not attractive! And instead of turning to chapsticks which contain who-knows-what in them, apply something natural and lubricating like castor oil! You can even spice it up with a drop of peppermint essential oil for a pleasant tingly feeling before application!
13. Healthy Cuticles & Nails
Keep your cuticles and nails moisturized and looking glossy using castor oil! Just massage it on your cuticles and nails! This will stop your cuticles from peeling and your nails from easily chipping.
14. Softens Rough Skin
Rough skin on the elbows and knees can easily be softened and smoothed by applying castor oil on them daily! So try that out if you want softer skin!
15. Fights Fungal Infections
Apply castor oil on skin fungal infections, including those that appear on the scalp as a natural anti-fungal treatment. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to the castor oil before applying it for more fungal-fighting action!
16. Enhances Hair Color
This seems bizarre but just try it out! Castor oil enhances your hair color making it look richer and stunning! To towel-dried hair right outta the shower, apply 1 tsp of warm castor oil by running your oily hands through your roots and down to your hair ends.
17. Spot Treatment
Got acne scars, dark spots or blemishes you want gone ASAP? Use castor oil as a spot treatment! You can apply it with your index finger or a Q-tip, whichever you feel like. Be consistent with it to see results!
18. Soothes Tired Eyes
You’ve heard of using cucumbers to soothe tired eyes but castor oil – not at all, isn’t it?! It’s surprising but rubbing a drop of castor oil around your eyes before bed will make you wake up with refreshed eyes the next day! Are you willing to try it out? Just make sure to not get castor oil into your eyes, of course!
19. For Deep Cystic Acne
Bring deep painful cystic acne to the surface of the skin by using castor oil as a spot treatment! It really works because castor oil has discutient properties that draw impurities out of the skin!
20. Relieves Itchy Inflamed Skin
Have an itchy patch of skin that’s even turned red? Stop scratching and instead spread a generous amount of castor oil on the affected area. You’ll get immediate relief!
21. Scalp Hot Oil Treatment
One of my favorite scalp treatments is a hot oil treatment with castor oil! It leaves your scalp feeling moisturized while fighting off scalp irritants and promoting healthy hair! Here’s the recipe:
- Soothing Hot Oil Treatment: Into a bowl, add 2 tsp castor oil and 1 tsp coconut oil. Place the bowl over a pan containing hot water so the coconut oil melts and the oil blend warms up. Now add 3 drops of peppermint essential oil and stir well. Massage this blend all over your scalp for 4 minutes then leave it to penetrate for 1-2 hours, with your hair in a shower cap. Wash your hair as usual, preferably with a natural sulfate-free shampoo!
22. Repairs Split Ends
Help seal split ends naturally by applying castor oil to your hair length 1-2 hours before a shower. Mix it with sweet almond oil (another good oil for split ends) to make castor oil less sticky and easily applicable.
23. Anti-Dandruff Properties
Castor oil is said to have dandruff busting properties! Make an anti-dandruff hair treatment as follows:
- Dandruff Busting Treatment: Mix 1 tsp castor oil, 2 tsp coconut oil, 2 drops peppermint essential oil and 2 drops tea tree essential oil in a small bowl. Apply this all over your scalp. Wait for 1-2 hours then shampoo with a Homemade Tea Tree Oil Shampoo!
24. Good for Curly Hair
Got curly hair? Your curls will LOVE castor oil! It helps seal moisture into dry curls while conditioning them and making them more manageable! Try this castor oil curl pre-poo:
- Castor Oil Pre-Poo for Curly Hair: In a sealable jar, add ½ cup castor oil, 7 drops peppermint essential oil and 7 drops lavender essential oil. Seal the jar and gently shake it to mix all ingredients. Apply a suitable amount on your hair. When you’re done, wrap your hair with a warm damp towel. Wash your hair after 2 hours with a non-sulfate shampoo. After your hair dries, enjoy bouncy curls!
25. Can Help Lighten Scars
Castor oil is also said to help with skin lightening. It’s good for fading scars and skin discolorations such as hyperpigmentation. Apply it on the affected areas and come share if it worked for you!
Where to Buy Castor Oil
Always look for 100% pure quality castor oil without additives. I love Now Foods 100% Pure Castor Oil. It comes in an 16 oz bottle clear bottle.
How are you planning on using castor oil for beauty? Share below!
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