Castor oil is allowed in beauty products, but there isn’t enough research on the safety of using it directly on the skin, including the face.
Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. This plant is primarily grown in Africa, South America, and India, which is known as the world leader in castor oil production. The United States and China are the primary importers.
Castor oil is produced by cold-pressing castor seeds and then applying heat. It’s not considered an edible oil and makes up only a fraction of the world’s vegetable oil production.
Historically, castor oil has been used as an effective laxative and to induce labor. Today, however, it is widely used as an ingredient in cosmetics.
According to
Researchers found that castor oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help to decrease pimples, soften skin, and reduce the appearance of large pores.
Additional benefits of using castor oil on your skin may include:
- Preventing wrinkles: Castor oil contains antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are responsible for accelerating the aging process, making wrinkles appear sooner.
- Fighting acne: Castor oil has antibacterial properties. Bacteria on your face can clog pores and lead to acne.
- Reducing puffiness: Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce swelling and puffiness. It could also reduce the size of inflamed pimples or eye bags.
- Moisturizing: Moisture keeps your skin looking young and shiny. Moisture also prevents wrinkles.
- Soothing sunburn: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, castor oil may ease the pain associated with sunburn. Its moisturizing qualities may also reduce peeling.
- Fighting dry lips: Castor oil is a very common ingredient in both lipstick and lip gloss. If you have dry lips, skip the color and use castor oil. But you may want to mix it with a better tasting oil, like coconut oil.
- Promoting overall skin health: Castor oil is full of healthy fatty acids, which are essential to maintaining good skin health.
Castor oil is thick, so you should mix it with a carrier oil before putting it on your face. Common carrier oils include:
You could also add it to shea butter for an extra moisturizing effect.
Before bed, apply this mixture after cleaning your skin. You can leave the oil on overnight or wipe it off with a warm cloth after 1 to 5 minutes.
Topical application of castor oil may irritate the skin of some people with dermatitis. If you have dermatitis or another skin condition, consult your doctor before using any new products.
Castor oil isn’t just for relieving constipation. Many people are experimenting with the dermatological benefits of castor oil. Medical research, however, has yet to follow their lead.
Currently, castor oil is approved for use as an ingredient in cosmetics, but there’s very little research into direct application. There’s no specific research evaluating the safety of castor oil on the face.
Many oils have proven benefits for the skin. Before choosing an oil to apply to your face, do some research about other vegetable oils, like coconut oil and avocado oil.
