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I’ve run across castor oil in the past, and I even tried it a couple of times for eyelash growth. It did make my eyelashes grow longer and fuller, but at the time, I thought it was too sticky to continue to use. Now though!…I’ve realized it is worth the effort.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil comes from the seeds of a plant called Ricinus Communis. It is rich in ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. Indigenous to the Mediterranean and to Africa, people in 19th-century Europe and the United States often used it as a remedy for various ailments, such as constipation, uterine fibroids, circulation, and more. Here I will talk about its benefits to skin and hair.
Why I tried it again…
I’d been hearing about castor oil quite a bit on social media, and that peaked my interest: especially the part about hair growth. My hair had begun to thin on top and I was noticing more strands shedding, ending up in the drain. With all of the talk about its skincare promise, I thought it’d be interesting to look at that again too.
And yes indeed it is interesting. I will preface this by saying that most of the evidence for all of the amazing benefits of castor oil are anecdotal. Many people swear by it, but there just aren’t enough studies to conclusively “prove” its efficacy. That said, my experience with it has been largely positive, with one caveat, (and it’s not really a drawback.) Let’s get into it!
CASTOR OIL FOR HAIR, LASHES AND BROWS:
When I received my bottle of organic, cold-pressed castor oil in dark glass (yep that’s all important), I began to apply it nightly to my lash-lines with an eyeliner brush, and to my eyebrows, as well as to my scalp and hairline.
After just 4 nights of applying it, I noticed a definite improvement in my eyelashes. I was so surprised at the new length and fullness in such a short period of time! It took a little more time – about two weeks – to notice that my eyebrows were filling in, becoming fuller and maybe even a little darker…?
As far as my scalp goes, I do have new growth along my hairline and I don’t feel the need to camouflage anything happening on top of my head.
It IS thick and sticky BUT I don’t mind that anymore. I just pour a little into the palm of my hand and dip my eyelash wand in, apply it and wipe off the rest. I keep it in my bathroom so it’s close to the faucet for easy clean-up.
CASTOR OIL FOR SKIN:
There are many many ways to use castor oil on your skin:
- as an occlusive to lock in active ingredients at night,
- to lighten dark spots,
- to shrink pores,
- to decrease fine lines,
- to combat acne,
- to moisturize elbows, cuticles, and hands, etc.
- to increase absorption of other skincare products
One little Caveat: I tried it as an occlusive moisturizer at night, over my skincare actives like retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids. I don’t doubt that it can be used in this way for people with normal skin, but my skin is very dry and I didn’t feel like it was helping to counteract dryness much.
However, it does feel helpful as a good ingredient to use after the retinol or AHAs, and before topping off with a thicker night cream: like a castor oil sandwich! It seems to make the actives even more effective, and there’s a reason for that.
That’s not what I expected from such a thick oil; you’d think it would be great for dry skin. This makes sense though, because some studies suggest that the ricinoleic acid has a unique property: it is able to penetrate multiple layers of skin. At the same time, it increases the absorption of other skincare topicals. That’s what makes it more than just a moisturizer/hydrator.
I am also trying it on my dark spots, and the jury is still out on that, although I actually do see improvement in overall brightening. My skin is glowing and dewy in the morning, (when I use my “sandwich method” as I referenced above.)
The other success I am having is with the skin around my eyes. Yaay! Typically, I can’t apply anything with oil on my lids or under my eyes, unless I want to see a lot of puffiness and bags. With castor oil, I can put it on my lids and even underneath my eyes without puffiness.
It hydrates the skin around my eyes, without oiliness. I put it on only at night, and by morning it is completely absorbed. To me, that’s amazing: an oil I can put under my eyes? Who would’ve thought that was possible?
I’m not 100% sure why it works without causing swelling, but again I’m guessing that it has to do with the ricinoleic acid, and the fact that it absorbs rather than trapping ingredients on the surface.
Overall Conclusions:
I’ve found castor oil to live up to much of the hype.
- I see hair growth on my lashes, brows, hairline, and crown;
- I see a brightening of my skin; and…
- I see hydrated eyes without puffiness.
All or most of these effects could be a result of increased absorption and its ability to enhance the effects of other skincare treatments. I will continue to use it!
How about you? Have you tried castor oil for any health or beauty remedies? Share your experience below!
To read about other oils that can benefit your skin, read my post Maracuja, Moringa, or Marula Oils: which one is best for your Skin?
