Castor Oil Is a Next-Level Skin Hydrator—Here's How to Use It

When we hear castor oil, we immediately think hair growth. The age-old hair elixir may have earned its reputation for our manes, but it turns out the rich oil has way more range than it gets credit for. The natural panacea can moisturize dry skin, reduce wrinkles, heal irritation, and repair those dead ends, too. What's more, castor oil may have some internal health benefits to boot.

Need more convincing? We tapped two dermatologists, a medical herbalist, and an Ayurveda expert to get more information—read on to learn more about the potential beautifying benefits of castor oil.

What Is Castor Oil?

Pressed from castor seeds found in the tropical Ricinus communis plant, castor oil is thicker and goopier than argan or coconut oil, which may make it an effective replenisher for skin and hair. But the story doesn’t end there. The medicinal properties of castor oil are thought to have been harnessed as far back as ancient Egyptian times when the oil was regarded by many as an immunity-boosting elixir. It's still a mainstay of Ayurvedic medicine and upon reviewing its properties, we get why.

But what do dermatologists think? Well, it's mixed at best. "Castor oil is sometimes credited with helping the absorption of other products into the skin," says dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch, MD. But, it has other purported benefits too and has been referred to as "anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and moisturizing, however, there is minimal data or studies showing these claims, and there is a significant divergence of opinion among skin experts, so it’s rarely considered a first-line agent," adds Dr. Hirsch.

Dermatologist, Morgan Rabach, MD, has a slightly different take: "Castor oil is a moisturizer for the skin, hair, and nails, and can be used alone or with other products. I would not recommend it for people with acne-prone skin, because oils go into the pores and clog them, exacerbating acne. The moisturizing effects are beneficial for chapped lips and super dry hands and feet in winter. There are some reports that it may have some anti-inflammatory properties, although it has not been well tested or established."

Benefits of Castor Oil

While our dermatologists caution us that castor oil's purported benefits have not been proven through studies. Herbal education specialist Katie Pande still believes castor oil can help you—especially when applied topically.

• Protects against wrinkles: Get ready to hear something groundbreaking: Castor oil is believed by some to be the answer to fighting signs of aging without super-strength serums or injections. To help moisturize skin, Pande suggests you “dip a small cotton ball into castor oil, and then apply it to your skin before going to bed.”
• Speeds hair growth: Yes, castor oil is believed to help speed up hair growth, making it a favorite for homemade brow and lash serums. “For longer lashes, replace your eye-makeup remover with castor oil and wipe away the day’s mascara while allowing the castor oil to delicately coat your lashes, lengthening and protecting them,” says Pande. While there's no science to back these claims, many people swear by its effects.
• Soothes dry skin and other skin conditions: As if protecting against wrinkles and speeding up hair growth weren’t enough, castor oil is also traditionally used for its supposed healing properties against dry skin, eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. “Inflamed skin is crying out for castor oil,” says Pande.
• May prevent hair loss: Castor oil contains fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent hair loss. While claims of castor oil boosting hair growth are unproven in scientific research, there is a case for it preventing future loss.
• Fights bacteria: Being especially rich in naturally antibacterial ricinoleic acid, castor oil might hydrate skin and fight bacteria at the same time.
• Aids digestive issues: We’ll get straight to the point: If you’re prone to sluggish digestion or constipation, castor oil is your friend. Thanks again to that high concentration of ricinoleic acid, castor oil has long been used as a natural laxative to help with digestive issues.
• Fends off split ends: Packed with replenishing acids, castor oil may help to keep hair strong and healthy, delaying the arrival of those dreaded split ends. In fact, a 2022 study found that castor oil increased hair luster.

Topical vs. Oral Use of Castor Oil

According to Ayurveda expert Shrankhla Holecek, using castor oil as a topical treatment can provide different benefits from ingesting it. "In Ayurveda, oral uses of castor oil typically relate to digestive benefits—most specifically around constipation. There are other Ayurvedic preparations that involve the use of herbs cooked in castor oil for digestive relief—I often tend to recommend these be prepared by or taken under the care of your Ayurvedic physician." Topical uses of castor oil (more on that below) are more widespread and can benefit the "vitality of skin and hair, as well as in “'packs' for relief from pain and inflammation."

Potential Side Effects of Castor Oil

Doctors often advise against consuming castor oil during pregnancy, as it can have a contracting effect on the uterus. "There are considerations to bear in mind when using castor oil orally – it can create dependence if taken regularly, and it should be avoided by pregnant women (in fact, in limited cases it is recommended to pregnant women to help with inducement of labor)," says Holecek. A good rule of thumb is to consult a GP or pharmacist for guidelines on how to take castor oil. However, some product labels suggest beginning with a 15-milliliter dose (if you're using it for constipation) before adjusting as you need and never exceeding 60 milliliters.

Castor oil can cause skin irritation when applied topically. Some reported side effects from topical use of castor oil indicate an allergic reaction and include skin rashes, itching and irritation, swelling, and hives. It's always recommended to do a 24-hour patch test when trying new ingredients to rule out any possible allergies.

How to Use It

"Within Ayurveda, castor oil is recommended for use around the eyes, eye lashes and brows, both for moisturizing and thickness," notes Holecek. "When using for brows, I like adding a drop of tea tree or rosemary oil to about 10 drops of castor oil for more robust growth and skin clarifying properties (especially if you have an oily t-zone)."

For inflamed skin in need of extra nourishment, Pande recommends dabbing a little oil on affected areas morning and night. It can be used similarly for split ends. “When it comes to sneaky split ends, put a quarter-sized drop of castor oil in the palm of your hand, and then warm it with your other hand before smoothing through the ends of your hair,” advises Pande. “For the ultimate restorative hair mask, blend with coconut oil and leave it on overnight to work its magic on your mane.”

"Castor oil is used quite extensively within Ayurvedic haircare—from restoring scalp health to adding shine and strength to the hair follicle," echoes Holecek. "Application to the scalp and hair and leaving on for 30 minutes (or overnight)—ideally applying steam to the hair when possible—before washing can add significant vitality and long-term benefits to the hair and scalp. Because castor oil has pitta balancing properties, it is believed to prevent premature greying of hair as well."

According to Holecek, castor oil can also work wonders in homemade beauty treatments like the below:

• "Various face masks can be made using castor oil to revitalize dry skin—try it with honey, mashed banana or avocado, even a little bit of egg or lemon juice!"
• "If you struggle with dandruff or scalp buildup, apply lemon juice to the scalp followed by warm castor oil. Leave on for 30 minutes and then wash off."
• "Overnight hair treatments made from castor oil can feature other carriers such as coconut or sesame (which is thicker and oilier) or herbal supplements like rosemary or bhringraj to stimulate hair growth, or arrest hair fall."
  
• "You can also mix castor oil with a tablespoon of yogurt and egg white and apply to hair lengths for 15-30 minutes as a hyper-revitalizing hair mask. (This is not for the faint of heart!)"
  

Final Takeaway

Packed with a skin-loving blend of fatty acids and vitamins, castor oil is the ultimate multi-use product for your beauty arsenal. (Consider it the Dr. Bronner's of oils.) From healing irritated scalps and frayed ends to clarifying pores and saving dry skin, this is one elixir that truly pulls its weight.