11 Castor Oil Beauty Hacks That'll Transform Your Routine

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Castor oil is by no means a new ingredient on the beauty scene but it’s currently receiving some major hype, most likely because it’s a beauty multitasking hero! In fact, it’s one of the most googled beauty ingredients of 2020! Castor oil has been amping up our beauty routine for years; keeping our lashes long, our hair thick, and our skin baby-soft smooth. Here’s everything you need to know about the miracle oil, and of course, how to incorporate it into your daily beauty routine.

What is Castor Oil? 

Castor oil is sourced from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plants, which grow across tropical regions in Eastern Africa, India, and around the Mediterranean. It’s been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes thanks to its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, all of which, also make it an amazing DIY ingredient. In fact, it can help soothe a myriad of skin concerns including acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Bursting with fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, it can also address hair hang-ups like dry, brittle ends, and even encourage healthy hair growth. It’s the ultimate do-it-all oil! While almost anyone can enjoy the benefit of castor oil, stay clear of the oil if you’re pregnant, as it’s believed to induce labor. 

We’re also obsessed with black castor oil. Unlike regular castor oil, the seeds of JBCO are roasted and ground into a mulch, which is then heated over a wood fire. As the oil reaches the surface, it’s skimmed off and extracted. The oil is completely natural and isn’t diluted, so the nutrients and vitamins pack a serious punch. We’re currently using the Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil, $8, as it’s 100% pure JBCO and is hand-processed.

Castor Oil Use #1: Brow Serum

Castor oil is bursting with beauty-boosting vitamins that can help encourage hair growth, making it the ultimate remedy for sparse, thin brows.

How to: Ensure your brows are free of any makeup or other creams – preferably post-cleansing. Then, soak a cotton bud in castor oil and brush it through your brows. Finally, massage your brows with your fingertips to encourage absorption and ensure that the castor oil coats each hair. Aim to do it twice a day, then look forward to bushier brows!

Castor Oil Use #2: Lip Balm

As castor oil is packed with fatty-acid rich omegas, proteins, and vitamins, it can also help soften and restore dry, chapped lips. For instant relief, simply apply two drops directly onto your lips. Alternatively, you can create your own DIY lip balm. Here’s our go-to recipe:

Ingredients:
2 tsp of virgin coconut oil
2 tsp of castor oil
1 tsp of olive oil
Colored berry lipstick

In a pan, on a low heat, combine 2 tsp of coconut oil with approx 1 cm of lipstick. Next, add in the oils and stir well. Leave it on the heat for two to three minutes and then pour it into a small dish or an old lip balm tin. Stash it in the fridge to set for a few hours.

Castor Oil Use 3#: Healing Oil

If you have a pimple, don’t be scared to add castor oil into your regimen. Not only is it a rich source of ricinoleic acid, which helps fight off acne bacteria that can help keep breakouts at bay, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties so it’s great at soothing existing pimples. And finally, as it contains vitamin E, it can even help minimize the appearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation. Just massage a drop of oil onto any problem areas after you’ve applied your serums and moisturizer.

Castor Oil Use #4:  Hot Oil Hair Treatment

We recently interviewed celebrity hairstylist Irinel De León, and she spilled the deets on her favorite remedy for dry, damaged locks: a hot oil treatment, which of course, featured this miracle DIY ingredient. If you’re wondering what a hot oil treatment is, Irinel explains it’s “a hair and scalp regimen that uses warm, natural oils to protect and strengthen damaged hair with vitamins and nutrients.”

The hot oil treatment features a unique blend of oils, all of which are bursting with omegas, fatty acids, and antioxidants that’ll not only seal in moisture and boost shine but strengthen the hair follicle and stimulate growth. These beauty benefits are enhanced by the warmth of the oil, which allows the oil to penetrate the hair shaft more efficiently. Check out the recipe here.

Castor Oil Use #5: To Soothe Eczema

As you’ll know by now, castor oil is a rich source of Omegas 6 and 9, as well as restorative proteins, which make it an amazing topical oil to prevent and soothe eczema. However, as castor oil is quite thick, you can combine it with equal parts of sweet orange oil to promote moisturization and fight off irritation. Apply to the affected area and enjoy its soothing effects. 

Castor Oil Use #6:  DIY Body Scrub

You don’t have to be a DIY regular to whip up a sugar scrub. Simply combine two parts of a gentle exfoliating ingredient like coffee grounds or sugar with one-part castor oil and get to work. Rinse with warm water and follow with your fave moisturizer.

Castor Oil Use #7: Lash Serum

In the same way that castor oil encourages hair growth on your brows, it can also work wonders to condition and lengthen your lashes. We do it every night, and our lashes are longer and fuller than ever before. Start by double cleansing to ensure your lashes are free of any makeup residue, then take a small cotton bud and coat your lashes with castor oil. 

Castor Oil Use #8: DIY Hair Scrub

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Scalp buildup is one of those under-the-radar beauty concerns, but detoxing and caring for your scalp regularly is a complete gamechanger. For our go-to DIY, we’re obsessed with this powerhouse scrub: The salt and apple cider vinegar cleanse and purify your scalp while the castor oil content stimulates hair growth and nourishes the scalp.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Himalayan ground pink salt (if you can’t find any, use coarse sea salt)
• 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar (with mother)
• 1 tablespoon of castor oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 3 drops of peppermint or tea tree oil (you can skip this if you don’t have any)

Combine the ingredients in a bowl and stir. Apply a tablespoon onto damp hair, gently messaging it into your scalp. Leave the scrub on your hair for five to 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water, followed by shampoo and conditioner.

Castor Oil Use #9: Anti-Aging Oil

When massaged onto the skin in circular motions, castor oil can help stimulate the production of collagen – our skin’s answer to youthful, toned skin. It’s also super hydrating and will leave your skin feeling smooth and looking plump.

Castor Oil Use #10: Nail Strengthener

If your nails haven’t seen the inside of a salon for longer than you’d like to admit, apply a couple of drops of castor oil to your cuticles. Not only will it hydrate and strengthen your nails, but as castor oil has anti-fungal properties, it can help fight any bacteria lurking in your nail bed… Ew!

Castor Oil Use #11: PMS-Soother

Jamaican black castor oil has some major health benefits and is used as a natural remedy to relieve menstrual cramps due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Simply massage the oil onto your lower abdomen for natural pain relief. We like to follow this with a hot-water bottle – it’s the ultimate cure.

Do you use castor oil? Let us know in the comments below.