Castor Oil: What's It Good For And How To Choose The Best One

Photo Credit: "© [Esin Deniz] / Adobe Stock

You’re wandering through a wellness shop, turn the corner, and it hits you. An aisle of oils for every health and beauty need. You scan the labels; olive, argan, squalene…it’s a little overwhelming. Then, you see castor oil. You’ve heard of castor, but you’re not sure what it does and don’t want to waste your money.

Well, if you want to learn more, read on. We’re breaking down the benefits of castor oil and how to choose one that’s best for you.

What is castor oil is made from?

Photo Credit: "© [Juanamari Gonzalez] / Adobe Stock

Castor oil comes from the plant Ricinus communis, which has purple-red leaves and spiky red pompom-shaped seed pods. The oil varies from golden-yellow to deep brown, with a sticky texture and a heavy consistency.

What is castor oil used for? Why it’s good and best uses

Photo Credit: "© [Parilov] / Adobe Stock

Castor oil has an incredible amount of benefits. It’s been used for health, beauty and vitality for centuries and for good reason. Here are the best ways to use castor and why it works.

Soak in a castor oil bath

Photo Credit: "© [22Imagesstudio] / Adobe Stock

If you’re a bath person, level up your soaking experience by making a bath with castor oil. The thick consistency deeply nourishes skin while you relax and is particularly beneficial at soothing inflamed muscles after an intense workout

Put approximately 2-4 tablespoons under running water and swill around to dissipate the oil. Once your bath is full, step in and enjoy your soak. Remember, oil is slippy, so be mindful when stepping in and out of the tub.

You may want to rinse your body underneath the shower after bathing to avoid a sticky residue. But you can also wash off in the bath with your favourite shower gel.

Castor oil for a glowing face

Photo Credit: "© [K Abrahams/peopleimages.com] / Adobe Stock

Castor oil is commonly used for skin care because of its moisturising properties that plump and refresh skin cells. It’s also a great anti-inflammatory that tackles stubborn acne or redness.

Because castor oil has a thick consistency, it’s best not to use it as a daily face oil. Instead, make it into a facemask for a weekly deep condition. For an everyday natural skincare oil, we recommend black seed oil.

Try a DIY mask by mixing equal parts aloe vera and castor oil overnight. Bear in mind that applying castor oil to the face is different for everyone. And the heavy viscosity may be too much if you’re consistently prone to breakouts. So, experiment until you find out what works

You can also use castor oil on lips overnight because of its deeply conditioning effects. You only need a tiny amount (otherwise, you’ll end up feeling sticky!). Warm between your fingertips, then apply before bedtime to wake up with nourished and hydrated lips.

Castor oil helps hair growth

Photo Credit: "© [Prostock-studio] / Adobe Stock

Putting castor oil in hair has been trending for a while because it protects, nourishes and hydrates. Contrary to popular belief, castor oil doesn’t stimulate hair growth. But it does help you retain length - which makes it seem like your hair is growing faster. It also hydrates your scalp, preventing dryness and flaking that can lead to hair loss.

Applying castor oil on hair

There are various ways you can apply castor oil to hair.

Use castor oil overnight as a deep conditioning hair mask —Gently heat the oil, then, while it’s warm, gently smooth it on in sections. Sleep on an old pillowcase or protect your hair with a silk bonnet and wash it in the morning. The oil is heavy, so it might not work for fine hair. If you have fine or medium thickness, we recommend Organic Argan Oil, which is incredibly lightweight.
Hydrate your ends—Hair becomes brittle and dry between washes, causing the ends to split and break off. Applying a small amount of castor oil can keep your ends conditioned between washes. This method is best for coarse and coily hair that can absorb oil without being weighed down.

Use castor oil as a natural laxative

Photo Credit: "© [leszekglasner] / Adobe Stock

A 2022 study found castor oil is an excellent laxative (especially if you want to avoid caffeine). Consume one teaspoon daily to help with constipation. Remember to always consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you don’t like taking castor oil, try a castor oil massage on your belly to stimulate bowel movement. You won’t get the internal gut benefits, but you’ll end up with smooth skin and ease cramps caused by constipation.

Soften your feet with castor oil

Your feet go through a lot every day, and they’re often a neglected area of the body. This can lead to sore arches, crunched-up toes and rough, callus soles. Give your feet some TLC with a castor oil foot massage. Warm a teaspoon of oil, place your feet on a towel and knead the nourishing ingredient into tense points.

Focus on oiling areas of hard, callous skin so the oil can condition and soften it. For an intense foot makeover, leave castor oil on your feet overnight. Work the oil into your soles, then slip your feet into socks for intense overnight hydration.

How to choose the best castor oil

All castor oil benefits are fantastic, but they’ll only work if you get a good castor oil. Here are the things to consider when choosing the best castor oil:

Organic—There is a vast gap between organic and non-organic oils. Organic oils are high-quality and typically produced by companies that know their oils inside out.
100% castor oil—Always check the label of your castor oil. Don’t be fooled by companies that use 70% cheap oil with a dash of castor oil, as you won’t get the benefits.
Check the reviews—The Organic The Best Castor Oil has 5-star reviews. Why? Because it works! It’s a fantastic product that nurtures people’s bodies from the inside out.

Use organic castor oil with Grape Tree

Look no further than right here for the best castor oil. Live with glossy skin, hydrated hair, and a wonderfully working bowel (now, who doesn’t want that?). Get castor oil to upgrade your health and vitality, and add it to your stock of beautiful oils today.