As a child, about once per quarter, my mom would line us up and give us “a dose of castor oil to clean us out.” I cried every time because it was the most disgusting taste in the world – to my youthful palette. There was nothing else that could compare to that dreadful taste. Just thinking about the aftertaste gave me a headache, and the thought of how the thick molasses-like oil took its time going down and how it seemed like hours before you could get the taste out of your mouth was haunting. And don’t get me started on burping it – yuck!
At about 12, I made a pact with my future adult self that I would never touch castor oil again. But now, as a content writer for natural beauty products, I find myself writing about and trying many natural remedies for various issues, and…well, over the years, I after I learned about the great benefits of castor oil for my skin. I guess you could say that I broke my promise to myself.
What I didn’t know…
Castor oil is a vegetable oil that has been around for ages and used in ancient healing practices and Aryvadic medicine. The oil is extracted from castor beans, which are seeds from the Ricinus communis plant.
Known for its anti-bacterial properties, castor oil is also rich in Vitamin E, proteins and Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids, which are essential to having healthy hair and skin. Though it doesn’t taste great – at all, castor oil is the bomb dot com when it comes to healthy skin. It evens the complexion, unclogs pores, heals skin wounds and prevents the growth of harmful microbes. Read on for more reasons why you should be using castor oil as part of your skin care regiment.
Why castor oil is good for your skin
Natural wrinkle treatment. Castor oil just might be the only anti-aging treatment you need. Using castor oil regularly fights wrinkles naturally and rejuvenates your skin. It penetrates deep into the skin’s layers and increases collagen and elastin production, which makes your skin look and feel smoother and suppler. After all, who doesn’t want flawless, wrinkle-free skin?
Soothes and relieves dry skin. If you’re prone to dry skin castor oil is a great natural alternative to chemical laden moisturizers. Castor oil promotes hydration and it acts a humectant, drawing moisture from the air and sealing it in, thus preventing moisture loss. Though it’s thick, castor oil is non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog your pores. It also provides relief for those who suffer from dry, itchy, irritated skin caused by eczema, psoriasis or other skin conditions.
Acne be gone. Because of its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties, and anti-bacterial properties, castor oil is the trifecta for acne sufferers. Inflammation is one of the major causes of severe acne, and castor oil reduces inflammation while antimicrobial and anti-bacterial properties kick into full gear destroying and preventing harmful bacteria growth.
Bye, bye puffy eyes. Castor oil’s high concentration of ricinoleic acid makes it a perfect nighttime eye treatment to get rid of bags and puffy eyes. Ricinoleic acid, which is the main component of castor oil reduces absorption of fluids thus, keeping swelling in check. Use castor oil every night before bed and watch “the luggage” disappear.
If you’re suffering from any dry skin ailment and looking for a natural alternative, castor oil just might be your go-to. Though it may be hell on your taste buds, castor oil is a fantastic all-natural skin care treatment.