Mode d'utilisation huile de ricin.

How to use castor oil?

Rich in beneficial active ingredients, castor oil has been used since ancient times. Legend has it that Queen Cleopatra used it to whiten the whites of her eyes. Today, there are various ways to use castor oil to care for your skin, hair, nails... Let's explore them together in this article.

What is castor oil?

The castor oil plant, also known by its scientific name Ricinus communis, is an annual herbaceous plant from the Euphorbiaceae family. It is native to India and has been widely cultivated around the world for its oil-rich seeds. This plant can reach a height of three meters and is characterized by its large, triangularly lobed leaves that measure up to 60 cm in diameter. The oil that the castor oil plant provides is rich in fatty acids, especially ricinoleic acid, and is a source of numerous cosmetic benefits.

The topical application of castor oil.

Thanks to its richness in unsaturated fatty acids, castor vegetable oil has nourishing and protective properties for the skin. This vegetable oil is particularly recommended for people with dry skin, whose epidermis does not produce enough lipids, which weakens it. In fact, the linoleic acid found in castor oil reacts and binds with the ceramides of the horny layer, which strengthens the skin's waterproof barrier.

Furthermore, the application of castor oil helps to slow down skin sagging. Moisturizing and rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant, this natural extract eliminates free radicals from cells and prevents them from causing damage to DNA and proteins such as collagen and elastin. Lastly, castor oil can be used to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. By protecting the skin from dehydration, it makes it more supple and elastic, which reduces its sensitivity to the sudden stretching it undergoes during pregnancy.

How to apply castor oil?

  • Pure.

    In prevention of skin aging, the appearance of stretch marks, or to hydrate your skin, you can apply pure castor oil to your face or body. To do this, take a few drops of oil and apply them over the entire area. Then gently massage in a circular motion so that the oil is effectively absorbed by the skin. However, be careful not to apply too much as castor oil has a rather viscous and greasy texture.

    Another possible use for this vegetable oil is as follows: as a makeup remover. This technique was, in fact, already used by Cleopatra over 2000 years ago. In the evening, as the first step in your routine, apply castor oil by massaging it into the areas you have applied makeup. Then rinse with clear water. Your skin is then clean and free of accumulated impurities.

  • Diluted in a cream.

    You can also use castor oil in synergy with your moisturizing cream or your stretch mark cream. To do this, take a dollop of cream in the palm of your hand and add one or two drops of castor oil. You can then apply the treatment by gently massaging it in and enjoy its nourishing benefits.

Using castor oil for hair care.

Thevegetable oil of castor can provide benefits to dry and brittle hair and nourish it deeply, thanks to the oleic acid (omega-9) it contains. Moreover, it contains saturated fatty acids whose structure is similar to that of the lipids in the cuticle, allowing them to insert and strengthen it. In doing so, castor oil promotes impermeability and cohesion of this layer, as well as the overall protection of the hair fiber. Solidified, this latter reflects more light, which gives shine to the hair.

Thecastor oil is also highly acclaimed for its ability to limit hair loss. Scientific studies have indeed shown that ricinoleic acid, present in large quantities in this oil, inhibits the action of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), a protein involved in the phenomena of androgenetic alopecia.

How to use castor oil for hair application?

  • Immersed in oil along the lengths.

    To deeply nourish the hair, castor vegetable oil can be used purely in an oil bath. To be done once or twice a week, it will strengthen and restore shine to the hair. For this, apply strand by strand a few drops of castor oil, from mid-lengths to ends, and let it sit for about fifteen minutes. Do not apply too much oil to avoid the risk of weighing down your hair. You can then proceed with a shampoo.

  • As a mask on the scalp.

    To slow down balding or stimulate hair growth, apply pure castor oil directly to the scalp at least twice a week and massage to stimulate the hair follicle. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before shampooing. We recommend applying a generous amount of shampoo after your mask, due to the oily nature of castor oil. You can also mix it with another plant oil beneficial for the scalp, such as theavocado oil or the argan oil, for a lighter application.

Using castor oil for beard maintenance.

Thevegetable oil of castor can also be used to care for one's beard and prevent it from having a rough and uneven appearance, thus giving a neglected look. It notably helps tosoften beard hairs, which can sometimes be quite coarse, and to give them shine, following the same mechanism as for hair. Castor oil is also recognized for its antimicrobial and fungicidal properties and fights against the bacterial colonization of the beard, a fertile ground for the development of microorganisms.

Furthermore, shaving tends to disrupt the hydrolipidic film and dry out the epidermis. However, castor oil is rich in fatty acids, molecules that are moisturizing and lipid-replenishing. Thus, it takes care of the skin beneath the hair. It is also believed to stimulate the growth of beard hair. However, unlike hair growth, no scientific study has yet demonstrated this ability of the castor oil.

How to apply castor oil to the beard?

Regarding its use, castor oil should be applied to a clean and dry beard. If you have a dry and brittle beard, you can use it morning and evening, daily. It is also recommended to apply it after shaving to soothe the skin. Only a few drops are needed. If you wish to deeply nourish your beard, you can use a few extra drops and leave the treatment on for about thirty minutes. Then rinse with warm water.

Castor oil for strengthening one's eyelashes and eyebrows.

Thecastor oil is also used to strengthen and tone eyelashes and eyebrows. Its application also helps to hydrate them. Castor oil is reputed to promote the growth of eyelashes and eyebrows, however, as with beard hairs, no study to date has proven this claim. It is nevertheless true that healthy eyelashes tend to have better growth.

How to apply castor oil on eyelashes or eyebrows?

  • Pure.

    Even though castor oil is a mild compound, all precautions must be taken when using it on the delicate area around the eye. It is therefore important to ensure that the oil does not come into contact with the eyes. The application should be done in small amounts along the length of the eyelashes or on the eyebrows, using a cotton swab or a small cleaning brush. For instance, you can apply the castor oil before going to sleep and then remove the excess in the morning.

  • In a skincare treatment.

    In order to care for your eyelashes and eyebrows, Typology has developed a lash and brow serum as well as a mascara serum. Enriched with pea peptides (INCI: Pisum Sativum (Pea) Peptide) and castor oil, these products strengthen and tone the eyelashes and eyebrows. The lash and brow serum should be applied in the evening, after removing makeup, directly to the lashes and brows and does not require rinsing. The mascara serum, on the other hand, is typically used in the morning and should be removed in the evening with a gentle makeup remover, like our bi-phase makeup remover formulated for the delicate eye contour area.

Castor oil for nail protection.

The nails are daily subjected to numerous external aggressions, such as manual labor, hand washing, semi-permanent nail polishes, etc. Over time, their condition can deteriorate, becoming soft and brittle. It is therefore important to take regular care of them. Castor oil helps to prevent fungi and mycoses due to the fungicidal activity of the undecylenic acid it contains. In addition, the fatty acids present in its composition restore flexibility to the cuticles and hydrate them. Finally, castor oil helps to protect the nails from external aggressions and free radicals because it contains vitamin E, an antioxidant.

How to apply castor oil on the nails?

  • Through massage.

    To strengthen your nails, you can apply a drop of castor oil to each one daily and massage until fully absorbed. You also have the option to use an applicator brush, similar to a nail polish brush. After a few days, your nails will appear stronger.

  • As an oil bath or as a mask.

    You can also allow castor oil to work for a longer period by using it as an oil bath or a hydrating mask. For the bath, soak your nails in castor oil for about twenty minutes. This method may be somewhat inconvenient, but it proves to be effective. There is also another technique, more practical: wrapping your nails, coated with castor oil, in cellophane wraps overnight.

Sources

  • FONG P. & al. In silico prediction of prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitors from herbal constituents for the treatment of hair loss. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2015).

  • MARWAT S. K. & al. Review - Ricinus communis - ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2017).

Diagnostic

Understand your skin
and its complex needs.