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7 Beauty Benefits of Castor Oil, The Unsung Hero Ingredient

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We all know by now that oils should be an important part of your beauty routine. Perhaps you already take off your makeup with coconut oil, maybe you use oil to hydrate your cuticles and, if we had to guess, there's definitely a face oil sitting on your vanity. But now, we're we’re making a case for adding castor oil into the mix, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich oil that has been used in beauty routines since Cleopatra’s time.

Because of those those anti-inflammatory properties, it’s an excellent treatment for skin and hair that yields results for things like hair growth, skin clearness and brow thickness. And while it's often mixed into hair and skincare products, we're advocating for its use in pure form. Here, seven benefits of castor oil that can be achieved with just a few daily drops.

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benefits of castor oil
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1. Grow Stronger Hair

Castor oil contains omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, both of which are useful for encouraging healthy hair growth. It’s also effective at treating dandruff, since is has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Rubbed into the scalp, it deeply moisturizes and helps stimulate circulation to promote hair growth.

2. Thicken Brows

Bold brows are still trending. To grow yours naturally, apply castor oil (which works on brow hair the same way it does on head hair) with a spoolie brush and wait for Cara Delevingne-level thickness. (Positive thoughts, right?)

3. Lengthen Lashes

Skip the extensions. To once again employ the hair-growing power of castor oil, dip a clean spoolie brush into the oil and run through your lashes a few times (just as you would with mascara) each evening. In the morning, remove any excess oil with makeup remover.

4. Moisturize Lips

Harness the same moisturizing properties that work wonders on a dry scalp to treat dry lips. Dab a tiny bit of oil on your lips morning and night, and they’ll feel smoother and more hydrated almost immediately.

5. Combat Acne

Add castor oil to the list of natural solutions for certain types of acne (like those caused by stress or poor diet). Using a cotton round, rub a few drops of the oil on any spots that are breaking out and leave it overnight. Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, which fights off bacteria that sometimes contributes to blemishes.

6. Soothe Sunburns

All that ricinoleic acid also works wonders for reducing inflammation caused by a sunburn. You may even experience a slight cooling sensation when you apply castor oil to the affected area, and of course, the moisturizing properties will keep skin supple to reduce peeling.

7. Treat Dry Patches

If you experience particularly stubborn spots of dryness anywhere on your body, castor oil might be the solution you've been looking for. The rich consistency acts as an emollient to lock in moisture, but know that it's quite sticky, so be careful not to let it rub off on clothes and bedsheets while you let it sink it.



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Director, Branded Content

Cristina Polchinski is a director of branded content at Gallery Media Group. She produces sponsored content campaigns across all verticals and platforms, in addition to...