Castor Oil
Castor Oil
Product Description
NOW Beauty Products Castor Oil is a 100% pure, expeller-pressed oil from a single botanical source β Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil. This multi-purpose emollient deeply moisturizes and softens skin, conditions hair, brows and lashes, and shines in DIY blends and castor oil packs. Virtually odorless, hexane-free, and Non-GMO Project Verified.
β¨ Texture & Feel
Deep Moisture
A ricinoleic-acid-rich emollient that softens dry, rough skin and helps seal in hydration.
Hair & Lash Care
A traditional favorite for conditioning brows, lashes, dry ends and flaky scalp pre-wash.
One Ingredient
A single INCI β castor seed oil. No fragrance, fillers, or preservatives whatsoever.
Clean Sourcing
Expeller-pressed, hexane-free and Non-GMO Project Verified, made under NPA A-rated GMP.
π‘οΈ Safety & Compatibility
Topical use is generally considered safe by most sources. The real concern is oral use, which can stimulate the uterus and induce labor. Avoid ingesting; consult your provider before applying to the belly near term.
Not recommended. Castor oil's fatty acids can feed malassezia yeast, so it isn't considered fungal-acne safe. Avoid facial use if you are prone to fungal acne.
Rated around 1/5 β unlikely to clog pores for most people, though acne-prone users should patch test and use sparingly.
No added fragrance, parabens, gluten or harsh chemicals. Suitable for sensitive skin after a patch test.
Apply a drop to your inner forearm 24 hours before facial use to rule out sensitivity.
Inert and active-friendly. Pairs well with lighter oils (jojoba, almond, argan); dilute due to its thickness.
π¬ Ingredient Breakdown
π± Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil 100% Proven
The one and only ingredient. A thick vegetable oil pressed from castor beans, prized as a natural emollient for centuries. Expeller-pressed and hexane-free, it nourishes and softens skin while conditioning hair, brows and lashes.
- Source: Castor oil is roughly 85β90% ricinoleic acid, a hydroxy fatty acid that is rare among plant oils.
- Source: Its occlusive, emollient action helps reduce water loss and leaves skin feeling soft and supple.
- Source: Naturally contains vitamin E (tocopherols) and omega-6/9 fatty acids that support the skin barrier.
π§ Ricinoleic Acid (active fraction) ~90% Promising
The signature compound that makes up the vast majority of castor oil's fatty acids. This unusual omega-9 hydroxy fatty acid is behind the oil's deep moisturizing feel and traditionally soothing, conditioning reputation.
- Source: Ricinoleic acid's hydroxyl group gives castor oil its humectant-like, moisture-binding behavior.
- Source: Research notes it can enhance the transdermal penetration of other ingredients in a blend.
1 ingredient
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
π Where It Fits in Your Routine
Best used PM as a final occlusive seal over moisturizer, as a targeted treatment on dry patches, or as a pre-wash hair and scalp oil. A few drops go a long way.
π How to Use
Patch Test
Apply a drop to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours before using it on the face.
Warm a Few Drops
Rub 2β3 drops between clean fingertips; a little goes a long way with this rich oil.
Apply or Dilute
Press onto dry areas, brows, lashes or ends. Dilute with jojoba or almond oil for easier spread.
Seal or Rinse
Use as a final PM step on skin, or leave on hair 30 minutes to overnight before shampooing out.
π€ Who Is It For?
β Perfect for you if:
- You want one affordable, multi-use oil for skin, hair, brows and lashes
- You have dry or normal skin that craves a rich occlusive layer
- You prefer single-ingredient, fragrance-free, clean-sourced products
- You make DIY blends, balms or castor oil packs
β Consider alternatives if:
- You have very oily or fungal-acne-prone skin
- You want a fast-absorbing, lightweight facial oil
- You dislike thick, sticky textures
- You need a quick, no-fuss daytime moisturizer
π― Skin Type Compatibility
A rich, occlusive emollient that locks in moisture and soothes flaky, tight skin beautifully.
Nourishing as a PM treatment; use sparingly or diluted so it doesn't feel heavy.
Best applied to dry zones; go light on the T-zone to avoid excess shine.
Can feel heavy and greasy. Use only as targeted spot care on dry areas, if at all.
Low comedogenic but not fungal-acne safe and thick. Patch test and avoid if breakout-prone.
π Results Timeline
Softer, Smoother Skin
Skin feels instantly conditioned, supple and comfortable after application.
80% noticedLess Dryness & Flaking
Regular nightly use helps tame dry patches and visibly rough texture.
65% noticedConditioned Hair & Brows
With consistent pre-wash use, hair, brows and lashes look glossier and feel stronger.
50% noticedβ Ratings by Platform
βοΈ Pros & Cons
β Praised
- Incredibly affordable and long-lasting
- Truly single-ingredient and fragrance-free
- Versatile across skin, hair, brows, lashes and packs
- Hexane-free, Non-GMO Verified, vegan and cruelty-free
- Deeply moisturizing for dry skin
β Criticized
- Thick, sticky texture is hard to spread
- Slow to absorb and can feel greasy
- Not fungal-acne safe
- Plastic bottle on smaller sizes, no dropper
- Can be messy when pouring
π° Budget-Friendly Alternatives (Dupes)
USDA organic and cold-pressed, often bundled with a glass bottle and applicator kit. Nearly identical pure oil at a comparable price.
USDA organic, cold-pressed and co-op sourced. Slightly pricier with very similar performance and the same single-ingredient purity.
Hexane-free and expeller-pressed, a widely stocked drugstore option. Comparable purity, slightly different scent profile.
π Comparison with Competitors
NOW Beauty Products Castor Oil (Featured)
$9.49Aura Cacia Organic Castor Oil
$13.49Sky Organics Organic Castor Oil
$9.99Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
$10.95π¦ Storage & Shelf Life
12 months after opening for best quality
Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat.
Screw-cap bottle (PCR plastic; glass on larger organic sizes)
Yes β the 4 oz size is under 100ml for carry-on
β Frequently Asked Questions
Topical use is generally considered safe by most sources for skin and hair. The key caution is oral use, which can stimulate the uterus and induce labor. Avoid ingesting it, be cautious applying it to the belly near term, and consult your healthcare provider before adding it to your routine.
No. Castor oil's fatty acids fall within the range that can feed malassezia yeast, so it isn't considered fungal-acne safe. If you are prone to fungal acne, avoid using it on the face.
Yes. As an inert, single-ingredient oil it doesn't deactivate actives. Apply your treatment serums first, then use castor oil as a final occlusive seal step, ideally at night.
Dry and normal skin benefit most from its rich, occlusive moisture. Oily and acne-prone skin should use it sparingly as a targeted treatment, if at all.
Skin feels softer immediately. Reduced dryness and flaking typically show within 1β2 weeks, and conditioned, glossier hair and brows over 4β8 weeks of consistent use.
Last. Use it as the final PM step over your moisturizer to seal in hydration, or as a targeted treatment on dry patches. For hair, apply it pre-wash and rinse out.
It has a low comedogenic rating of about 1/5, so it's unlikely to clog pores for most people. However, it is thick, so acne-prone users should patch test and use it cautiously.
Around 12 months after opening for best quality. Stored cool, dark and tightly sealed, pure castor oil is quite stable and can last longer.
Verdict: NOW Beauty Products Castor Oil is a budget hero β a genuinely single-ingredient, hexane-free, Non-GMO Verified oil that delivers serious moisture for dry skin, hair, brows and lashes at a fraction of boutique prices. Its thick, slow-absorbing texture and lack of a dropper are the main gripes, and it's not the right pick for oily or fungal-acne-prone skin. But for anyone wanting a versatile, clean, multi-use emollient that lasts for months, it's hard to beat the value.
Product Overview
What are Quick Product Notes?
Quick product notes are a great way to check if a product is free from commonly avoided ingredients by skincare enthusiasts. These preferences come about for different reasons depending on the ingredient such as personal experiences, sensitivities, health preferences & etc.
Pro Tip Alert!
Just because a product is not free from a common preference does not mean it's a bad product! You can make a personal decision whether or not you want to use a product that contains these ingredients or not - click the labels of the preference to read more about them.
Quick Product Notes
Paraben-Free
Paraben-Free
Understanding Parabens
Parabens are a large group of preservatives which are used to prevent bacteria growing in cosmetic formulations. There has been some healthy controversy surrounding them due to a few studies finding paraben presence in breast tumours and breast tissue. However, the majority of the scientific community have deemed these findings non-conclusive due to the limitations of these studies. There's still a lot of support for avoiding parabens following the better safe than sorry route. If you do we completely support you! If you are concerned about the health safety of parabens, then feel free to avoid them by looking out for the Paraben-Free icon. If not, don't worry about it - they do have had one of the longest safety records as preservatives!
Which Ingredients are classified as Paraben?
A product will be paraben-free if it does not contain any of the following parabens:
- Sodium Isobutylparaben
- Sodium Ethylparaben
- Sodium Butylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Isopropylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Sodium Propylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Sodium Methylparaben
- Methylparaben
Sulfate-Free
Sulfate-Free
Understanding Sulfates
Sulfates are a large group of ingredients which act as cleansing agents in Cosmetics. They help loosen up the dirt and grime from your skin and hair to allow for water to wash it away with ease. However some sulfates are so good at their job, they can wash off your skinβs own natural oils that keep it moisturised and protected which can lead to dryness and irritation. Most people will find no issues with sulfate, however if you find your skin doesn't like sulfates then free feel to avoid them by looking out for the sulfate-free icon on Skincarisma.
Which ingredients are classified as sulfates?
We've taken the Sulfates which are considered more harsh for our Sulfate-Free status. A product will be Sulfate-Free if it does not contain any of the following Sulfates:
- TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- PEG-15 Cocamine
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
- Ammonium Xylenesulfonate
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Xylenesulfonate
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
Alcohol-Free
Alcohol-Free
Understanding Simple Alcohols
Alcohol ingredients are widely used in cosmetics and come in different types. For the most part alcohols are not problematic at all. However one type of alcohols, simple alcohols can be quite drying to the skin because it evaporates very quickly. This can cause irritation which can also lead to other skin complications. These alcohols should never be used alone on your skin, but combined with other cosmetic ingredients, they are normally without issue. However, for some people with sensitive and easily irritable skin, avoiding products with these simple alcohols may be beneficial. If you find your skin doesn't like these simple alcohols, then free feel to avoid them by looking out for the Alcohol-Free icon.
Which Ingredients are classified as Alcohol?
A product will be alcohol-free if it does not contain any of the following alcohol ingredients:
- SD Alcohol
- Alcohol Denat
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Alcohol
Silicone-Free
Silicone-Free
Understanding Silicones
If you've ever used a skincare, makeup or beauty product that's made your skin look and feel smoother tempoarily - it's likely contained Silicone. They are a popular class of ingredients found in cosmetics due to their smooth, soft, easy-to-spread and smooth properties that help creates an artificial layer/barrier on top of skin or hair (commonly found in conditioners).
For the same reasons they are popularly used, they are also commonly avoided. Anecdotally, many individuals have reported that Silicones cause/excerbate breakouts, irritation, cause a feeling of skin being unable to breathe, cause clumping of cosmetic products and find it difficult to wash off. As a result, those who find them problematic are avoiding them and increasingly, cosmetic companies are avoiding them as well.
If you have had bad experiences with Silicones in the past, or suspect they are problematic then look out for the tick on the Silicone-free label.
Disclaimer
The Silicone-free label only includes the most common Silicone ingredients that have indentified been reported by individuals that could potentially cause issues.
These include: Amodimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Cetearyl Methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol, Dimethiconol, Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Stearoxy Dimethicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone.
Note, that this does not include all ingredients part of the Silicone class of ingredients.
EU Allergen-Free
EU Allergen-Free
Understanding the Identified Contact Allergens
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has identified and established 26 cosmetic ingredients that are likely contact allergens (potential to cause skin allergies) as demonstrated in clinical or epidemiological studies. The EU's SCCS have recommend cosmetic companies to disclose them on the labels if used and in cases where the concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products, then they must be labelled.
Look out for the tick on the EU-Allergen free label to know your cosmetic is free from any of the 26 identified cosmetic ingredients.
For more information regarding the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, please visit their official website.
Disclaimer
The EU Allergen Free label is for the 26 ingredients identified by the EU SCCS and products will be only flagged if a suspected ingredient is on it's ingredient list. It is possible for cosmetics to contain one of the suspect ingredients without it appearing on the ingredient list due to it not reaching the concentration threshold to disclose it and cosmetic manufacturers choice to not disclose it.
Also note, the EU Allergen Free label is not personalized for your own allergies you may have and it does not constitute as medical advice. For your specific case, always consult your medical professiona such as dermatologist, physician, pharmacist, or health care provider - please read our medical disclaimer for more information.
Fungal Acne (Molassezia) Safe
Fungal Acne (Molassezia) Safe
Understanding Fungal Acne (Pityrosporum Folliculitis/Malassezia Folliculitis)
Pityrosporum Folliculitis/Malassezia folliculitis or simply known as Fungal Acne is a persistent acne-like condition that commonly responds poorly to traditional acne-treating methods. Unlike most cases of Acne where bacteria is the culprit, Fungi is the culprit of Fungal Acne (Hence the name!). There are certain classes & groups of ingredients that have been shown to promote and feed the growth of the Fungal Acne, Fungi such as fatty acids, oils, esters, polysorbates and fermented ingredients.
For more information regarding Fungal Acne, please visit Simple Skincare Science (f.c) - #3 of our Recommend Skincare Resources for an amazing comprehensive guide!
Please Read: How to use the Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Label
At SkinCarisma, we've done our best to identify as many ingredients as possible but note the fungal-free label may not be 100% accurate due to the complexconditions and combination of ingredients that malezzeria can thrive on.
Additionally, products that may contain ingredients that have shown to feed Malassezia may not neccessarily exacerbate the condition due to concentration of ingredient used in the product, this information is simply not available on the products.
As a result, please note this is only an experimental label that can be best used to possible identify problematic products you have used in the past. It is in no way a perfect identifier nor a predictor in whether or not it will exacerbate or cause fungal acne. It will continue to be worked on as more information and research comes to light.
If you find any ingredients you believe should be included, please email us at snails@skincarisma.com.
Disclaimer
Due to the lack of substantial research into this area it is very likely there are other ingredients and class/groups of ingredients that could feed Fungal Acne which have not been indentified.
The Fungal-Safe label does not constitute as medical advice. For your specific case, always consult your medical professiona such as dermatologist, physician, pharmacist, or health care provider - please read our medical disclaimer for more information.
What are Notable Effects & Ingredients?
Ever used a product that promised a certain effect but provided no results? It might not have contained any notable ingredients that could have been responsible for that promised effect. It doesn't matter what the marketing or packaging Β«promisesΒ» it can do, if it doesn't contain anything that can help - then the likelihood of it helping is low.
We help you identify key notable ingredients that have been shown to help with effects such as acne-fighting, brightening, UV-protection, wound healing & anti-aging to help you achieve your skincare goals smarter. Please note that different notable ingredients have varying levels of research behind them, some are extremely well proven yet some have mixed research in their efficacy.
Pro Tip Alert!
Just because a product doesn't contain any notable ingredients doesn't mean it's bad. And a product with notable ingredients (or even many) doesn't necessarily guarantee the efficacy of the product performing these effects either. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine this.
Be smart and use this as just a starting point for you to make more informed and smarter choices and compare it with reviews to see if the product is right for you
Notable Effects & Ingredients
What are Ingredients Related to Skin Type?
Why are some products great for some people and horrible for others? Well everyone has different skin types and different reactions to the same ingredients.
We've identified a range of ingredients that are commonly regarded as potentially good or bad for those with Dry, Oily/Acne-Prone or Sensitive skin.
Pro Tip Alert!
A product that contains good or bad ingredients for your skin type doesn't always flat out make the entire product good or bad for your skin. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine your skins reaction.
One of the best ways to use this section is to troubleshoot products you've had bad experiences with in the past. Check if it contains any of the marked ingredients to point out suspect ingredients to avoid in the future!
Ingredients Related to Skin Types
Dry Skin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
Sensitive Skin
What is the Ingredient Safety Breakdown?
Ingredient Safety Breakdown refers to the percentage % of ingredients in different risk categories as classified by EWG (Environment Working Group) if they are available. There are almost endless cosmetic ingredients and they are one of the few organisations globally that have assigned ratings to a lot of the more commonly used ingredients which is why we reference them.
Pro Tip Alert!
EWG is seen by many to be more on the alarmist side in their assignment of health ratings resulting in rating ingredients as riskier than they actually are. We recommend using this a reference point rather than a strict guide of ingredient safety and to always do further research if into ingredients that you may find suspect.
Ingredient Safety Breakdown
Product ingredient list
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning
|
Hydrating
|