Is the castor oil in cosmetics good or bad for your skin?

Castor oil is a common skin care ingredient

Many types of vegetable oils are used in cosmetics, such as olive oil, rice bran oil, almond oil, rosehip oil , etc. Many of these oils are also familiar as edible oils.

However, many people may not be familiar with castor oil, which is often seen in skin care products.

Castor oil is a type of vegetable oil. It is an oily ingredient that is often used in cosmetics. The cosmetics you are using right now may contain the following ingredients.

• PEG-20 Castor Oil
• PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Triisostearate

In this article, we will explain what castor oil is, its effects on the skin, and any drawbacks that may be of concern.

Castor oil used in medicine

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of castor beans, which grow indigenously in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is said that the ancient Egyptians used it as oil to light their lamps. There are also records of them drinking it to purify the body.

This is probably due to the fact that castor oil activates the small intestine and relieves constipation. Even today, it is still used in the medical field as a treatment for the digestive system and as a laxative.

Why is castor oil used in cosmetics?

Castor oil is cheaper than other vegetable oils, and is therefore used for a wide range of purposes, including medical and industrial applications.

However, in cosmetics, it is mostly used for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, moisturizing, etc. For example, it is sometimes added to acne care products to relieve acne and skin inflammation.

Since it is used in medical treatment, it is generally considered to be highly safe for the human body. However, there have been occasional reports of side effects.

Is castor oil good for your skin?

Castor oil contains a lot of a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid is also called ricinoleic acid. The main purpose of adding castor oil to cosmetics is the anti-inflammatory effect of this ricinoleic acid.

For example, they are added to products in the hope of achieving the following effects:

Improves acne

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil can help treat acne and breakouts. Ricinoleic acid is said to inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause acne. Castor oil also has a low comedogenic index, so you don't have to worry about clogged pores.

Smoothes the skin

In addition to ricinoleic acid, the abundant fatty acids contained in this oil are said to make the skin smooth.

Improves skin discoloration

The fatty acids in castor oil may help promote the production of healthy skin tissue, which may help improve uneven skin tone.

Moisturizing

It contains a lot of fatty acids that keep the skin hydrated, and it also absorbs moisture from the air to maintain moisture.

Does it really work?

As mentioned above, castor oil has many beneficial effects on the skin.

However, in reality, there is insufficient evidence or data to back up these effects, and few have been reliably proven.

Most of the studies showing effectiveness are based on isolated cases where castor oil was successfully used as a treatment, meaning they are not based on a large number of accurate data.

It is important to be aware that in some cases, the effectiveness of cosmetics is touted and incorporated into products based on past performance and examples of use.

The risks of applying castor oil

While there are many attractive beauty benefits, there are also risks associated with applying castor oil to the skin. The main risk is allergic reactions, such as:

• Skin rash
• swelling
• itch

Castor oil is considered safe by the International Journal of Toxicology , but animal studies have shown it can be highly irritating to exposed skin, and even mild irritation can cause itching and redness.

In particular, there have been some reports of lip balms containing castor oil causing swelling of the lips. If you are allergic to castor oil, you may develop hives or a rash.

Risk of skin absorption

Castor oil enhances skin penetration , which may speed up the absorption of other ingredients in your skincare products.

Cosmetics do not always contain only safe ingredients.

For example, PEG is often combined with castor oil. Carcinogenic substances are used during the manufacturing process, so even if it is mild to the skin, it may not have zero impact on the human body. Also, PEG itself has the effect of increasing skin penetration, so you may need to pay attention to what other ingredients are included.

Even if you don't normally need to worry about ingredients that are not absorbed through the skin, you may experience unexpected side effects if you use ingredients that enhance penetration, such as castor oil. In particular, people who are sensitive to chemicals or have allergies should carefully read the ingredient label of cosmetics and avoid the effects of risky ingredients as much as possible.

Conclusion

Castor oil is used in many cosmetics. Although its beauty effects have not been scientifically proven, it may have a beneficial effect on the skin. However, more extensive and advanced research results are needed to prove this.

"What you don't know is a risk"
"It's been fine so far so there's no problem"

People have different ways of thinking and values. But if you have skin problems that won't go away no matter what skin care you try, please know that you may be experiencing these "unknown risks."