Is castor oil effective as a natural sun protection for the skin?

The SPF (Sun Protection Factor), also known as SPF (Sunburn Protection Factor) in English or PI (Protection Index), is the index representing the level of sun protection of a skincare product. It measures its ability to block UV rays responsible for sunburn. The higher the SPF, the greater the photoprotection power. The numbers indicated after the SPF mention correspond to the ratio between the exposure time needed to induce a sunburn with and without cream.

Castor oil has a protection factor equal to 6, which is relatively low. It is also possible to interpret this differently with SPF. A factor of 6 means that castor oil blocks approximately 85% of UV rays. At first glance, this may seem satisfactory but the remaining 15% is significant enough to cause sunburn.

Despite its numerous benefits, castor oil does not replace sun care. It lacks effectiveness due to its low sun protection factor. It's worth noting that a sun care product is generally considered effective when its SPF is equal to or greater than 15. Moreover, castor oil is not among the 27 UV filters recognised by European regulations.

Thus, in order to protect oneself during prolonged exposure to the sun, it is recommended to use broad-spectrum sun care products, that is, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. Today, there is a wide variety of formulations (creams, milks, oils, sticks, sprays...), which allow each skin type to find its perfect match. To ensure maximum protection, we advise you to generously apply sun care products and to ensure no area is neglected (ears, tip of the nose...).