Castor Oil: All You Need to Know About This Active Ingredien

Castor Oil.

Fiche d'identité : Huile végétale de ricin.

Commonly known as: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil (I.N.C.I.), castor oil, black castor oil, Carapate oil.

Botanical name: Ricinus communis.

Extraction process: Cold pressed, followed by a filtration to remove the ricin, a toxic enzyme naturally present in the seed.

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Extracted part of the plant: Seeds.

Cultivation area, origin: Africa (from the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea and from Tunisia to South Africa) and islands of the Indian Ocean.

Blooming: From the end of June to the end of September.

Origin, provenance: India (certified organic farming without GMO, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers)

Phytochemical composition: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, linolenic acid), monounsaturated fatty acids (ricinoleic acid, eicosenoic acid, oleic acid), saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid), triglycerides (ricinolein), phytosterols (β-sitosterol), squalene, tocopherol.

Sensory properties: Appearance: Clear oily liquid, viscous; Color: Colorless to pale yellow ; Odor : Characteristic ; Touch : Fat and viscous even sticky.

Physical properties: Density : 0,943 - 0,973 g/cm3 ; Insoluble in water ; Comedogenicity index: 1; Oxidative potential: Stable; Saponification index ≥ 150 mg KOH/g ; Refractive index: 1,464 - 1,494

Concerns: Soothing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, softening, repairing, purifying, hair stimulant, fortifying, nourishing.

Effect: All skin types, especially dry, damaged, mature, sensitive and blemished skin; All hair types, especially dull, dry, split and brittle hair. Also recommended for hair loss, as well as for the maintenance of eyelashes and eyebrows.

Properties

Anti-bacterial, purifying: To slow down the propagation of Propionibacterium acnes thanks to its composition in ricinoleic acid;
Anti-inflammatory: Inhibit the production and activity of mediators of inflammation with its content of phytosterols;
Antioxidant: Neutralize the formation of free radicals induced by environmental factors, due to the presence of tocopherols in castor oil, thus protecting skin structures against photoaging. It also reduces the auto-oxidation of linoleic acid;
Soothing, softening: To form a film thanks to the contribution of the emollient compounds which will reduce the tuggings, and to make the skin softer and comfortable;
Fortifying, nourishing, protective: Create a protective envelope (not totally occlusive) on the surface of the skin or around the hair fibers thanks to its composition in essential fatty acids, thus reinforcing the impermeability of the skin and its barrier function, limiting water loss and preventing hair breakage. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are also able to incorporate and restore intercellular cement;
Repairing: Promotes better regeneration and repair of skin tissue by increasing the total amount of tissue and healing proteins, and reducing the thickness of dead tissue and wound size due to the presence of oleic and linoleic acid in its composition.
Hair stimulant: Improves the growth of hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, as well as strengthening them and giving them volume due to the large amount of ricinoleic acid present in castor oil, acting on the microcirculation and inhibiting the action of prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGD2).

Use

Face care (lip balm, face creams, eye contour creams, beard oils, make-up remover oils, face masks, eyelash & eyebrow care);
Body care (body balms, scrubs, hand and foot creams, nail care);
Hair care (shampoos, hair masks, care oils);
Hygiene (deodorants, solid soaps);
Make-up (nail polish, lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, blush, pencils).

The castor is a fast-growing shrub that can reach 12 meters hight. Its leaves are palmate and reddish when young and turn dark green as they mature. The fruits consist of spiny capsules containing large egg-shaped seeds with brown, red or black flecks. Castor oil is extracted from these seeds. In the past, castor was considered a "magic plant" associated with black magic. For example, after a spell, it was said to regrow hair on the baldest of heads. It is also said that castor oil has the ability to reduce the symptoms of menopause. In skin care, its properties have been recognized for centuries: according to a legend, Cleopatra used it as a make-up remover. It is also prized in make-up as a base: it facilitates the dispersion of pigments thanks to its very high viscosity.