Castor Oil for Lips: Benefits, Safety and Usage

Castor oil is considered an important ingredient in skin care products, including lip balms and lipsticks. Castor oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and humectants like ricinoleic acid. So is castor oil good for lips?

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant through cold pressing. This is a method of extracting oil from the seeds of a plant without the use of heat. Once collected, the oil is cleaned and purified using heat. When castor oil is an ingredient in cosmetics, it is often referred to as Ricinus communis seed oil.

According to a 2007 study, castor oil has not been shown to be a significant skin irritant or sensitizer in human clinical trials. However, a 2008 study found that some people have allergic reactions when applying castor oil to their skin, although this is rare.
If you're thinking about using castor oil on your lips, consider talking to your dermatologist about possible allergic reactions.
Also, consider applying a small amount of oil to a small area of ​​skin on your forearm before applying it elsewhere on your body. Observe the skin for 24 hours. If there is no reaction, such as redness or itching, chances are that your body is not allergic to castor oil.
If accidentally swallowed, some of the possible risks associated with castor oil include diarrhea and induction of spontaneous labor.

Besides, castor beans are used to produce oil that contains a poison called ricin. However, castor oil does not contain ricin because it does not break down into oil (according to a 2007 study).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), except in the case of ingesting castor beans, there is very little chance of the body being exposed to the toxin ricin.

We can apply castor oil directly to our lips, we can buy or make our own lip balm with the main ingredient being castor oil.
North Carolina State University has published a castor oil lip balm recipe that includes the following ingredients:
1 tbsp castor oil (you can substitute with others like olive oil or castor oil) grape); 1 tablespoon coconut oil; 1 teaspoon cocoa butter; 1/2 tablespoon beeswax; 1/2 teaspoon MSG and vitamin E oil Follow these steps to get castor oil for lips:
Place castor oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter and beeswax in a medium sized glass or bowl stainless steel; Melt the ingredients and stir with a fork constantly; When the mixture has completely liquefied, add vitamin E oil and stir well, then remove from the stove; Pour the mixture into a tin tube or small lip balm mold; Then let it cool and solidify before using.

In addition to its beneficial effects on the skin and lips, castor oil is also used for the following purposes:
Laxative: When taken orally, castor oil has a strong laxative effect (according to a study). 2012); Anti-inflammatory: According to a 2015 study, the ricinoleic acid in castor oil can reduce inflammation and pain when applied topically; Antibacterial: A 2016 study in rats showed that castor oil has strong antibacterial activity; Antifungal: Castor oil has antifungal properties, according to a 2013 study that focused on bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis) and fungi (Candida albicans) in the oral cavity. In summary, castor oil is considered safe for the skin and lips of users. This is a common ingredient in skin care products. Although it is possible to have an allergic reaction to castor oil application, this is very rare.
The ricinoleic acid in castor oil helps retain moisture in the skin by preventing water loss through the outer layer of the skin. However, when starting any new skin care regimen, including using castor oil for lips, it's best to discuss it with a dermatologist to make sure it's safe.

Reference source: healthline.com