Castor Oil for Skin: Benefits, Skin Types, and 5 DIY Recipes

Updated November 2026
Castor oil is a thick, glossy plant oil pressed from castor seeds, and it's lovely for skin in small amounts: in balms, lip blends, and cuticle oils, or mixed into a lighter carrier. Most castor oil for skin works best diluted, since it's too sticky to use alone on the face. Below I cover what castor oil is, which skin types it suits, how to mix it, and 5 easy recipes. Jump to the recipes.

Comparing carriers? See my list of carrier oils.

What Is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is pressed from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). It's pale yellow, very thick, and almost syrupy, and it's made mostly of one fatty acid, ricinoleic acid. That unusual makeup is what gives castor oil its heavy, glossy feel, and why you'll find it in so many lip glosses, lipsticks, and balms.

On this blog, I only use castor oil on skin and hair. Look for 100% pure, cold-pressed castor oil in a dark bottle.

Castor Oil Quick Facts

Can I Use Castor Oil as a Carrier Oil?

Yes. A carrier oil is a plant oil you mix essential oils into before they touch your skin, and castor oil works as one. It's just so thick that it's easier to use as part of a blend. I usually mix it with a lighter carrier like jojoba, sweet almond, or fractionated coconut oil, which makes it spread more easily and feel less sticky.

Castor oil's thickness is also its strength. It stays put instead of running off, which makes it nice in lip blends and balms, and in cuticle oil you want to stay on your nails.

Need castor oil? Look for 100% pure, cold-pressed castor oil. Here's an organic castor oil (affiliate link) we recommend.

Is Castor Oil Good for All Skin Types?

Not straight from the bottle. Castor oil for skin can work for most skin types, but how you use it matters.

• Dry skin: castor oil feels rich and cushiony in a balm or body butter, especially on elbows, knees, and heels.
• Normal or combination skin: a small amount mixed into a lighter oil works well for hands, lips, and cuticles.
• Oily or breakout-prone skin: many people find castor oil too heavy for the face. If you want to try it, keep it to a small part of a lighter blend.
• Sensitive skin: patch test first, since some people find castor oil drying or irritating.

For a face oil, mix 1 part castor oil with 3 to 10 parts jojoba, and start with the lighter end. Keep castor oil blends with essential oils away from your eyes.

How to Use Castor Oil for Skin, Lips, and Nails

Here are the easiest ways to use castor oil for skin, lips, and nails.

1. Cuticles and Nails

Castor oil's thickness makes it a nice cuticle oil, since it stays where you put it. Rub a drop or two into your cuticles and nails at night, especially in winter. See my rosehip oil for nails post for a lighter option.

2. Lips

Castor oil gives lip blends that glossy shine you see in store-bought lip gloss. Mix it half and half with jojoba so it's less sticky, and try the lip roller below.

3. Body Butters and Balms

A spoonful of castor oil makes a body butter feel richer and gives it a little glide. It pairs especially well with shea butter (see the recipe below).

4. After a Day in the Sun

Skip castor oil on a fresh sunburn. Cool a burn with cool running water first, and don't put any oils on it while the skin still feels hot. Here's how I use aloe and lavender instead: lavender oil for sunburn.

Castor Oil for Hair, Lashes, and Brows

A little castor oil mixed into a lighter oil makes a smoothing hair oil for dry ends, or a weekly scalp massage oil before you wash. It's thick, so a few drops go a long way, and you may need to shampoo twice to rinse it out.

Some people brush a tiny amount of plain castor oil, never with essential oils, on their lashes and brows at night for a glossy look. Keep it out of your eyes, and stop if your eyes or eyelids feel irritated.

Shea Butter and Castor Oil Mix

Shea butter and castor oil make a rich, protective pair for very dry skin, and it's one of the simplest ways to use castor oil for skin. Shea butter is solid and creamy, and castor oil adds shine and glide. A good starting ratio is 2 parts shea butter to 1 part castor oil. Use more shea for a firmer balm, or a little more castor oil for a softer, glossier one. Recipe below.

More ideas in my guide to the best essential oils to mix with shea butter and how to whip shea butter without heat.

DIY Castor Oil Recipes

Warm Scalp Massage Oil

Scalp oil · Ages 5+ · about 0.3%

A warm, gentle pre-wash oil for a dry, tight-feeling scalp.

• 1 Tbsp castor oil
• 1 Tbsp virgin coconut oil
• 1 drop tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
• 1 drop lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Directions:

1. Put the castor and coconut oils in a small glass bowl and set it in a bowl of warm water until the coconut oil melts.
2. Stir in the essential oils.
3. Check the temperature on your wrist; it should feel warm, not hot.
4. Massage into the scalp and leave on for 30 minutes to 1 hour, then shampoo twice.

Rosemary Shine Hair Oil

Scalp oil · Ages 10+ · 1%

A fresh, herbal oil for dry ends or a weekly scalp massage.

• 1 Tbsp castor oil
• 1 Tbsp jojoba or argan oil
• 6 drops rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis, ct. cineole)

Directions: Add everything to a 1 oz glass dropper bottle and shake to mix. Smooth a few drops over the middle to ends of damp or dry hair, or massage into your scalp before washing. Keep it away from your eyes.

Nourished Lips Roller

Lip balm · Ages 12+ · 1%

A glossy, softly scented lip oil for dry winter lips.

• 1 tsp castor oil
• 1 tsp jojoba oil
• 1 drop lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• 1 drop frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

Directions: Add the essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle, then the castor and jojoba oils. Cap and shake. Roll onto lips as needed, especially before bed.

Shea Butter and Castor Oil Body Butter

Body butter · Ages 12+ · 1%

A rich, creamy butter for very dry elbows, knees, and heels.

• 4 Tbsp shea butter
• 2 Tbsp castor oil
• 10 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• 8 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

Directions:

1. Gently melt the shea butter in a double boiler, then stir in the castor oil.
2. Let it cool until it starts to set around the edges.
3. Stir in the essential oils, then whip with a hand mixer until fluffy, or pour into a jar to set as a balm.
4. Label it with the name, the date, and "1%."

Castor and Coconut Body Oil

Body oil · Ages 12+ · 1%

A sweet, woody body oil that softens as it warms on your skin.

• ¼ cup virgin coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp castor oil
• 12 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
• 6 drops cedarwood Virginian (Juniperus virginiana)

Directions: Set a glass jar of coconut oil in warm water until it melts. Stir in the castor oil and essential oils, cap, and let it cool. Smooth a little over dry skin after a shower. Virgin coconut oil firms up below about 76°F, so warm the jar in your hands if it sets.

Need other sizes? My dilution chart and calculator does the math for you.

A Few Safety Basics
• Keep essential oils away from babies under 2, including diffusing in a room they're in.
• Always dilute oils before they touch skin, and patch test a new blend, and castor oil itself, on your inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours.
• Check the age on each recipe. Kids 2 to 4 use only six starter oils at 0.5%, after checking with your pediatrician. Kids 5 to 11 stay at 0.5 to 1%. Rosemary is for ages 10 and up.
• If you're pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife first. For the first 16 weeks I use only six oils, and only in a diffuser or inhaler: lavender, sweet orange, lemon, ginger, cedarwood (Virginian), and frankincense. After that, skin blends stay at 0.5 to 1%.
• Never put oils on pets, and diffuse with a door open so they can leave. Cats are especially sensitive, including to tea tree, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, pine, wintergreen, cinnamon, clove, and ylang ylang.
• Never swallow essential oils. If someone does, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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More Carrier Oil Posts

• Jojoba Carrier Oil
• Grapeseed Carrier Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil Uses and Benefits
• 10 Shea Butter Uses
• How to Use Coconut Oil for Beauty

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