Ingredient

Organic Castor Oil

Ricinus communis

This oil is pressed from organically grown castor beans. Castor oil is a potent cosmetic ingredient, used for thousands of years on the skin and hair.

Where does Lush purchase organic castor oil?

The evergreen castor bean shrub is thought to be native to eastern Africa. Its oil is obtained by cold pressing the seeds. Before it can be sold, it undergoes a clarification (cleaning) process using heat. The resulting oil is a thick pale yellow liquid that is colourless, odourless and tasteless.

Lush UK* sources the oil from two suppliers based in India. Our first supplier is in the Kutch region and works with a network of over 800 organic castor farmers. Our second supplier works with 400 organic farmers in Vasai, Maharashtra and Ahmedabad.

*With seven manufacturing sites across the globe, this information may vary depending on where your Lush products were made.

What are the benefits of organic castor oil?

• Moisturises and conditions the skin and hair
• Has antibacterial properties that cleanse the skin and scalp
• Has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin and scalp
• Can be mixed with sodium hydroxide (and other oils and butters) to obtain a thick and stable soap base.

Is organic castor oil good for the skin?

Castor oil has been used medicinally around the world for 4,000 years, primarily to treat skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, burns, and acne. The plants that are usually used to treat these conditions are both antibacterial and soothing. For castor, this is mainly due to ricinoleic acid, an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial fatty acid found in the seeds.

Can organic castor oil grow hair?

The oil has a solid reputation for helping hair growth, although there’s a lack of scientific evidence to back it up. The common consensus is that castor oil cleanses and soothes the scalp so well while helping it retain moisture and balance sebum production, that it allows hair follicles to develop strong and healthy hair.