Castor Oil

The Ingredient Library · Foundations

What it is

Castor oil is pressed from the seeds of the castor plant — a thick, glossy, slow-moving oil that grandmothers across nearly every culture kept within arm's reach. It is unusually rich in ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid found almost nowhere else in nature in such abundance, which gives castor oil its distinctive richness and shine.

Why we use it

Castor oil is one half of the shortest ingredient list we make. Blended into tallow, it does quiet, structural work: it softens the balm's texture, lends a subtle gloss, and helps everything glide and absorb evenly. When we set out to make a balm safe enough for the newest skin in the family with the fewest possible ingredients, castor oil was the only companion tallow needed.

What it offers your skin

Rich, cushioning emollience for skin that feels dry or rough. A soft, healthy-looking sheen. A long tradition of use on lashes, brows, and hairlines — part of why it also lives in our hair serum. And dependable gentleness: it is among the most trusted oils for sensitive-skin formulation.

Found in

Bare Balm · Nourishing Tallow Balm · Radiant Awakening Eye Serum · Radiant Root Hair + Scalp Serum

Related rituals

The Sensitive Skin Ritual · The Dry Skin Ritual

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Our products are cosmetics intended to cleanse and beautify; they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.