Castor oil comes from the plant Ricinus communis, also called the castor oil plant. The castor beans (technically seeds) get pressed into a versatile, pale-yellow vegetable oil with a very distinct flavor and smell. And while modern medicine has eclipsed its historic use as cure-all, castor oil is now a trendy budget beauty buy.
Just like its popular cousin coconut oil, castor oil can provide moisturizing benefits, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab state. "Castor oil is comprised mainly of the fatty acid ricinoleic acid," says Beauty Lab chemist Danusia Wnek. "It works as an emollient, smoothing flaky skin and making it feel softer. It can also provide a barrier on the skin and protect against moisture loss. For hair, it acts as a lubricant, coating and conditioning strands to improve smoothness and shine."
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