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The Skin Benefits of Castor Oil

Last week, I talked about the benefits of castor oil to your hair. This time I’ll give you more uses of castor oil for your skin!

Skin Cleanser

If you’re looking for a good and natural skin cleanser, you can try a combination of castor oil and jojoba oil (this combo works well for acne-prone skin, but olive oil and castor oil is better for dry skin). Mix 1/2 teaspoon each of the two oils (a 1:1 ratio) and massage the mixture on your face for a minute or two, making sure your whole face is covered. Using a damp, warm washcloth, gently wipe the oil away.
 
This process removes excess oil, dirt, and anything that clogs your pores. Your skin should feel hydrated and supple afterward!
 
Aside from providing a deep cleanse on the skin, castor oil is also the best for the following skin conditions…

Stretchmarks

Stretchmarks, whether through physical changes during adolescent or pregnancy, can be minimized by applying castor oil on the affected skin every day for 3-4 weeks. To allow the oil to penetrate more through the skin, use a cotton cloth and wrap it around the area.

Fungal Infections

Mix castor oil with coconut oil and apply on areas with ringworm and other fungal skin problems. Castor oil has an abundant content of undecyclenic acid, a biochemical that targets and prevents fungal growth.
 
You have to be diligent in applying your castor-coconut oil blend until your skin fungal problem is gone. Also, many fungal infections are rooted in your gut health, diet and lifestyle so make sure that you are supporting these areas and not just trying to address it topically.

Scars

Some of you might have scars that are bothersome especially if they’re on the face, probably from acne or chickenpox. You can use castor oil to heal the scar tissue by massaging the oil on your skin. Doing so helps the oil to penetrate through the epidermis (the outer layer) and promote new cell growth.
 
Apply the oil before bedtime, leave it all night, and wash your skin in the morning.

Acne

While castor oil can help fade your acne scars, there’s more good news! It can prevent acne so that you won’t have to deal with the scar!
The fatty acid in castor oil known as ricinoleic acid fights the acne-causing bacteria.  This makes it more effective against cystic acne, which is the more severe form of acne that’s likely to cause scarring.
Here are some various recipes you can try.

Precautions

Castor oil can stain! So be aware of that and you might want to wear old clothes when applying on your body.
 
Castor oil induces labor. If you’re pregnant, it’s better to check with your practitioner or not use castor oil at all.
 
Castor oil can cause diarrhea if you take too much! This is for those who are taking it by mouth to ease constipation. Again, moderation is the key.
 
Castor oil may cause allergic reactions. If this is your first time applying castor oil to your skin, apply only a small amount to a tiny patch of the skin so that you’ll know if your body has any untoward reaction to it.

I hope that this has been helpful for you! I will add that if you live in the Bay Area, Katalina at Skincare by Katalina is an amazing resource on skin health. She’s my personal go-to gal for holistic skincare.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!

~Rebecca