Castor oil for lips
Of everything castor oil is sold for, lips is the one where the claim and the evidence line up most neatly. It is already in most of the lipstick and balm you have ever owned.
Why it works here
Castor oil is roughly ninety per cent ricinoleic acid, which behaves as a humectant — it helps the lip hold on to water rather than losing it to the air. Lips have almost no oil glands of their own and a very thin surface layer, which is why they chap first and heal slowest. An oil that both seals and holds water is close to exactly what they need.
It is also why castor oil is a standard ingredient in commercial lipstick: it gives that cushioned, glossy film without the waxy drag of a hard balm.
Is castor oil safe on lips?
A 2007 assessment found castor oil was not a significant skin irritant, sensitiser or photosensitiser — meaning for most people it sits well even on thin skin. Allergic reaction is possible but uncommon; test a little on your inner arm for a day if you are prone to reactions.
You will inevitably swallow traces from your own lips, and that is fine. What you should not do is drink it. Castor oil taken by mouth is a laxative, and it should be avoided in pregnancy because it can bring on labour. The castor bean contains ricin, but the oil does not — ricin does not carry into the oil.
Flavour is not food
How to use it
- Roll it on clean lips, as often as you like — there is no limit, this is not an active ingredient.
- The best single moment is straight after brushing your teeth at night, when lips are damp and about to spend eight hours in dry air.
- If your lips are cracked rather than dry, use it over a plain balm rather than instead of one. Oil holds water in; it cannot replace a barrier that is broken.
- Same oil works on cuticles. The pen just puts it in a more accurate place.
The bottles this applies to
- Luminous Revive — Lip OilLip Oil · 10 mL / 0.34 fl oz · $17.00
- Luminous Revive — Cuticle OilCuticle Oil · 3 mL / 0.10 fl oz · $12.00
Sources
Healthline — Castor oil for lips: benefits, safety and how to use
Medical News Today — Castor oil