I’ve been using castor oil for as long as I can remember…or whenever my mom started sending me to the beauty supply store for lip gloss and ponytail holders. My strands have been slathered in it and my precious edges have been coated in it, but that’s where my expertise begins and ends. With a thick consistency and unusual smell, I’ve never considered using it anywhere beyond my head, but surprise, surprise: people actually use this stuff on their skin, too.

Before you buy a jar of Jamaican castor oil and start wearing it like a body lotion, here’s a refresher on what exactly castor oil is, the number of variations it comes in and the benefits it carries.

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What is It?

Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the castor bean that can also grow into the plant known as “ricinus communis.” The plant itself can appear in many different forms; from long, glossy green leaves to purple-reddish ones with circular, spiky lobes attached.

When oil is extracted from the bean, it either looks very pale yellow or dark brown in color, with an easy-to-detect smell.

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The Types

According to Tropic Isle Living CEO and Co-Founder Lois Hines, what really splits castor oil into different categories is the extraction process. The two most widely-used variations are cold-pressed and Jamaican black. Cold-pressed castor oil is extracted by simply pressing the beans without heat, therefore giving the oil a clear color.

“Jamaican Black Castor Oil is a completely different process, made by first hand-picking wild organic castor beans and then allowing them to dry so that the seeds will pop out of the pods,” she says. “After the seeds are gathered, they are roasted, then pounded into mulch using a mortar. The mulch is later emptied into a large pot to which water is added. The pot and its contents are then laid on a slow burning wood fire. The contents are continuously stirred, and as the oil rises to the surface it is skimmed off.”

After the initial skim, it will  go through additional phases of this to ensure it’s completely devoid of water. A couple more stirs later will leave you with ultra-pure, light to dark brown JBCO. Additionally, if a castor oil product is labeled “virgin” or “organic,” that’s simply referring to how the beans were grown (Hines’ Tropic Isle Living uses a mixture of wild grown and organic beans).

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The Hair Benefits

Castor oil, regardless of how it’s extracted, contains omega-9 fatty acids (mainly ricinoleic acid), which is where most of its health and beauty benefits stem from. JBCO is particularly renowned for its emollient properties, meaning it absorbs easily into the skin; scalp included. Once there, it can improve blood circulation, reduce flaking and itch, and lock in moisture.

“We know that Jamaican Black Castor Oil has many benefits to the hair,  including the cleansing of toxins from hair and scalp, repairing dry hair, serving as a great moisture sealant for texturized hair, stimulating hair growth and thickness (like in our Tropic Isle Living Strong Roots line) and adding sheen to the hair,” says Hines.

Castor oil, Jamaican black or otherwise, can be a little heavy on fine or fragile hair, but your hair’s porosity–or its ability to retain moisture–is what will determine whether it can handle castor oil or not. In that case, you can opt for a specially-made lighter blend (like this one) or not at all.

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The Skin Benefits

Hines also cites castor oil as a traditionally known all-purpose healing oil. “It is also a carrier oil, which means that it will mix well with other oils as well as help carry nutrients of these oils when mixed properly,” she says. That’s an especially important trait for sensitive skin types to remember, since using castor oil in its purest form may overwhelm and cause irritation.

In addition to serving as an intense moisturizer for people with dryer skin, it can also be utilized as a de-puffer under the eyes or within an oil-cleansing regimen to treat acne. And although Jamaicans have used the oil as a laxative, Hines recommends sticking to topical formulas. Lastly, since castor oil is derived from a bean, which is essentially a nut, people with nut allergies should stay away from the oil, too.

Ahead are 7 of the most popular castor-oil infused beauty products out today, including a pick from Tropic Isle Living.

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Bumble and bumble Brilliantine

An oil-based styling cream made to add polish, hold and sheen to thick straight or curly hair.

$24 at Bumble and bumble

Caudalie Makeup-Removing Cleansing Oil

Even waterproof makeup is no match for this silky, smooth formula that dissolves makeup without leaving a greasy film behind.

$28 at Caudalie

Madam CJ Walker Jamaican Black Castor Pure Clarifying Shampoo W/ ACV

Combined with the antiseptic properties of apple cider vinegar, this shampoo strips the strands and scalp of buildup without taking away natural oils.

$18 at Sephora

Oyin Handmade Nourishing Lip Balm in Honeysticks

Apply a thin layer of this honey and oil-infused formula to your kissers for moisture that’ll last from sun-up to sun-down.

$4 at Oyin Handmade

SheaMoisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque

A Jamaican black castor oil-infused hair treatment for strands that need an intense boost of hydration outside of the normal shampoo sesh.

$11.99 at Target

Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil

JBCO, extracted from organic and wild grown castor beans in Jamaica; the best of the best!

$12.99 at Tropic Isle Living

 

Vernon Francois Re~Vamp Mid Length Repair Cream

An intense repair agent created by the man who regularly styles Lupita Nyong’o‘s hair.

$33 at Vernon Francois

from StyleCaster