This Household Staple Is the Secret to Smoother Skin

Dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, castor oil has long been employed for medicinal and beauty purposes. Even today, the viscous oil, which derives from the castor bean plant, can be found in everything from skin products to hair care. Its moisturizing and conditioning properties have been hailed for promoting softness and enhancing glow when used on skin and nourishing hair and nails.

We tapped a few professionals to help us understand the best uses for castor oil and how to incorporate it into your own beauty routine.

Created from the seeds of the castor bean plant, or Ricinus communis, "castor oil is comprised mainly of the fatty acid ricinoleic acid," says Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. The seeds are pressed to produce the vegetable oil, which has a pale yellow hue and an earthy, nutty scent. (It's also picked up a reputation for its unique flavor.)

Traditionally, castor oil was used as a "cure-all" to "treat" multiple medical issues. Though modern medicine has eclipsed its historic use, the oil is now a trendy budget beauty buy.

Boost your brows and lashes. Applying a little castor oil daily can help nurture your eyelashes and eyebrows. "Because of its moisturizing benefits, castor oil can help condition the hairs themselves," says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Moisturize rough skin. Because of its emollient properties, castor oil is great for nourishing the skin. It can be used for "smoothing flaky skin and making it feel softer. It can also provide a barrier on the skin and protect against moisture loss," says Wnek. A current top seller on Amazon is Sky Organics Castor Oil, which reviewers have said is "super effective" at moisturizing skin.

Give hair added shine. Wnek notes that "castor oil acts as a lubricant, coating and conditioning strands to improve smoothness and shine." Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler agrees, adding that products formulated with castor oil are "designed to work well on hair by combining the emollience of castor oil with other conditioning ingredients." However, because of the oil's viscous texture, she notes that too much on its own can cause hair to feel oily and weighed down.

Condition cuticles. Another benefit of castor oil's function as a lubricant is that it can soften and moisturize cuticles. Several cuticle oils currently on the market feature castor oil as an ingredient and can be used to keep the skin around nails from drying out.

Tame flyaways. Smooth out your hairstyle by using a little bit of castor oil along your hairline. Similar to the way that the oil coats strands and provides shine, it can also coat flyways and coax them back into place.

As with trying anything new on your skin for the first time, you should be cautious when using castor oil. "There have been reports of allergic reactions to castor oil on skin," Butler says. "For that reason, patch test the oil on a small area of skin if you intend to use it." She advises that if you experience irritation, you should stop using castor oil immediately.

Dr. Zeichner adds that "castor oil is commonly diluted out in a carrier oil before being applied to the skin," in order to avoid reactions like dryness and inflammation of skin. When you are selecting castor oils to use, be sure to check for formulas that are diluted with carrier oils, such as grapeseed oil.