Carly's Herbal Adventures

A Face Lotion Recipe with Healing Castor Oil

I am such a fan of Castor oil and its' amazing healing capacity.  So much so, I wanted to see if I could make a face lotion that incorporated it into the recipe.  How fun would it be to take some simple ingredients and whip them up right in my kitchen?  Not only would it save lots of money (face creams can go into the hundreds of dollars and they often don't work that well), but it would actually improve the skin of my face and help banish wrinkles.

Well, Castor oil does just that.  It has been used for beauty for thousands of years.  The Castor oil plant, native to Central Africa, was regularly used by Queen Cleopatra as a makeup remover and beauty oil, and we know how famous she was as a knock-out.  It is actually a type of vegetable oil that comes from the pressed beans of the castor oil plant and is used even today in many cosmetic and skin care products.  It has also been linked to reducing fine lines and wrinkles.  Studies have shown that this oil is an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory---both things that help fight free radicals and helps to slow the aging process.  Castor oil also has fatty acids that help in that direction, and these fatty acids also moisturize and contains antioxidant properties.  The moisturizing qualities help to improve your skin's texture and makes for a glowing complexion. Acne infections will also be addressed with this amazing oil.  When used regularly, it can even lighten the appearance of dark spots and scars.  It improves skin elasticity so stretch marks and other skin scars can be prevented or will eventually fade away.  In fact, its' skin enhancing quality even goes so far as to protect the skin in a limited way, from harmful UV rays.  But there's one caveat---you have to use cold pressed and organic Castor oil for it to be effective.  It will then still contain all the good things that we want to be absorbed into our skin.  You can find this type of Castor oil online or at your local health food store.  

Okay, we have Castor oil, now how do we turn that into a lotion?  We have to use something to give it some thickness to it, so I picked Shea butter.  Shea butter is a natural fat that is extracted from the nuts of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa).  It is solid at room temperature and very creamy.  It contains oleic and stearic acids that are very healing and moisturizing.  This too has been widely used in cosmetics, and skincare products where it softens and conditions skin.  Its' anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties makes it very useful in treating dry skin, eczema, burns and wounds.  As with Castor oil, it is also anti-aging as it is packed with vitamins A and E, fighting free radicals that contribute to aging.  You will want to use unrefined Shea butter to use its full healing potential.

To add additional healing properties while adding some lovely scent, pick an essential oil that can enhance that.  Make sure to use the best quality essential oil and that means organic and therapeutic quality.   Lavender is a great choice for oily skin as it helps regulate oil levels and can also reduce the appearance of acne. Rose is a great choice for dry skin as it provides hydration and helps reduce redness. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory, which can help soothe skin.

Now on to the recipe itself.  Take 1/2 cup of Shea butter and 1 Tablespoon of beeswax (to help emulsify the mixture) and melt gently in a double boiler.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 1/4 cup of Castor oil.  Now here's the important part.  You have to cool before whipping it up with a mixer because it won't whip into a cream until it is cool.  Trust me, I was too anxious and tried whipping it right away and it just won't turn into that lovely, creamy lotion like texture unless you wait.  When it is just above room temperature, add 10 drops of your essential oil and an optional 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil for extra punch for skin care and helps preserve it a bit.  Now whip up into a cream and put in a clean container with a tight lid.  Viola!  You have some skin cream that would probably cost an arm and a leg if you had to buy it in a fancy store.  You may have to experiment a bit to get the right texture you are looking for.  If a little to solid, use more Castor oil, if a little too loose use a bit more Shea butter.

And that's it.  Have fun experimenting and let me know what you came up with.  I made two small jars and added Rose essential oil to mine.  See you next time!

Want to get on our monthly newsletter list?  You don't want to miss out!  Just submit your email address in the form below. And remember, we don't sell your address and keep it private.  And we only send out our newsletter at the start of every month so you won't be pestered. Plus you will get a link to the blog so you won't miss a single adventure!