Ingredient decoder

Castor oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil

Acne verdict Fine

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic1 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Thick, glossy oil that softens skin and adds slip.

  • Moisturizer
  • Masking
  • Perfuming
  • Skin conditioning

Castor oil in plain English

Castor oil is a thick, sticky oil rich in ricinoleic acid, used for shine in lip products and as an emollient in creams and oil cleansers. It is not known as a strong pore-clogger, but its heavy feel is not for everyone. Rinse-off oil cleansers that use it are generally low risk for acne-prone skin.

Is castor oil bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Castor oil is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 1 out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
  • Castor seed oil
  • Ricinus communis seed oil

Related ingredients

Browse all ingredients A to Z

Frequently asked questions

Is castor oil comedogenic?

Castor oil scored 1 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does castor oil do in skincare?

In short: thick, glossy oil that softens skin and adds slip. In formulas it is used for masking, perfuming and skin conditioning.

What else is castor oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, castor oil can also appear as Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Castor seed oil or Ricinus communis seed oil.

Sources