Castor oil is a powerhouse of a natural oil. I have posted about castor oil when it comes to it’s cleansing powers in oil cleansers and it’s hair growth abilities in hair serums but not until recently have I heard how beneficial it actually is for the skin in general. I’ve been seeing so many natural skin care companies selling an eye serum that contains only castor oil and frankincense essential oil so it’s intrigued me to do a little digging to find out why. I’m impressed with what I found and had to share. I think you’ll want to make yourself a DIY castor oil eye serum roll on ASAP!
This DIY eye serum will be the easiest one you’ll ever make. It may actually be the most effective as well. I made this serum for myself a week ago so I can’t speak on whether it has plumped me up under the eyes but I can say that it has thoroughly moisturized under my eyes and smoothed wrinkles. I even think it is reducing my under eye bags which is one of my biggest eye concerns. Let’s get right into why castor oil makes a great anti aging eye serum tool…
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the castor bean. It contains ricinoleic, linoleic, stearic and oleic fatty acids which are all beneficial to the skin. These fatty acids have powerful anti-inflammatory properties as well as antimicrobial properties. Because it is both hydrophilic (water loving) and lipophilic (oil loving) it penetrates the skin better than most oils.
Castor oil has been known to actually stimulate the skin’s own collagen which is so easily lost around the eyes.
Castor oil is also non-comedogenic which means it will not clog pores.
Why You Should Use Castor Oil Under Your Eyes:
- Reduces puffiness by encouraging lymphatic drainage.
- Treats dark circles-There’s actually a PubMed study on this!
- Reduces wrinkles-The same study linked above showed women seeing an improvement in wrinkles as well as dark circles.
- Treats swollen eyes–According to a study, applying castor oil around the eyes including the eyelid reduced swelling caused by blepharitis (a condition that causes inflammation and swelling of the eyelids).
- Provides deep nourishment thanks to it’s rich fatty acid profile.
- May plump thin skin-I have heard many claims that castor oil plumps up the skin directly under the eyes were volume loss tends to occur with age due to less collagen production.
- Conditions the lashes and brows and possible growth stimulation. If you haven’t tried my DIY lash serum and DIY brow serum you should. Skip store bought lash/brow enhancers-they have side effects you don’t want.
Why Add Frankincense?
Adding frankincense essential oil to this DIY eye serum is highly recommended. Frankincense is one of my favorite oils to use around the eyes. It helps regenerate cells and stimulates collagen. It also reduces inflammation and is a powerful antioxidant. Plus, it is one of the gentlest oils so using it around your eyes makes sense. It works well with all of castor oils attributes to really pack a punch!
Why Add Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and it’s great to add it to any and all oil based skincare products. It will neutralize free radical damage, lock in moisture and encourage cell renewal. Plus, it can help prolong the shelf life of your product.
Castor Oil & Frankincense DIY Eye Serum Recipe:
- Castor Oil (find it HERE)
- 5 drops Frankincense Essential Oil (find it HERE)
- 10 drops Vitamin E Oil (find it HERE) *optional*
- 10 ml Roll On Bottles (find them HERE)
Direction:
- Add Frankincense to your roll on bottle.
- Add Vitamin E if you are using it.
- Top off the bottle with castor oil.
How to Use:
- Roll serum all around the eyes.
- Use at bedtime
Not All Castor Oils Are The Same:
You must look for castor 100% pure, organic and cold pressed. You want to look for the words “hexane free” and it should come in a glass bottle. There are many castor oils on the market that have cheap filler oils in them or are not sourced properly. Don’t waste your money and time. Be sure to get a good quality castor oil like THIS one.
This is an extremely easy DIY and you really have nothing to lose. Give it a try and report back and I’ll do the same!
xx, Jenni
Jennifer Phillips worked as a licensed aesthetician for over 8 years before creating the DIY skincare blog, Jenni Raincloud and her natural skin care line, J. Raincloud Organics. Jennifer has been blogging full time for 16 years and loves to gain and share knowledge on how to achieve beautiful skin the natural way.
