Castor oil has been used in lip products for decades. It's in our Glow Lip Oil, our Rose Glow Tinted Lip Oil and our Soft Touch Tinted Lip Balm. Here's exactly what it does and why we chose it.
What Castor Oil Is
Castor oil (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil) is a pale yellow vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the castor bean plant. It's been used medicinally and cosmetically for thousands of years — one of the oldest recorded cosmetic ingredients in continuous use.
Why Castor Oil Works in Lip Products
Castor oil has a unique molecular structure — it's rich in ricinoleic acid, a hydroxyl fatty acid that doesn't exist in significant quantities in any other natural oil. This gives castor oil three specific properties that make it exceptional for lip formulations:
High viscosity. Castor oil is thick and creates the glossy, film-forming quality that makes lips look full and shiny. It's what gives a lip product its shine — the mirror-like reflection that catches light. No other plant oil creates this effect as naturally.
Adhesion. Castor oil adheres to lip skin without feeling heavy. It doesn't slide off immediately the way lighter oils can. This is why castor oil-based lip products have better longevity than those using lighter carrier oils.
Conditioning. Ricinoleic acid is deeply moisturising for lip skin — thinner and more permeable than skin elsewhere on the face. Castor oil penetrates quickly and conditions without the greasy residue you get from heavier emollients.
Why We Combine It With Squalane and Jojoba
Castor oil alone would be too viscous and too sticky for a comfortable lip oil formula. We balance it with squalane (for lightweight moisture and fast absorption) and jojoba seed oil (for the wax-ester conditioning that mimics natural lip sebum). The three oils together create the specific texture we were after: glassy and conditioning without the tack.
This is the science behind why the Glow Lip Oil feels different from other lip oils. It's not a simple carrier oil with some fragrance added. It's a considered combination of three oils chosen specifically for their complementary properties on lip skin.