Castor oil for age spots on the face: reviews and recommendations

Pigmentation is the reaction of the epidermis to internal and external irritants, as a result of which brown pigmented spots appear on the surface of the outer skin. Cosmetic defects are removed in many ways, among which the most popular are recipes made from natural ingredients.

Essential oils for age spots on the face (extracts from tea tree, lemon, chamomile, lavender, grapefruit, eucalyptus, rosewood) are an effective way to get rid of the problem in a short time. Among them, the most effective and safe remedy for combating skin discoloration is castor oil. It is suitable for caring for hypersensitive and aging skin. The substance is used for spots (pigmentation), scars, acne, wrinkles. The product brightens, smoothes and rejuvenates the skin.

Composition and properties of castor oil

Castor oil is obtained from an evergreen plant - castor oil. The most useful product is considered to be one produced by cold pressing.

Main cosmetic characteristics when applied to the skin:

increasing the permeability of the epidermis for microelements;
protection of skin from frost, wind and sun;
the ability to retain moisture in the cells of the dermis;
softening and disinfection of the cover;
activation of collagen production;
relieving inflammation and restoring skin integrity;
discoloration of spots due to the high content of ricinic acid.

Castor oil is well accepted by the skin of the face: after application it is absorbed without forming a film or polluting the pores. A contraindication to its use is individual intolerance.

To combat pigmentation, cold-pressed oil is suitable. It contains:

Ricinoleic acid: Destroys pigment, resulting in discolored brown spots on the skin.
Natural antioxidants: remove wrinkles, activate the regeneration of epithelial cells, rejuvenate the skin. This is especially important for people with age-related pigmentation. Castor oil helps even out the surface of the skin and give it a natural shade.
Tocopherol is a strong antioxidant. Vitamin E cleanses skin cells of toxins and protects the skin from pathogenic environmental influences. The bioactive compound accelerates the regeneration of epithelial tissues, moisturizes the skin, and increases its tension.
Oleic acid: creates a barrier that can retain moisture in the dermis. The component enhances cell permeability, allowing the oil to penetrate deep into the epidermis.
Palmitic acid: restores elasticity to the outer skin, heals wounds, and forms a protective barrier.
Stearic acid: protects the skin from harmful environmental influences, accelerates the restoration of the hydrolipid layer.
Linoleic acid: eliminates water-salt imbalance, regulates hydration, fights dry skin, destroys pathogenic microorganisms that provoke inflammatory processes. The substance increases the concentration of lipids in epithelial tissue, softens the skin, making it soft and velvety.

Cosmetologists' opinion

The effectiveness of essential oils for whitening freckles is confirmed by cosmetologists. However, experts warn to be careful.

Essential oils are highly concentrated products and can cause negative reactions on the skin.

In addition, most essential oils increase skin sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, if you go out into the sun after applying oils to your skin, irritation may occur and the number of freckles may increase.

Rules for using castor oil

To remove spots of pigmentary etiology and maintain the evenness of the skin, you need to know how to properly use the product in question.

There are three ways to use it:

adding a few drops to morning water;
mix a couple of drops of an oily substance with your daily face cream;
in the form of various balms and masks, using any oil for age spots as a base.

The nuances of using castor oil

A list of rules that need to be studied before starting to use the substance in question:

The lightening process on sensitive skin is not recommended using castor extract alone. It is optimal to combine it with sea buckthorn oil in equal parts.
Visible changes appear after 1-2 months of regular use.
After the manipulation, you should not go out into the sun for several hours: the treated areas of the skin will begin to become more pigmented.
It is advisable to carry out the course of treatment in the autumn-winter period.

Contraindications and side effects

In most cases, the skin accepts oily liquid well. The drug is absorbed without residue, penetrating deep into the pores.

External use of castor oil is prohibited in case of individual intolerance to the product.

The use of castor oil to combat skin pigmentation is also contraindicated:

Pregnant women and children under 1 year of age.
Before long-term exposure to the sun.
If there are open wounds in the treatment area.

Precautionary measures

Before using oil for cosmetic purposes, read a few important recommendations:

Only cold-pressed product is used . Hot pressing does not preserve all the beneficial properties of the components.
Ricinoleic acid, which is part of the substance, is an allergen, so it is necessary to test the product for sensitivity before use. For this purpose, a small amount of a substance diluted in water is applied to an area of the skin that is not exposed to ultraviolet exposure. If irritation is observed during the day, you should stop using the oil.
Use only porcelain or glassware.
Dark areas of the face are lightened for a long period of time. Due to physiological reasons, the treatment of pigmented age spots will be noticeable no earlier than after 2 months of regular use.
After applying castor oil, it is not recommended to stay under the sun for 2-3 hours. If this is unavoidable, use sunscreen.
Do not use home remedies too often: this can lead to increased oiliness of the skin and cause inflammation.
Before you begin treating unwanted pigmentation, it is worth remembering that whitening procedures are not recommended in the spring and summer, that is, during periods of increased solar activity. If you neglect this recommendation, then all procedures to get rid of spots can give the opposite result and cause even greater pigmentation of the skin. You should also make sure that the darkening of the skin is not caused by pathological conditions.

Causes of age spots

One of the signs is aging

Before you begin treatment for skin pigmentation, you need to find out why it occurred. The most common skin problems occur:

due to hormonal imbalances (during pregnancy or taking oral contraceptives);
for chronic diseases of internal organs;
due to hereditary predisposition;
as a result of burns, post-acne and other traumatic injuries;
as a result of stress;
as a sign of skin aging;
as a result of poor nutrition;
with excessive sun exposure.

These age spots are similar in appearance to regular freckles, but darker and larger.

This problem may appear due to a lack of folic acid in the body. To replenish it, you need to consume a large amount of vegetables.

You can get rid of them through acid peeling, laser or phototherapy. But traditional medicine, which includes the use of essential oils, is considered effective.

Pros and cons of using castor oil

In addition to the fact that castor oil gets rid of age spots on the face, it has a number of effects:

eliminates acne;
removes small wrinkles;
exfoliates perfectly;
moisturizes.

Castor oil is used to achieve the following effects:

increased permeability of epithelial tissues;
accelerated penetration of beneficial substances into the deep layers of the skin;
protection of external covers from UV rays, cold and wind;
preservation of moisture in the cells of the epidermis;
disinfection, elimination of inflammation on the surface, healing of injuries;
softening dry outer skin;
stimulation of collagen synthesis;
whitening pigment spots on the face and body.

Castor oil for age spots is taken only externally. Among the disadvantages are noted:

Internal use of a herbal product can cause dehydration and disruption of salt metabolism.
Uncontrolled therapy leads to the development of skin diseases.
The oil may have an addictive effect.
There is a long wait for a positive effect, which can last for six months.

Can soda be harmful?

Despite the benefits of white crystals of an alkaline substance, it can cause harm to health. A soda solution with water has a weak alkaline reaction, but a slurry of sodium bicarbonate has a strong alkaline reaction. That is why it is contraindicated to keep soda masks on the skin for more than 30 minutes. Avoid contact of soda with eyes and mucous membranes. Otherwise, a chemical burn may occur. It is not recommended to use sodium bicarbonate to lighten age spots if there are various damages in their place in the form of abrasions, wounds, scratches and cracks.

The most spectacular recipes

Lotions, masks and compresses are made with castor oil for the face against age spots. The procedures are carried out according to the following home recipes:

To avoid allergic reactions, the product is mixed with base oil (sea buckthorn) in equal quantities. A cloth soaked in the substance is applied to problem areas, and the bandage is removed after 15-30 minutes.
Pure castor oil lotion. The product must be slightly heated in a water bath. Cotton wool dipped in an oily liquid is used to treat pathological areas on the face. Excess substance is not removed from the skin. A dry towel is heated to a comfortable temperature, placed on the face, and not removed until it cools. This action enhances the effect of castor oil. This lightening method is used if there is no allergy to the pure product. The procedure should be carried out once a week.
Compress. A cloth soaked in castor oil is applied to the pigmented area, secured with a band-aid, and left overnight.
Mask. Combine 5 ml of castor oil, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of cucumber pulp, 5 ml kefir, 15 ml lemon juice and 1 tsp. honey The mass is distributed over the pigment spot and left for 15 minutes.
Lotion. Mix 5 ml of castor oil with 10 ml of lemon juice. Apply gauze soaked in the substance to the pigmented skin for 15 minutes.
Iodine mask. Combine 1 tbsp. castor oil, 3 drops of iodine, 1 tablespoon each of honey and lanolin. The mixture is applied to the stains. After 1.5 hours, wash off the mask with warm water. The procedure is carried out every day before bedtime.
Mask with soda. Castor oil in an amount of 5 ml is diluted with a small amount of soda. Apply to the stain before going to bed and secure with a band-aid. In the morning, remove the bandage, clean the affected skin with warm water, and lubricate it with a nourishing cream. It will take 3 months to whiten the stains.
Lotions with plant extracts. To 1 tbsp. Add 15 ml of St. John's wort, corn and sunflower oil and 30 ml of olive oil to a spoon of castor oil. The mixture is placed in the refrigerator for a month. The product is used to treat pigmented areas of the skin.
Combine 5 ml of grapefruit and sea buckthorn juice, add 30 ml of castor oil. The mask should be applied to pathological areas, after 15 minutes, rinse with water.
To prevent the use of the product from leading to the development of an allergic reaction, it is added to cosmetic creams, lotions and tonics. The mixture is applied to problem areas before bedtime.

Where can I buy

All components for the manufacture of folk remedies must be fresh and tested in order to bring maximum benefit - these are the products offered by the Russian Roots online store. Each product sold here is produced in compliance with accepted technological standards and is accompanied by a quality certificate.

Taking care of a speedy recovery, restoration of youth and good mood, the company provides fast courier delivery in Moscow and the Moscow region and sends parcels to all regions of the country. Residents of the capital can purchase any item from a rich assortment at one of the herbal pharmacies located in the city.

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