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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate), and Biochemical or cellular level changes (low)

SYNONYMS

● RICINUS COMMUNIS OIL
● RICINUS COMMUNIS(CASTOR)
● CASTOR OIL; VEGETABLE OIL
● CASTER OIL
● RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL
● CASTOR OIL
● TANGANTANGAN OIL
● OIL OF RICINUS
● RICINUS OIL
● NCGC00248980-01

This ingredient is not currently on EWG's Skin Deep Restricted or Unacceptable Lists.

Castor Oil is extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis, a castor oil plant.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW_MODERATE
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
concealer285 products
facial powder6 products
foot cleansing3 products
moisturizer194 products
lip balm1221 products
conditioner322 products
shampoo255 products
facial moisturizer/treatment110 products
lip gloss905 products
baby lotion24 products
damaged skin treatment6 products
styling gel/lotion93 products
eye liner187 products
mask135 products
vapor rubs5 products
serums & essences77 products
lipstick2018 products
lip liner140 products
hand cream36 products
around-eye cream36 products
foot moisturizer13 products
anti-aging9 products
bar soap384 products
mascara182 products
eye shadow175 products
blush423 products
body oil113 products
shaving cream (men's)28 products
hair treatment/serum466 products
hair spray15 products
body wash/cleanser86 products
hair styling aid246 products
exfoliant/scrub115 products
baby oil6 products
body firming lotion14 products
hair relaxer1 products
bronzer/highlighter213 products
facial cleanser109 products
bubble bath3 products
makeup remover14 products
foundation243 products
shaving cream17 products
brow liner272 products
body art1 products
Oils & Serums6 products
body spray3 products
beard oil63 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream1 products
hair-loss treatment10 products
bath oil/salts/soak25 products
detangler18 products
lip plumper158 products
liquid hand soap47 products
beard care73 products
lip balm with SPF36 products
cuticle treatment16 products
nail treatment14 products
baby soap5 products
diaper cream46 products
BB cream12 products
antiperspirant/deodorant41 products
styling mousse/foam11 products
makeup primer18 products
other eye makeup4 products
hand sanitizer11 products
glitter11 products
fragrance for women27 products
hair removal waxes14 products
muscle/joint soreness5 products
Hair Styling Gel8 products
hair color and bleaching24 products
beard cleanser4 products
fragrance for men5 products
Other Hair Care Preparations4 products
toners/astringents1 products
nail glue2 products
baby sunscreen20 products
recreational sunscreen50 products
daily use with SPF11 products
mouthwash1 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)8 products
baby shampoo1 products
depilatory5 products
skin fading/lightener1 products
after shave1 products
toothpaste4 products
nail polish15 products
Under Eye Concealers7 products
eyelash glue1 products
Nail Art and Jewelry1 products
Lip Stain6 products
Massaging Preparations1 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders4 products
setting powder/spray2 products
Beard Conditioners1 products
polish remover4 products
eye makeup remover1 products
foot odor control1 products
acne treatment1 products
Preshave Preparations1 products
Exfoliants1 products

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate dosesCompendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments(2007-01-01)
Limited evidence of [[system]] toxicityPeer Reviewed Literature
Limited evidence of toxicityEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Enhanced skin absorption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Penetration enhancerCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Safety assessment was based on related chemicalCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human any irritant - strong evidenceCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Limited evidence of eye irritationEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Limited evidence of dermal irritationEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Uncertain environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansPeer Reviewed Literature
Mutagen - limited evidenceEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Biochemical or cellular level changes

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show Cellular - muscular changes at moderate doses where the human health implications are not yet well understoodPeer Reviewed Literature

Allergies/immunotoxicity

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of lung toxicity or allergiesEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments(2007-01-01)
  • Peer Reviewed Literature
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Environment Canada

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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