Hydrogenated Castor Oil

A processed, butter-like castor oil. It is solely comprised of occlusive moisturizing and emollient saturated fatty acids and is best suited for dry skin. It can also act as a thickener and emulsifier.
Moisturizing
Other functions
Origin
Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Overview

Hydrogenated castor oil is a castor oil (obtained from the seeds of Ricinus communis) that has been chemically processed to remove all unsaturated double bonds in fatty acids. This transforms the previously liquid castor oil into a solid, butter-like substance.

It is used as a base oil in skincare products, with strong occlusive moisturizing properties. It helps with the formulation of the product (since it is solid at room temperature), helps with thickening and emulsifying, and helps to form an oily layer on the skin’s surface that protects it from water loss.

Because it is comprised solely of saturated fatty acids, it feels very oily and is especially beneficial for very dry skin.