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Hydrogenated Castor Oil

What Hydrogenated Castor Oil is & what it does

A waxy, hardened castor oil used to thicken formulas and stabilize emulsions while conditioning skin. It adds body and a smooth, protective feel.

What is Hydrogenated Castor Oil and what does it do in sunscreen?

Hydrogenated Castor Oil is castor oil that has been hardened by adding hydrogen, turning the liquid oil into a waxy solid. In sunscreen it works mainly as a thickener and emulsion stabilizer, giving lotions and sticks more body and a smooth, protective feel. It also conditions the skin surface, helping a formula feel less runny and more substantial.

Is Hydrogenated Castor Oil safe?

Yes. It is a long-standing, well-tolerated ingredient widely used in skincare, sun care, and cosmetics. It is not flagged as an allergen in our data, and at the levels used in sunscreen it is gentle for most people. As with any oil-derived ingredient, very sensitive skin can occasionally react, but that is uncommon.

Does Hydrogenated Castor Oil clog pores?

Generally no. It does not carry a comedogenicity flag in our data, so for most people it is unlikely to be a pore-clogging culprit. It is a waxy thickener used in modest amounts rather than a heavy free oil. If you are very acne-prone you can still watch how your skin responds, but it is not considered a high-risk ingredient for clogged pores.

Is Hydrogenated Castor Oil fungal-acne safe?

Not always. Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a plant-oil-derived, fatty ingredient, and the malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can feed on that fatty portion. For that reason, people prone to fungal acne (malassezia folliculitis) may prefer to avoid it. This is one specific skin concern, not a general safety problem: for everyone else it is harmless and well tolerated.

What else is Hydrogenated Castor Oil called?

On an ingredient list it appears under its INCI name, Hydrogenated Castor Oil. It is sometimes informally called hardened or hydrogenated castor wax, since hydrogenation turns the oil into a waxy solid. It is closely related to plain Ricinus Communis (castor) Seed Oil, just in a firmer, more stable form.

Sunscreens with Hydrogenated Castor Oil

We rate 153 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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