So let me start by saying – if you’d told me five years ago I’d be putting castor oil anywhere near my eyeballs, I’d have laughed over my venti Starbucks latte. But here we are. (Cue my dry, irritated eyes during allergy season in Texas – think pollen so thick it looks like someone shook a snow globe over Austin.)
I first heard about castor oil for eyes from my aunt Linda, who swears by it for her eyelash growth. Me? I was desperate. After months of feeling like I had sandpaper under my lids (anyone else binge-watch Netflix until 2 AM and regret it?), I grabbed a bottle of Now Solutions Cold-Pressed Castor Oil from Whole Foods. Smelled like a hardware store, honestly.
Big rookie mistake #1: I globbed it on with a cotton pad like micellar water. Cue blurry vision for an hour and my partner asking why I looked like I’d been crying bacon grease. Turns out, less is more. Here’s what finally worked after trial/error:
- The midnight mascara wand trick: Dig out that clean, old mascara wand (mine was from a Maybelline tube). Dip just the tip in oil (we’re talking 1-2 drops max). Brush it along your lash line before bed – like you’re lining your eyes, but way gentler.
- The “is this even safe?” freakout: I called my optometrist cousin. Her take? If you’re using 100% pure, hexane-free oil (no “amber” or “black” varieties – those are for your grandma’s constipation remedies), and only if you don’t have infections/styes. Patch test behind your ear first!
- The surprise bonus: Woke up after a week with lashes that looked like I’d used GrandeLASH (minus the $70 price tag). But the real win? My morning eye gunk decreased. Still not sure if that’s TMI, but hey – we’re friends here.
Oh, and the “will it sting?” question: For me? Nope. Felt like regular eye drops. But my neighbor tried it and said it made her vision cloudy for 10 minutes. Moral? YMMV. Always keep a damp washcloth nearby just in case.
Funny thing – I started using it on my cuticles too (because why not?). Now my DIY-obsessed book club thinks I’m a Pinterest mom. Joke’s on them – half my hacks come from TikTok fails.
Final takeaway? If you’re gonna try this:
- Buy the clear, food-grade stuff (Sky Organics on Amazon works).
- Treat it like hot sauce – a little goes a loooong way.
- Don’t panic if your cat gives you weird looks. Mine still side-eyes the bottle.
Give it two weeks. If your eyes feel like they’ve been hugged by a cloud? Awesome. If not? At least you’ve got a bottle left for seasoning cast iron skillets. American multitasking, baby.