Dark circles, puffy eyes, and eye bags are common concerns that can affect our appearance and self-confidence. These issues often stem from a combination of factors, including fluid retention, hormonal imbalances, and the natural aging process.
The delicate skin around our eyes is particularly susceptible to these problems. As we age, this skin becomes thinner, allowing water and fat deposits to become more prominent. Hormonal fluctuations can lead to increased inflammation and fluid accumulation in this area.

Lifestyle choices also play a significant role. High salt intake, allergies, lack of sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and prolonged screen time can all contribute to under-eye issues. These factors can cause inflammation, disrupt sleep patterns, and dehydrate the skin, exacerbating the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. Poor lymphatic drainage in the periorbital region can also trap fluids and metabolic waste, making puffiness and bags more prominent.
How iAMA Castor Oil Can Naturally Reduce Dark Circles, Puffy Eyes, and Eye Bags
Castor oil is rich in a unique combination of fatty acids and contains a rare molecule called ricinoleic acid, which accounts for about 90% of its fatty acid content. Other components include oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. These compounds are what give castor oil its potent moisturising, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Rare Molecule Ricinoleic Acid
Ricinoleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to reduce swelling and puffiness in the skin by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins. This can be particularly beneficial for reducing puffy eyes and eye bags that often result from fluid retention or irritation. Ricinoleic acid also promotes microcirculation in the tiny capillaries around the eye, enhancing lymphatic drainage and helping the body eliminate metabolic waste and toxins that contribute to puffiness.
Improved Blood Circulation
Ricinoleic acid promotes better blood circulation. Poor blood flow can lead to the accumulation of blood under the eyes, contributing to the dark purplish hue of dark circles. By enhancing capillary perfusion, castor oil helps disperse pooled blood and encourages the removal of waste products from surrounding tissues, supporting healthier, brighter under-eye skin.
Oleic Acid’s Moisturising Effects
Oleic acid is another monounsaturated fatty acid found in castor oil. It has emollient properties that help to keep the skin soft and hydrated. The delicate skin around the eyes is prone to dryness, which can exacerbate the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness. By maintaining hydration, oleic acid helps to preserve skin elasticity and supports the underlying dermal tissues, making the eye area appear more youthful and firm.
Linoleic Acid’s Skin Barrier Support
Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that plays a crucial role in maintaining the skin’s barrier function. A strong barrier prevents moisture loss and protects the skin from environmental stressors. By fortifying this barrier, linoleic acid reduces irritation, supports the health of tiny lymph vessels under the eyes, and contributes to the natural drainage of fluids. This is key in addressing both puffiness and the appearance of under-eye bags.
Palmitic and Stearic Acids
These saturated fatty acids provide additional skin-conditioning benefits. They strengthen and hydrate the dermis, improve skin texture, and support the connective tissue matrix around the eye. Healthy connective tissue helps maintain the proper position of fat pads under the eyes, reducing the prominence of eye bags over time.
Vitamin E
Castor oil contains traces of Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E helps to neutralise free radicals that cause oxidative stress and premature aging of the skin. By reducing oxidative damage to blood vessels and connective tissue in the periorbital area, Vitamin E can help prevent fluid leakage, support vessel integrity, and minimize dark circles.

How Castor Oil Helps Reduce Dark Circles, Puffy Eyes, and Eye Bags
The combination of these ingredients in castor oil makes it an effective remedy for various under-eye concerns. That’s why we developed our unique castor oil mini roller, which makes castor oil easier to use on a regular basis for your under-eye area.
Reduces Dark Circles
Dark circles are often caused by the pooling of blood in the delicate capillaries under the eyes, leading to a bluish or purplish tint. Castor oil improves blood circulation and microvascular health, helping to disperse the pooled blood. Moisturising effects from oleic and linoleic acids plump the skin, supporting small lymphatic vessels and aiding in the removal of toxins and metabolic waste.
Alleviates Puffy Eyes
Puffiness can be caused by fluid retention, allergies, or lack of sleep. Anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil reduce swelling by calming inflamed tissues. Its emollient nature maintains skin hydration, supporting lymphatic flow and helping excess fluid to drain naturally. Improved microcirculation also supports oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues, reducing stagnation that contributes to puffiness.
Reduces Eye Bags
Eye bags, often a result of weakened muscles and skin tissue, can allow fat to accumulate in the lower eyelids. The nourishing fatty acids in castor oil, combined with support for connective tissue and skin barrier integrity, strengthen the dermis and underlying fascia. This, along with enhanced lymphatic drainage and circulation, can reduce the prominence of eye bags over time.

Why Consistency is Key to Using Castor Oil
Castor oil doesn’t work overnight. Although results don’t happen immediately, this pure, natural product supports skin and tissue health, microcirculation, and lymphatic drainage over time. Using it consistently helps the skin and underlying tissues eliminate waste, toxins, and inflammatory mediators while replenishing essential fatty acids.
After three months, the real magic happens. Your skin, which is your largest organ, works in cycles of 45-90 days, and will have had the nutrients to heal and repair. Castor Oil’s lipophilic qualities allow vital fats and oils to penetrate deeper into tissues, improving circulation, supporting lymphatic vessels, detoxifying tissues, and hydrating the skin.
Try our Organic, Cold Pressed Castor Oil Mini Roller to improve the appearance of your eye area! For best results, use castor oil at least a few times a week for at least 3 months. With consistent use, you should begin to notice the eye area becoming firmer, brighter, and less puffy, while dark circles appear reduced.
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1781768
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5796020
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376728308_Natural_or_Synthetic_Emollients_Physicochemical_Properties_of_Body_Oils_in_Relation_to_Selected_Parameters_of_Epidermal_Barrier_Function
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9315586
- https://us.typology.com/library/what-is-the-composition-of-castor-oil
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383586624040176
- https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2024/10001/s801_dose_related_effects_of_ricinoleic_acid.802.aspx
iAMA is the home of pure gold, pure Castor Oil.
Shop Castor Oil gold www.iamawellness.com
Contact us by emailing contact@iamawellness.com
Follow us on Instagram @iamawellness
Receive 10% off your first order here! ♥︎
