The clever £10 beauty buy Helen Mirren swears by for healthy hair, skin and nails
The acting legend uses this multipurpose product in a number of ways as part of her beauty regime
Ever wondered how Helen Mirren achieves and maintains her fresh and healthy-looking hair, skin and nails? Well, wonder no more as we've uncovered one of the beauty staples behind it all.
The product in question is known and loved for its ability to naturally hydrate, condition and nourish the hair, skin and nails. For these very reasons, castor oil has been incorporated into the beauty routines of many, including Dame Helen Mirren.
Over the years we've done a lot of digging into the legendary actor's best beauty looks and skincare and makeup arsenal to find her go-tos, from Helen Mirren's signature pink nail polish and her favourite hand cream. So we weren't hugely surprised to hear that she has a very simple beauty secret up her sleeve to keep her hair, skin and nail health in good nick – and it costs less than £10.
Speaking to People, the MobLand star hailed castor oil as a must-have within her beauty routine. "I love castor oil. I use a little bit in my hair – very, very little. I use it on my fingernails. I use it on my skin," she explained.
RRP: £8.30 for 150ml
Particularly great for those wanting to encourage stronger and healthier hair naturally, this Nature Spell Jamaican Black Castor Oil is also enriched with rosemary to boost circulation, relieve dry and itchy scalps, eliminate dandruff and hydrate strands. That said, it can also be massaged onto the skin to replenish the complexion and promote radiance.
RRP: £5.95 for 100ml
Made from castor beans grown and harvested in India, this Pure World formula contains vitamin E, Omegas 6 and 9, plus antioxidants to keep the skin soft, supple and hydrated. Not to mention, it supports hair health to encourage a thicker and fuller overall appearance.
RRP: £8 for 100ml
Packed with fatty acids and vitamin E, Tisserand Organic's Castor Oil boasts hydrating and moisturising benefits for the hair and skin. Use as a skin treatment to revive a dry, damaged complexion or massage onto the scalp (and comb through your lengths) to give your hair some TLC. Alternatively, you can also use this formula as a nourishing massage oil – what's not to love?
As for how Mirren uses it in her routine, she noted: "Castor oil's amazing. A tiny bit on your hair gives it a little shine, a little separation. [I use it on my] eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails—just rub it in."
In fact, her love for the ingredient runs deep as she posted a photo of a CVS Castor Oil bottle to her Instagram feed back in 2021 with the caption: "Things I like.. Castor oil, not for its laxative properties, but for hair, skin, nails. in tiny amounts."
Castor oil can be used in several ways as part of your beauty routine, such as on your scalp and lengths of the hair, massaged into your nail beds and onto the skin, or combed through your eyebrows and lashes. You may have already heard of the link between castor oil for eyelash growth, but this yellow-hued vegetable oil is also a popular ingredient in many beauty products.
As castor oil is fairly thick, it's often recommended you dilute it with a lightweight oil – such as coconut, almond or jojoba – to make for an easier and irritation-free application. If you're new to castor oil or are using a new formula, always carry out a patch test on your skin 48 hours before applying it more widely to check your skin doesn't react.
Fortunately, this isn't the only insight into Mirren's beauty routine that we've been privy to over the years. We've managed to scout out everything from her signature perfume to her skincare favourites as a L'Oréal ambassador.
As well as castor oil, Mirren has also shared some DIY approaches to beauty that she's tried over the years. In an interview with Vogue India, she even referenced a time where she used gravy browning sauce on her legs to mimic a natural sun-kissed glow (spoiler: it didn't work).
