Meet the skincare ingredient you didn’t know you needed: prickly pear seed oil. A triple threat for your skin, this oil is packed with antioxidants, essential fatty acids and vitamins. Prickly Pear Seed Oil is pressed from the tiny seeds of the Prickly Pear cactus and treats sun damage, signs of aging and also provides the coveted dewy glow. Whether you’re trying to reverse the effects of previous sun exposure or just keep your skin looking vibrant, this oil has you covered. Let’s see why prickly pear seed oil is the unsung hero your skin care routine has been waiting for.
Benefits | Does Prickly Pear Oil Help Age Spots? | Origin | Benefits for hair and nails
What makes prickly pear seed oil so special? 4 Benefits
Prickly Pear Seed Oil isn’t just another trend—it’s packed with skin care benefits that address a variety of skin needs. Here’s why this oil makes such a noise:
1. Antioxidants galore
Prickly Pear Seed Oil is packed with antioxidants, especially vitamin E. In fact, it has 150% more vitamin E than argan oil. This powerful antioxidant helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays and environmental pollutants, which can cause premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. Prickly Pear Seed Oil is known for its high concentration of betalains, a powerful form of antioxidants that fight wrinkles and other signs of aging caused by environmental stress. These compounds are highly effective in protecting and rejuvenating the skin’s appearance.
2. Essential fatty acids
Prickly pear seed oil is packed with essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid. These fatty acids are vital for maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier, keeping it hydrated and preventing dryness and flaking. The fatty acid profile of these acids replenishes lost lipids that help hydrate and restore skin elasticity.
3. Deep Hydration
Prickly pear oil’s high content of linoleic acid helps the skin retain water, providing deep hydration and a thick, smooth texture. This is especially beneficial for dry and mature skin types.
4 Minimizes sun damage
Thanks to its rich antioxidant profile, prickly pear seed oil helps minimize skin damage from sun exposure. It helps to fade the appearance of sun spots, reduce redness and restore the skin’s natural glow.
Does Prickly Pear Oil Help Age Spots?
Prickly pear seed oil can help reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Prickly pear oil is rich in phytosterols and essential fatty acids, i.e. omega-6 and omega-9. These nutrients help visibly minimize the appearance of dark spots (or age spots) while smoothing the appearance of fine lines.
Prickly Pear Oil Origin & Extraction Process
Prickly pear seed oil comes from the seeds of the prickly pear cactus, scientifically known as Opuntia ficus-indica. This cactus is native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States, but has been introduced to arid and semi-arid regions around the world.
The oil extraction process is labor intensive, usually taking three to four days. The seeds, which are tiny, must be carefully picked by hand from the fruit. The seeds are then cleaned, dried and cold-pressed to extract the precious oil. Since only about 18-20% of the peeled fruits are seeds, and these seeds contain only 3-5% oil, it takes about a ton of cactus fruit to produce a single liter of oil. In addition, the harvest season for these fruits is limited, lasting only a few weeks to two months depending on the region. These factors contribute to the premium price of prickly pear seed oil.
Additional benefits of prickly pear seed oil
Hair rejuvenation
Prickly Pear Seed Oil is an excellent remedy for dry, dull and lifeless hair. To use as a hair treatment, simply apply a drop or two to your hair at night, massage in and leave for 15 minutes before washing. This oil helps to revitalize the hair, adding shine and volume.
Nail strengthening
Regularly applying cold-pressed prickly pear oil to the cuticles can help strengthen the nails, making them less prone to breaking. Just a few drops massaged into the cuticles can improve nail health and durability.
Wondering what oil to use in your skincare routine? Visit one Eminence Organics Spa Partner for recommendations.
