The benefits of prickly pear oil for the skin.

Also known as the prickly pear, the Barbary fig grows on the Barbary fig tree or Nopal, a cactus native to Mexico. This heat-loving tree also thrives in the tropical and Mediterranean regions of the world. Cold pressing the seeds of its fruit allows the extraction of a rare and precious oil: approximately 1 tonne of fruit is required to produce 1 litre of oil. Moreover, the harvest is often strenuous and tedious if one wants to avoid injury from the thorns. Despite this, Barbary fig vegetable oil is renowned in cosmetics due to its chemical composition which provides excellent benefits for the skin and hair: vitamin E, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, sterols....

To take full advantage of its cosmetic virtues, one must choose an oil that is 100% pure, natural and organic. Be careful not to confuse it with its oily macerate, which is derived from the maceration of seeds in sunflower oil. The macerate is indeed less expensive than the pure oil, but its benefits for the skin and hair are less significant.

Theprickly pear oil is suitable for all skin types but it is particularly recommended for the care of mature, dry, dehydrated and flaky skin. Its virtues are numerous:

• Rich in antioxidant agents such as sterols and vitamin E, it aids cells in combating the proliferation of free radicals and oxidative stress, thereby slowing down the process of skin ageing.

• It regulates the overproduction of sebum which is responsible for the clogging of pores that leads to comedones and/or blackheads. Moreover, it is non-comedogenic and quickly penetrates the skin, without leaving a greasy film on the surface of the epidermis.

• Rich in omega-6, it prevents skin dehydration and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

• It is also recommended for revitalising dull and tired complexions thanks to its composition of unsaturated fatty acids that restructure the skin to give it more luminosity.

• Its healing properties are of excellent aid in reducing the appearance of stretch marks or small scars left by blemishes or acne outbreaks.

Typology has developed three products using cold-pressed vegetable oil from the seeds of Prickly Pear, cultivated and harvested in Morocco:

• Thepure Prickly Pear vegetable oil is particularly recommended for mature, flaky and dehydrated skin. It acts on free radicals and inhibits their proliferation. Thus, it combats skin ageing and prevents the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Apply a few drops to clean, dry skin and then massage your face and neck in circular motions. Sensitive to oxidation, this product should be stored away from heat and light in its amber bottle, tightly closed.

• Thetightening botanical blendwith nopal is a night serum that helps to firm the skin through the toning and regenerating actions of 7 botanical extracts, including theessential oil of immortelle.

• The firming night mask is applied once or twice a week on clean, dry skin. Enriched with shea butter to deeply nourish the skin, it regenerates and firms the epidermis for a smooth and even appearance upon waking. It also contains essential oil of immortelle, an active ingredient that stimulates collagen synthesis. There are two possible ways to use it: either apply a semi-thick layer on the face, leave it on for 15 minutes then remove the excess with a cotton pad and massage to perfect the penetration, or apply the mask in a thin layer, like a night cream, and let it work all night for an enhanced action, and a smooth and rested face in the morning.

• APREA E. & al. Prickly Pear Seed Oil Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Potential Health Benefits. Molecules (2021).

• SANTINI A. & al. Opuntia spp. : Chemistry, Bioactivity and Industrial Applications. Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals (2021).