What Is Prickly Pear Seed Oil, and What Is Its Use?

The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), also called Hindi or Nopal, is a fatty plant belonging to the family Cactaceae. It grows mainly in Latin America, in arid areas. The circumference of the Mediterranean like the Maghreb is also favorable to its development. Its edible fruit contains a multitude of seeds that, cold pressed, allow obtaining a vegetable oil with many virtues.

The prickly pear seed oil is characterized by its liquid texture both oily and fluid yellow or green. It gives off a light pungent and acidic scent. It contains vitamin E, sterols and fatty acids such as linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid. Its comedogenic index of 0 makes it compatible with all skin types.

The cactus oil is suitable for all skin types, but it is particularly recommended to take care of mature, dry, dehydrated and flaky skin. The prickly pear benefits for skin and hair are multiple:

• Rich in active antioxidants such as sterols and vitamin E, it protects the skin from free radicals. As a reminder, the latter are reactive oxygen species naturally produced by the body. Nevertheless, when cells are confronted with stress, they produce them in an excessive way. There are many sources of stress, the main ones being exposure to UV rays, pollution, smoking, and a diet too rich in fats and/or sugars.

  Free radicals are particularly unstable molecules because of their single electron. They tend to react with other molecules to form a pair of electrons, and then cause damage to cells, DNA and proteins in the body. Aging is thus accelerated and wrinkles appear on the surface of the skin. The prickly pear cactus seed oil is therefore an ally to prevent premature skin aging.
  

• Rich in omega-6 and omega-9, it also provides nutrition and elasticity to the skin, and prevents dehydration by strengthening the barrier function of the epidermis. The hydrolipidic film improves the resistance of the corneal layer to external aggressions and limits insensible water loss. The prickly pear seed oil is thus qualified of lipid-replenishing, it is recommended to take care of the dry and dehydrated skins.

• It is also recommended to give glow to a dull and tired complexion thanks to its composition of unsaturated fatty acids which restructure the skin to give it more luminosity.

• Its healing virtues are of excellent help to attenuate stretch marks or the small scars left by imperfections or acne outbreaks.

• Concerning the hair, the prickly pear oil brings nutrition and shine. To take advantage of its benefits, apply a few drops on the lengths and ends.

• zFor the nails, it is recommended to perform regular massages with prickly pear oil to strengthen them and make them less brittle.