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Prickly Pear Seed Oil: A True Desert Gem

February 19, 2018

PRICKLY PEAR SEED OIL: BREAKING THROUGH THE EPIDERMIS

Prickly pear seed oil is highly valued for it’s nourishing, antioxidant properties in skincare products. This potent, unique oil has a variety of benefits for the skin with anti-inflammatory properties and essential fatty acids rich in vitamin E. Its main advantage is that it can break through your skin’s epidermis to moisturize deeply and thoroughly.

WHAT IS A PRICKLY PEAR?

A prickly pear is the fruit of the Opuntia family of cactus and grows in Mexico, South America, Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean. It's also commonly known as cactus fruit, Barbary fig or Indian fig. Pharmaceutical grade prickly pear seed oil for skincare products currently originates from Morocco where they regulate production.

The prickly pear can grow up to seven feet in height and consists of pads that flower at the top with either red, yellow or purple blossoms. Each flower produces one round, red fruit with a short lifespan of around a week.

HOW IS THE SEED OIL PRODUCED?

Inside a prickly pear, you’ll find up to 300 seeds. The seeds are picked by hand and then put through a machine to extract the oil. Eight tons of the fruit from prickly pear cactus plants will be required to make a single liter of oil, which is why this oil can be expensive to buy. Hence why skincare products that feature an effective amount of prickly pear seed oil tend to be more in the luxury range.

PRICKLY PEAR SEED OIL BENEFITS FOR SKIN

The benefits of prickly pear seed oil in your daily skincare routine will include a high level of moisture with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties for all skin types.

The seed oil from the prickly pear is high in essential fatty acids, omega 6 and 9, vitamin E and amino acids.

  • Essential Fatty Acids – the prickly pear fruit gives the seed oil a good quality component essential for hydrating the skin and preventing the loss of moisture. The anti-inflammatory properties of the essential fatty acids can soothe and even help to prevent dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and acne.
  • Omega 6 – is one of the essential fatty acids responsible for keeping the skin moist. If the skin loses a large amount of moisture over time, it becomes dry and flaky and psoriasis can form.
  • Omega 9 – combined with omega 6 and vitamin E, this essential fatty acid is also part of the structure to keep the epidermis moisturized and prevent dry and flaky skin.
  • Vitamin E – an antioxidant known for its anti-aging effects repairs the skin's outer layer and diminishes the early sign of aging. Vitamin E boosts collagen production to regenerate the skin and leave a bright, clear complexion.
  • Amino Acids – help to produce collagen and rebuild cells to form new ones, while combating the signs of aging. Amino acids are essential for tissue repair making them an important source of nutrients to heal the skin.
  • Polyphenols – prevent the skin from damage by the suns rays. The combination of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-carcinogenic properties and prevention from oxidation, protects the skin from the harmful UV rays that can damage your skin if left unprotected.
  • Vitamin K – important in helping with the coagulation of blood. This is essential if you cut yourself. If you don’t have enough Vitamin K in your system you’ll have trouble with excessive bleeding.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PRICKLY PEAR SEED OIL AND ARGAN OIL

Both of these Moroccan oils have fantastic properties, but slightly different benefits. There are quite a few similarities between prickly pear seed oil and argan oil. They have the same vitamins and minerals, but one main difference is that prickly pear seed oil has over 150% more vitamin E than argan oil.

The texture of prickly pear seed oil is silkier than argan oil, and comes with with the bonus of being more easily absorbed by the upper and lower levels of the dermis. Prickly pear seed oil far outweighs the abilities of argan oil to hydrate and heal.

RESTORE AND IMPROVE SKIN ELASTICITY WITH PRICKLY PEAR OIL

There are many skincare products that claim they can restore skin’s elasticity, but not all of them have the natural ingredients included within its formulation to fulfill those claims. Prickly pear seed oil is a natural ingredient with all the benefits of a thick, satiny texture and the capability to heal skin cells by promoting collagen production.

Your skin is your outer layer of protection against harsh weather and chemical imbalances. As you get older, the elasticity in your skin becomes loose as the collagen production in your cells is reduced during aging. To protect against the breakdown of cell restoration and improve your skin’s elasticity, you must keep your skin hydrated and nourished with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to stimulate collagen production.

Keeping your skin in peak condition requires turnover of old cells to make new ones and prickly pear seed oil can safely assist this process. The results of this renewal process will have you looking younger for longer, and your skin will be protected from inflammation and other common issues.

When skin is dry it can’t stretch effectively and may crack and form sore patches on the outer layer. Prickly pear seed oil has the correct amount of nutrients to keep your skin in its best, "stretchy" condition as you age, helping to delay the noticeable signs of aging.

ANTI-AGING AND ANTIOXIDANTS

Free radicals can cause the skin to age prematurely. These harmful molecules are in our environment from smoke, car fumes and chemicals present in the atmosphere. Antioxidants help to clear the skin of these free radicals, bringing it back to a healthy state.

Using prickly pear seed oil will help your skin to regenerate, killing off free radicals and keeping you on the path to healthy-looking skin. Protecting your skin before the onset of wrinkles and fine lines will prevent your skin from sagging and experiencing discoloration (due to an excess of oxidizing free radicals).

Moisturizing daily keeps your skin supple and slows down the effects of aging, thus keeping your skin plump and youthful looking. The benefits of prickly pear seed oil are that it has all these factors within the construction of the oil, facilitating anti-aging through anti-oxidation.

PRICKLY PEAR SEED OIL USES

As we have seen, prickly pear seed oil is great for skin, but now let's look at how this luxurious ingredient is more versatile than a simple face oil. Read on to find an abundance of uses for prickly pear seed oil: 

  • Anti-aging serum – the high content of vitamin E gives this luxury seed oil elixir all the benefits of an expensive anti-aging serum without the extra chemicals and high price. Its natural abilities firm the skin, produce collagen regrowth and fills out fine lines and wrinkles to leave the skin younger looking.
  • Acne prevention – using prickly pear seed oil will clear the pores then close them to prevent bacteria forming which can cause acne.
  • Combat oily skin – as this oil is a dry oil there’s no chance of making your skin worse. The seed oil has an opposite reaction with oily skin by removing the excess oil.
  • Reduces skin redness and sunburn – the healing properties of the seed oil moisturize skin, reduce redness, and assist formation of new skin cells.
  • Brightens complexion – the antioxidants in the seed oil help to protect cells from damage and promote cell regeneration which will help skin regain its former brightness. 

And there are even more uses for prickly pear seed oil for your skin! Cosmetics companies are discovering and adding this valuable, powerful seed oil to other natural ingredients to produce creams and serums.The high complexity of the combination of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids makes prickly pear seed oil a perfect addition to a skincare product.

SHOP HERBAL DYNAMICS BEAUTY PRODUCTS WITH PRICKLY PEAR SEED OIL