Prickly pear seed oil
What can the beauty elixir do?
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Prickly pear seed oil has made a name for itself as a beauty elixir with anti-aging properties. Here you can find out what the oil can do and with which ingredients it scores!
Prickly pear seed oil: extraction
Prickly pear seed oil is through Cold pressing obtained from prickly pear kernels. The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) originally comes from Mexico, but can also be found in the Mediterranean region, South America, Australia and Macaronesia. The plant prefers a dry and hot climate. The fruits are harvested by hand. The kernels are then separated from the pulp, washed, dried and stored in a cool and dark place until pressed. After pressing, the oil is filtered.
Approximately 450 kg of pulp are required to obtain one liter of the oil. The laborious extraction of the oil is ultimately noticeable in the price, which makes the oil one of the most luxurious of all. When buying one should make sure that it is pure prickly pear seed oil and that the additives "cold pressed / cold pressed" and "bio" are mentioned. The oil is best stored in a dark glass bottle.
Danger: Prickly pear seed oil should not be confused with cactus oil or cactus blossom oil. These products are cheaper oils that are not obtained by cold pressing, but by maceration (softening). This makes them inferior and cannot achieve the same effect.
Prickly Pear Seed Oil: Ingredients
Rich ingredients make prickly pear seed oil so valuable both as an edible oil (do not heat, use cold!) And in body care:
- Omega-6: Prickly pear seed oil is rich in Linoleic acid, which is one of the unsaturated fatty acids and must be taken in through food. Other omega-6 fatty acids can be converted from linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is essential for the barrier function of the skin and for the function of the water balance. If linoleic acid is used externally, it reduces irritation, age spots and light damage to the skin. Note: If you take in too much omega-6 fatty acids, this can lead to an omega-3 deficiency, so you should pay attention to a balance between omega-3 (e.g. in linseed oil) and omega-6.
- Omega-9 is also as Oleic acid known. It can either be produced by the body itself or ingested through food. Among other things, oleic acid is said to regulate blood pressure and lower the level of cholesterol in the blood. When applied to the skin, oleic acid promotes wound healing. It also cares for brittle hair and helps against a dry scalp.
- Tocopherols: Tokopherols belong to the group of E vitamins and are among the Antioxidants. Antioxidants strengthen the immune system and help fight off disease. They also fight off free radicals, which are responsible for the skin aging process, among other things.
- Beta sitosterol is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect and thus also help improve acne.
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Prickly pear seed oil: use as a beauty product
Moisturizer
The best news first: Prickly pear seed oil is not comedogenic. That said, it doesn't clog your pores, as can be the case with coconut oil, for example. Therefore, prickly pear seed oil can be applied to the skin on a daily basis. Prickly pear seed oil is suitable for all skin types and is therefore also recommended for particularly sensitive skin as a care product that reduces skin irritation, protects against dehydration and promotes wound healing. It also reduces pigment spots and promotes natural cell renewal. A firmer complexion should be visible after a short time.
Apply the oil directly to cleansed skin and massage it in gently (two drops are enough). Alternatively, you can add some prickly pear seed oil directly to your day cream and give dry skin an extra helping of moisture. The oil can also be used on the hands and neck as well as for body massage and is best massaged into the damp skin after showering.
Hair Care & Nail Care
The oil can also be called Hair care product can be used: It smooths the hair and provides it with shine and suppleness. The scalp is also happy about a portion of moisture when the oil is gently massaged in. The fingernails are also given a smoother surface with prickly pear seed oil.
Are you interested in oils for skin and hair care? Read everything about argan oil for the skin and argan oil for the hair as well as wheat germ oil here.
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