Prickly pear oil is also known as prickly pear oil or barbary fig (seed) oil. The oil is extracted from the fruits of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), a cactus up to 5 meters high that grows in Mexico, Chile, Saudi Arabia and in countries along the Mediterranean Sea. This precious oil has many healthy properties. What exactly is prickly pear oil, what does the oil do for the skin and hair and how do you best use and store the oil?
Contents
- Oil from the seeds of the prickly pear
- From cold pressing
- The healthy properties of prickly pear oil
- Prickly pear oil for your skin
- Prickly pear oil for the hair
- How do you store the oil?
Oil from the seeds of the prickly pear
Prickly pear oil is extracted from the fruits of the prickly pear cactus ( Opuntia ficus-indica ), a cactus up to 5 meters high that grows in Mexico, Chile, Saudi Arabia and countries along the Mediterranean Sea. After flowering, the plant forms fairly large red, egg-shaped fruits; the prickly pears. This contains hard seeds, which contain only 5% oil. This means that no less than 1000 kilos of prickly pears are needed for 1 liter of prickly pear oil. Moreover, the production process for 1 liter of oil takes around 40 hours. Prickly pear oil is therefore one of the most precious vegetable oils in the world.
The skin of the prickly pear is full of spines, which makes picking a careful job / Source: KarelZe, Pixabay
From cold pressing
Prickly pears are harvested by hand. The seeds are also removed from the figs by hand. They are then washed and left to dry in the sun. The seeds are then pressed at a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius if it concerns cold-pressed (extra virgin) oil. Because the seeds are so hard, the oil press must have a special head. For the same reason, the seeds can only be pressed slowly. However, cold pressing retains all active ingredients. Pure prickly pear oil can be recognized by a light green color. Prickly pear oil can also be obtained by dissolving the oil from the seeds using heat or chemicals. However, this causes the active substances to be lost.
The healthy properties of prickly pear oil
Pure prickly pear oil is rich in healthy substances. The oil contains no less than 100 mg/100g vitamin E (especially delta tocopherol), which has sun-protecting and skin barrier-restoring properties and prevents the breakdown of skin-strengthening collagen. In addition, prickly pear oil contains 900mg/100g of phytosterols, including beta-sisterol and delta-7-stigmasterol. These substances have an anti-inflammatory effect, restore the skin barrier and ensure that the skin can retain moisture better (Baumann et al., 2009). In addition, beta-sisterols prevent hair loss. Prickly pear oil is also rich in the antioxidant betalain, which prevents premature skin aging due to sun, wind and central heating, among other things. Furthermore, the oil consists of no less than 65% linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid that is essential for cell renewal of the skin.
Prickly pear oil is most effective for mature skin / Source: Greyerbaby, Pixabay
Prickly pear oil for your skin
Prickly pear oil is used as a skin oil, especially for the face. The oil has a sweet-spicy scent and a very light texture, so it is quickly absorbed into the skin. The skin-renewing and repairing substances prevent skin aging and give dull and sagging skin firmness, elasticity and shine. Because the oil restores the natural skin barrier and helps the skin retain moisture better, the skin becomes less dry and wrinkles, lines, dark circles and bags can fade. Prickly pear oil is further used to treat acne, scars and stretch marks. In addition, there are positive experiences with eczema in children. The oil is suitable for all skin types, but due to its skin rejuvenating properties it is most effective for aging skin (30+) and premature skin aging due to sunlight.
How do you use the oil?
It is best to use prickly pear oil on cleansed facial skin, preferably in the evening, so that the oil can do its skin-repairing and renewing work during the night. To do this, rub 3 to 4 drops into the skin with gentle circular movements. The oil is also suitable as an eye serum and as an anti-ageing serum under your day care. If you use the oil as an eye serum, use one drop per eye and massage the oil into the skin around the eyes with gentle circular movements.
You can also use prickly pear oil as a nail (belt) treatment. The oil prevents cuticle infections and strengthens fragile nails. Massage your nails and cuticles with the residual oil left over from caring for your face.
Prickly pear oil provides shiny hair. / Source: Pezibear, Pixabay
Prickly pear oil for the hair
Prickly pear oil strengthens the hair and gives dry and lifeless hair shine and resilience. The oil can also help reduce hair loss. Massaging a few drops of prickly pear oil into the dry hair ends nourishes the hair and reduces frizz. The oil can also be used as a hair mask. To do this, massage a few drops of oil into the hair before washing and let it sit for half an hour. Then you wash your hair.
Source: Skitterphoto, Pixabay
How do you store the oil?
Prickly pear oil contains many unsaturated fatty acids, which are highly subject to oxidation. This causes the valuable substances to lose their effectiveness. If you want to enjoy the active substances in prickly pear oil for a longer period of time, store the oil in a dark place, such as in a cupboard. Prickly pear oil is also available in a dark brown or violet colored packaging.
