Also known as barbary fig oil or cactus seed oil, Prickly Pear Seed Oil comes from the beautiful prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) . Championed for its close resemblance to the natural fatty acids in our skin, this non-greasy, non pore clogging, non-comedogenic oil is one of the most powerful, luxurious skin care oils out there and is brimming with Vitamin E, proteins, nutrients, antioxidants and minerals to deeply replenish and protect against natural aggressors. Extracted from the seed of the precious prickly pear, this potent and versatile miracle elixir works wonders on the face, skin,hair, beards, feet, lips, nails and cuticles alike. Ethnobotany Prickly Pear Seed Oil has a linoleic fatty acid profile range of 75%, oleic acid of 15% palmitic acid of 13% and 6% stearic acid, all which nourish, repair and strengthen your skin’s barrier, allowing it to better retain moisture. With its acne-reducing and skin softening properties, linoleic acid does a wonderful job in healing cold sores , minor burns and fights inflammation while healing. Ethnobotany Prickly Pear Seed Oil is also chock-full of Vitamin K, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, prevent premature wrinkle formation, brightens dark under-eye circles, calms redness, reduce broken capillaries, helps relieve sunburn, brightens and evens out skin tone. The tocopherols (Vitamin E) found in prickly pear seed oil which is five times higher than that of argan oil, acts as a free radical scavenger, preventing them from causing damage that leads to signs of aging. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which help wounds heal faster, and repairs skin damage caused by environmental stressors. In addition, prickly pear seed oil is the only oil known to contain all 24 known effective and potent betalain antioxidants. With more betalains than beetroot, goji berries and acai, these super antioxidant pigments help protect your skin from various types of damaging radicals which would otherwise encourage wrinkle formation. Ethnobotany Prickly Pear Seed Oil also consists of secondary plant metabolites called polyphenols which boast antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. They also defend against oxidative stress- an imbalance between free radical production and the skin’s ability to defend against them. Other beneficial components of our oil include zinc, which helps reduce redness and inflammation of acne lesions and decrease oil production and phytosterols, especially beta-sitosterol, which provides antioxidants and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The combination of phytosterols and natural essential fatty acids works well for anti-aging concerns and encourages new collagen production.