If you are looking for the answer to the question, is prickly pear oil anti-aging? Then you are at the right place. It also means you, like many others, are looking for a solution to one of humankind's most pertinent issues; a way to counter the effects of aging on your skin. Healthy radiant skin is not only a source of confidence and pride but also a sign of your overall well-being and general body health. The desire for such skin has motivated the search for different ingredients and that will rejuvenate the human skin even as the years go by. And that’s where we get to whether prickly pear oil is anti-aging or not?

Yes, prickly pear oil is anti-aging achieved through its many benefits to the skin. First, it prevents premature wrinkle formation and reduces the presence of fine lines. The oil also relieves sunburn, hydrates your skin, and brightens and evens your complexion. Prickly pear oil also calms redness and protects the skin barrier, all of which are anti-aging properties.

Yet, that is not all that prickly pear oil does. Its potent anti-aging effects lie in the various compounds it contains, and they help even your hair. It is more powerful than other useful skincare ingredients like argan oil. Read on to learn what makes this oil so effective, why you should use it, and tips on how to use it.

What is prickly pear oil?

Prickly pear oil comes from seeds found in the prickly pear fruit, a desert plant in the cactus family. Its scientific name is Opuntia Ficus Indica, but besides prickly pear, it is also popularly known as barbary fig tree or Indian Fig oil. The plant has seeds, pads, and colored flowers, usually yellow, purple, or red. Prickly pear cactuses are natives of Southern America, the USA, Australia, the Mediterranean, and Northern Africa, especially Morocco and Tunisia.

The plant is distinguished by the flat pads which bear the fruit pods. Each fruit has about 150 to 300 seeds. The seeds are picked from the fruit by hand and then cold-pressed while still raw to obtain the oil. The process is time-consuming, but unlike other extraction forms, including oil extraction, it maintains the oil's purity retaining all the natural compounds, including antioxidants and vitamins. It is why you should always look for unrefined and unadulterated prickly pear seed oil.

The product is quite costly because of this production process and also because each seed contains only about 5% of prickly pear oil. It takes a whole 1 tone of pear fruits to produce one liter of the oil. Fortunately, growing the crop is highly sustainable as it is easily propagated.

What makes prickly pear oil so effective?

Prickly pear oil is rich in nutrients which give it its nourishing qualities that help counter the effects of aging. The main compounds are;

Amino Acids

Prickly pear oil is rich in amino acids, which enhance cell regeneration resulting in clearer skin. Amino acids also stimulate collagen production, which in turn smoothens skin and reduces wrinkles and fine lines.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is responsible for radiant skin. It reduces the presence of dark circles forming under the eye and boosts your complexion. The effect is a more alert appearance. The vitamin also improves your skin’s elasticity which otherwise reduces with age.

Vitamin E

One of the key compounds in prickly pear oil is vitamin E, and it has this vitamin in abundance about 150 % more than any other beauty product in the market, even argan oil. The vitamin is contained in tocopherols which are eight organic compounds found in the fruit. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that is also fat-soluble and helps repair and restores the skin, especially from sun damage. It is also helpful with other conditions like rosacea and other irritating conditions.
Vitamin E also strengthens the skin's protective barrier, preventing damage from free radicals and keeping the skin itself hydrated. With consistent use, the increased hydration results in a youthful appearance as the skin are smoother and softer.

Betalains

Betalains are other antioxidants that give the plant its red and yellow hue. They protect the skin from harmful environmental radicals that cause wrinkles, sun damage, and other aging signs. Prickly pear cactus also has the highest amount of betalains than any other superfoods making it more effective against aging.

Zinc

Prickly pear oil contains enough zinc, which helps reduce the production of sebum that creates unwanted shine and clogs pores. The compound also soothes acne-related inflammation and redness.
Fatty Acids

Prickly pear oil has the highest amount of unsaturated fatty acids of any beauty product in the market at 88 %. The three main fatty acids are linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid.

Linoleic acid has multiple functions that enable it to repair and nourish your skin. It strengthens your skin barrier, enabling it to retain moisture better. It also fights inflammation and has acne-reducing attributes. Linoleic acid also helps soften the skin.

Oleic acid is important as it helps seal moisture in the skin. It also aids the easy penetration of other ingredients into the skin. Palmitic acid is an antioxidant that has healing and nourishing properties. The compound is found naturally in your body, but it diminishes with age, so using prickly pear oil replenishes your stores.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are powerful micronutrients having anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties. They help manage redness and irritation and treat sun damage. They also fight oxidative stress boosting the body’s ability to defend against free radicals.
Phytosterols

Phytosterols are like cholesterol in the sense that they bind to water. This attribute is important because it helps your skin retain moisture for a long making it appear healthy. The phytosterols are also important because they help in collagen production.
Beauty and health benefits of prickly pear oil to your skin
 
1. High levels of antioxidants

The high levels of antioxidants perform a major role in countering the effects of aging. Antioxidants prevent the damage of free radicals and other environmental stressors which accelerate the effects of aging. These nutrients also boost cell regeneration.

2. Brightens and tightens your skin

The nutrients in the oil brighten and tighten your skin. Topically applying the oil allows the fatty acids to brighten dark sports especially under-eye circles and any spots caused by sun damage. On the other hand, linoleic acid promotes regeneration, which helps firm up your skin and increase its elasticity, giving it a youthful look.

3. It has healing properties.

Besides boosting skin regeneration, prickly pear oil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, making it excellent for healing mild wounds and scars. It helps repair skin damage, prevents inflammation, and soothes most skin conditions.

4. Softens your skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles

A high level of vitamins plays an essential role in softening the skin, keeping it radiant, and providing a natural glow. All the nutrients also reduce the fine lines and appearance of wrinkles on your face.

5. Absorbs easily in the skin

Unlike most other skin care oils, like argan and olive oils, prickly pear oil absorbs easily in the skin since it is light. Therefore, you do not get an unnatural shine on your face. The oil is also non-comedogenic, meaning it does not clog your pores or cause breakouts.

6. It works for all skin types.

Another advantage is that the oil works for all skin types. Whether it is dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, or even mature skin, prickly pear oil will work without complications.  

How do you use prickly pear oil on your face?

The best way to use prickly pear oil is to find facial oil purely made from the ingredient or one that has prickly pear oil as the main ingredient. One of the effective ways is to use it as a daily moisturizer applying two to three drops on damp, freshly cleansed skin.

You can also mix the drop with a facial toner creating an emulsion that you apply to your face. The mix of oil and water helps increase its absorption and creates an optimal balance of moisture and hydration.

The oil can also be found in several other facial and skincare products, which will be helpful for people with elaborate skincare routines. You can use an undereye jelly, a cleansing lactic acid toner, clay mask, or moisturizers, all having the prickly pear oil.  

Conclusion

Prickly pear oil is the new product now for skincare and beauty enthusiasts. Fortunately, it is not a fad product but an effective anti-aging resource with numerous skin health benefits. It protects your skin while nurturing it through hydration and healing conditions like scars and acne. Application is also straightforward.

You just have to find the right product containing high amounts of pure prickly oil and not diluted with water or other ingredients. Since it works for any skin type, anyone can enjoy the anti-aging benefits of prickly pear oil.