The Prickly Pear, a unique fruit!

The Prickly Pear comes from the Prickly Pear Tree, a cactus grown in Mediterranean countries, Central America and Mexico.

The Prickly Pear has thick, racket-shaped stems. Its yellow flowers appear in spring, while its fruits have a green, sometimes yellowish-green or red skin. The pulp can be red, green or yellow and is sweet, filled with many seeds. The harvest takes place from late July to September.

There are two types of Prickly Pear:

• Opuntia Ficus-Indica: The most common variety, with large, bright yellow flowers and red, yellow or whitish fruits. This variety has spineless stems and large segments.
• Opuntia Vulgaris: Producing sulfur-yellow flowers, slightly granular red fruits and short stems covered with small bristles. The segments are smaller.

The Opuntia Ficus-Indica Prickly Pear is considered an exotic fruit. It measures between 5 and 8 cm long, its skin is thick and covered with prickles, and its pulp, red or coral, is filled with fine seeds, safely edible.

In addition to the consumption of fresh fruit, prickly pear seed oil is very popular. Its production is complex because it requires cold pressing a large quantity of Opuntia Ficus-Indica seeds, which explains its high price.

It is very rich in vitamin E and sterols, which makes it an excellent skin protector and an anti-aging agent of choice. It also contains essential fatty acids with softening and restorative properties.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil:

• Pressed from: Prickly Pear Seeds
• Origin: Morocco (Aït Baamran region, in the south)
• Culture: Wild cultivation in a natural environment, without fertilizers or pesticides
• Quality: 100% pure, natural and virgin
• Extraction method: Cold pressing, without chemical treatment
• Best used: Within 2 years of the extraction date
• Organoleptic properties:
  • Appearance: Liquid at 20°C
  • Color: Yellow to green
  • Smell: Pleasant, vegetal
• Storage: Store in a dry place, away from heat and light

Fatty acid composition (indicative):

• Polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (Omega 6): Linoleic acid
• Monounsaturated fatty acids (Omega 9): Oleic acid
• Saturated fatty acids: Palmitic acid

Cosmetic properties:

• Nourishing, protective, softening and regenerating
• Restores radiance and suppleness
• Helps prevent premature aging of the skin

Other active constituents:

• Tocopherols and tocotrienols (powerful antioxidants, approximately 1000 mg/kg)
• Sterols: Beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol
• Unsaponifiable alcohol: Hexacosanol
• Density: 0.92 (lot JV139)

Prickly pear seed oil is a rare and precious oil, obtained only by cold pressing the seeds of Opuntia Ficus-Indica.

Its exceptional richness in vitamin E (approximately 1000 mg/kg) and sterols (approximately 10 g/kg) gives it a unique ability to protect the skin from free radicals. It also contains significant amounts of essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid (omega 6), making it an excellent skin softener and repairer.

Its high cost comes from the low oil yield: only 5% of oil is found in each small seed.

Uses:

• • Properties:
    • Exceptional anti-aging and anti-free radicals thanks to its high content of vitamin E and linoleic acid (omega 6)
    • Excellent emollient and softener for the skin
    • Skin repairer
  • Indications:
    • High-end anti-aging care (creams, milks, serums, oils)
    • Care for very dry skin, hands and feet
    • Hair care for dry hair
    • Bringing comfort and softness to the skin, prickly pear seed oil should be applied daily. It is recommended to use it in the evening, after showering, before going to bed, to promote its absorption while the body is at rest. Apply a thin layer on the areas to be treated and massage lightly to improve the penetration of the oil.

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