Prickly pear seed oil (aka cactus seed oil) is basically in a high-end category even among other natural oils. I was somewhat skeptical in the beginning as most of the natural products on the market that I've used delivered about the same results on average. Who would've guessed that I would actually tell the difference between average natural oils and prickly pear seed oil, ha! XD
Anyways, Prickly Pear Seed Oil is by far my favourite amongst all Kahina Giving Beauty products although I basically love all of them >_<. Haha. It's like the question to me "hey, what's your favourite item within La Prairie?" :3. Yes, it's very tough to answer, but Kahina Giving Beauty one is a bit easier as they have far less products than La Prairie.
Scent & Consistency
Unlike their Oil Serum, Prickly Pear Seed Oil smells very neutral and a little grassy. There are no other scents as it's made of 100% Prickly Pear Seed Oil without any other ingredients.
It's a bit more dense in texture than their Argan Oil, which feels more nourishing on skin. There's also a pleasant warmth upon application, so I've been enjoying Prickly Pear Seed Oil during Winter in the past few years.
Benefits
Extremely rich in Vitamins E and K, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, prickly pear seed oil has been shown to:
- Moisturize and soften skin
- Restore elasticity
- Neutralize free radicals that cause signs of aging
- Brighten under-eye circles
Richer in weight and texture than argan oil, prickly pear seed oil is ideal for dry, mature skin types.
Kahina Prickly Pear Seed Oil is 100% organic and sourced in very small batches at the same cooperative that produces our argan oil. Read more about our sourcing here. Other common names for this oil include Barbary fig seed oil, Indian fig seed oil, and prickly cactus seed oil. Our oil is cold first pressed from the seeds and is not to be confused with macerated extracts of the flowers or fruits of the prickly pear cactus. Note: oil's natural scent is reminiscent of hay.
Effectiveness
I personally find Prickly Pear Seed Oil to be a great companion to a soothing, hydrating and even anti-aging skincare regime. I would call it a skin regeneration booster as I've noticed that my skin seems to get faster results from other skincare products when used together with Prickly Pear Seed Oil. Although the company says it can be used like other serums underneath your regular moisturiser, I've been enjoying it a lot more by mixing a few drops into my moisturiser. It's very healing and soothing that I've also been using it as an after-sun care on the nights after sun exposure.
I've been using it mostly at night time in Winter, but these days I've also been mixing it into my La Prairie Transforming Cream SPF 30 (full review) to make the tinted cream more blendable and emollient in the morning. 10mL is normally how much I use in Winter when used nightly, which means that 50mL that you get in a bottle will last a bit over a year if you it use like I do in every season, or half of that if you put it on every day and night. It really depends on the amount that you use each application. For that reason, I've been giving away the rest of the 40mL to my mother after refilling my travel sized Prickly Pear Seed Oil. She visits me every year, so we buy then, and we share XD. Haha, yes, we share lots of skincare even including Prickly Pear Seed Oil! ♥ In fact, my mother pays for it :3.
Anyways, my mother has found it very effective as it soothes and hydrates her sensitive skin. My man with eczema also found it hydrating and protective, but he has been using Argan Oil instead due to the price as he uses the oil all over his body. If you have dry / sensitive skin, the oil will help you to bring the glow back :).
Where to buy
- The Detox Market (Worldwide delivery & samples)
Recommendations
- African Botanics Pure Marula Oil (Cell Regenerating Face Oil)
- Kahina Giving Beauty Antioxidant Mask (Gentle detoxifying mask)
- Tammy Fender Bulgarian Rose Water
- Kahina Giving Beauty Serum
- Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil
- Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream (Sensitive/Eczema/Baby Skin)Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy Facial Cream & Lotion (Dry/Sensitive/Eczema/Baby Skin)La Mer Moisturisers / Crème de la Mer
