Fancy a golden elixir that will drench your skin with nature's most powerful moisturiser?

Look no further, we have just the tipple... for your skin. 

Think back to a day where you were sun drenched, parched and in desperate need of some hydration. It's these conditions where the Prickly Pear Cactus thrives. The arid conditions where humans would quickly require shelter, is where this plant flourishes. No wonder it's so full of complex compounds that can repair and rejuvenate dry skin.

Ever wondered how Nigella Lawson has such great skin? Here are some reasons why this oil is no longer a well kept secret. 

What is it and how is it made? 

Opuntia Ficus Indica Oil otherwise known as Prickly Pear, is a plant from the cactus family. The trunk is green in colour, prickly on the outside, with an ability to grow up to 7 feet in height. It contains seeds, colourful flowers and fruit.

To extract the oil: pick the fruit, peel the skin and inside you will find prickly pear seeds. Once the seeds are obtained (by hand), they are sorted to dry and then cold-pressed, filtered and purified to create the luxurious oil. 

Why is it so expensive?

The fruit itself may contain lots of seeds but the yield is extremely low. It takes 1 tonne of fruit to produce 1 litre of oil. It's the high volume of fruit coupled with the intense labour costs that makes it one of the most expensive ingredients in the skincare world. It's also happens to be one of the most sustainable plants on the planet.

What are its benefits? 

Vitamin E:

Prickly pear seed oil has the highest level of Vitamin E and antioxidants found in any plant oil which already speaks volumes about its natural potency. The benefits of it are its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Great for those that have sensitive or problematic skin. It's gentle, reduces redness and calms skin irritations. Vitamin E is especially good for sunburn and people that suffer from pigmentation. It is also a brilliant moisturiser, great for preventing water loss from the skin's surface. 

Vitamin K: 

Great for brightening your skin especially around the eye area. Vitamin K helps with dark circles, broken capillaries, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and evens skin tone. 

Fatty Acids: 

Containing amino acids and natural essential fatty acids that stimulate collagen production so your skin looks and most importantly feels hydrated. Linoleic Acid helps strengthen the skin barrier and reduces breakouts and gives your skin the moisture it needs to look plump. 

Betalains:

When you think about healthy food, a bright coloured plate of diverse fruit and vegetables comes to mind: beetroot, carrots, dragon fruit, acai. These all contain betalains, one of the most powerful antioxidants. Prickly pear seed oil has one of the highest concentrations of betalains in any plant product so it's incredible at protecting skin from free radicals and repairing skin damage. 

Phytosterols: 

These have water binding components that help to maintain a strong skin barrier. They aid in retaining skins moisture and help skin looking & feeling supple, soft and plump.  

Summary and what can I expect from using it? 

Ageing is a natural, beautiful process that should be embraced, but of course we all want to feel and look our best. 

As much as we know there is not one single product that can reverse the ageing process, there is one ingredient that comes pretty close and that's prickly pear seed oil. It's safe, natural, healthy and at the same time incredibly powerful.  

It is a total powerhouse that will help with: 

• Reduced signs of ageing and dark circles
• Restored elasticity
• Even skin tone and redness
• Moisturised, nourished, soft skin 

Now you can see why we use this special ingredient in all our Daily Serums. It really is like nectar and should not be overlooked, its benefits are endless.