This week is the first, of what will be a monthly addition to the blog, Ingredient Spotlight post.  We'll take an in depth look at one ingredient, talk about it's benefits and then I'll show you a selection of products at varying price points that contain the ingredient.  My goal is to empower all of you to better understand the ingredient list on your products and truly know what you're putting on your skin.

I recently started using The Everything Oil from Carter & Jane and was shocked by how transformative this product was to my skin.  It left me instantly hydrated, glowing and with significantly less inflammation (something I'm continually battling).  The Everything Oil is Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil paired with their propriety A3 Concentrate - a blend of organic Avocado oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Aloe Vera.  The A3 Concentrate intensifies the amazing benefits of Prickly Pear.  

I've been so impressed with this product, that I thought we'd focus on Prickly Pear Seed Oil as the star of my first ever Ingredient Spotlight.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is derived from the seeds of the Barbary Fig Cactus.  It takes over 1 million seeds and over 36 hours of manual labor to produce a single liter of oil.  Thus, we're unfortunately not talking about the most inexpensive oil on the market.  This stuff can get a little pricey.

Now let's take a look at the many reasons Prickly Pear Seed oil (PPSO) is so ridiculously amazing for your skin, by breaking down the chemical composition of this plant oil.

Essential Fatty Acids

Prickly Pear Seed Oil has the highest concentration of unsaturated fatty acids of any plant oil, 88%!

Linoleic Acid

PPSO contains an upward of 60.5% Linoleic Acid, otherwise known as Omega 6.  This fatty acid imparts anti-inflammatory moisture to the skin while promoting wound healing, including healing acne.  Acneic skin produces less linoleic acid.  Therefore, adding an oil topically that's high in linoleic acid will treat and prevent future breakouts.  It imparts this healing moisture without being heavy, resulting in a velvety light finish on the skin.

This is why PPSO is fantastic for all skin types, including oily acneic skin!

Oleic Acid

PPSO contains 20% Oleic Acid, otherwise known as Omega 9.  Oleic Acid adds moisture and richness to oils as well as anti-inflammatory benefits.

This is why PPSO is so moisturizing without being heavy.

Stearic Acid

PPSO contains 3.2% of Stearic Acid, a cleansing surfactant.  Surfactants are substances that tend to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved.

This contributes to PPSO's cleansing properties.

Palmitic Acid

PPSO contains 13.9% Palmitic Acid, otherwise known as Omega 7.  Palmitic Acid is a soothing emollient that our skin stops producing as we age.  In aging skin, palmitic acid levels can decrease by as much as 56%.

This contributes to PPSO's anti-aging and moisturizing properties.

Vitamins & Minerals

In addition to essential fatty acids, PPSO is loaded with with vitamins and minerals.  Let's take a look at each of their benefits.

Vitamin E

Prickly Pear Seed Oil has the highest concentration of Vitamin E, also known as Tocopherol, of any plant oil, 150% more Vitamin E than Argan Oil, which was previously revered for its Tocopherol content.  Vitamin E is known for the following skin benefits:

• A potent antioxident that helps fight free radicals that would prematurely age the skin

• Promotes cellular regeneration

• Reduces hyper-pigmentation

• Heals scar tissue and assists in cellular regeneration

• Improves skin texture, moisture and softness

Vitamin K

In addition to Vitamin E, PPSO has high concentrations of Vitamin K.  Vitamin K is amazing at healing the skin due in part to its abilities to strengthen capillaries and aid in blood clotting.  In addition to:

• Stimulating cell growth

• Brightening the completion by reducing redness and hyperpigmentation

• Preserves skin elasticity through protein activation

• Combats acne

• Reduces under-eye darkness

Zinc

Zinc is a powerful anti-inflammatory that aids in wound healing, from topical abrasions to acne, and contributes to defending the body from free radicals and protecting its collagen producing cells.

Flavonoids

These potent antioxidants prevent inflammation caused by free radical damage, enhance cellular regeneration, minimize UV damage and influence wound healing.

Betalains

Betalains are a group of powerful antioxidants found in dark red fruit like prickly pear, dragon fruit and beets.  They assist the body in neutralizing toxins and supporting the cell's natural detoxification process.  They also reduce the enzymes responsible for causing inflammation.

How bout we all make a mental note to eat more of these three fruits, am I right?!

The combination of these amazing chemical compounds is what makes Prickly Pear Seed Oil such a spectacular addition to your skincare routine, no matter what your skin type or what skin challenges you face.  

• It hydrates dry skin and oily skin alike.

• It heals acne and helps prevent future breakouts.

• It soothes irritations and can calm and balance rosacea.

• It stimulates collagen production and restores elasticity for those seeking anti-aging benefits.

• It brightens both under eye darkness and hyper pigmentation, reducing discoloration in the skin.

I honestly didn't think there was such a thing as a one-size-fits-all skincare product, but apparently I found it.  The best thing about skincare is that there's always something new to learn or a new product to try.  I love that, even after nearly a decade in the industry, I still get to learn new things... And then share them with you!

Let me know what you think of PPSO when you try it out for yourself!

Men's Skincare

PPSO would be a fantastic option for any gentleman looking for an aftershave/moisturizer.  Because it's light weight, you'll never have to worry about greasy residue on the skin or looking too "shiny."  It'll soothe any knicks from shaving, hydrate and calm any dry flaky patches and offer some anti-aging to boot.  Feel free to use it on your face and in your beard for a simple no fuss addition to your skincare routine.  

My Product Picks

Now that Prickly Pear Seed Oil's innumerable benefits have made you want to bathe in the stuff daily, here's a few PPSO products at a few different price points so you can at least bathe your face.

Side Note:

For those of you who are using or have used Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum and are looking to try something similar, less expensive, and just plain better, The Everything Oil is for you.  The results I've seen in my skin since using The Everything Oil are a hundred times more prevalent than any I saw with the former.  Vintner's Daughter offers a lovely serum but, at that price point, I'd love for it to have made half the difference Carter & Jane's oil has in my skin.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil Under $100

Prickly Pear Seed Oil 0.5 oz by Aradé Beauty Aradé partners with Moroccan women through co-ops, paying fair wages to have the finest prickly pear extract produced from the local prickly pear plant crops. These women receive fair wages for their work and are able to give their families better lives due to our partnership. This is a 1/2 oz of organic prickly pear seed oil. ($60) Shop Arade

Ecla Prickly Pear Seed Oil Just one ingredient: 100% Pure Certified USDA Organic Prickly Pear seed oil, Virgin Cold pressed, unrefined with no chemicals or fillers. ($26) Shop Ecla

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.  However Carter & Jane, if you want to sponsor me I wouldn't put up a fight!  This post does contain some affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.