The oil can also be chock-full of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and polyphenols, which assist neutralize free radicals from oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and UV rays. Considering as much as 80% of the indicators of pores and skin growing old4 occur resulting from UV harm, antioxidant-rich oils are a strong funding for any “anti-aging” skincare routine (plus a each day sunscreen).
“It’s also high in amino acids, which stimulate collagen production and promote faster cell turnover,” says King. “And it contains vitamin K, which contributes to skin elasticity, and some believe it may help brighten under eye circles.”
But right here’s the actually cool factor about prickly pear: You know these fatty acids I discussed? They even have the power to usher in additional potent (and probably irritating) components.
Take this examine, for instance, wherein researchers mixed prickly pear seed oil with vitamin A and utilized them each to human and rat pores and skin samples; due to the fats content material of prickly pear, the combination was extremely efficient at delivering vitamin A into these samples.
Vitamin A (aka retinol) is a fairly sturdy topical that may trigger dryness and irritation for some, but it has loads of advantages for growing old pores and skin—enhancing cell turnover, selling collagen manufacturing, and many others.
By combining it with prickly pear seed oil, you could possibly reap these collagen-restoring advantages with out worry of wrecking your pores and skin barrier. A win-win for these with mature and delicate pores and skin.