Prickly pear is a cactus species that goes by the scientific name Opuntia ficus-indica. It is also known as the Indian fig or fig opuntia. This cactus has the appearance of flat green pads with spines. Other pads and the prickly pear fruit themselves grow from these pads as well. The prickly pear fruit may also be called barbary figs. You may also be familiar with another name for the pads called nopales which can be roasted, grilled or boiled and eaten. When you cut open the pads, you will find they are very mucilaginous and retain a lot of water.
The fruit, seed oil and pads can all be used for skincare. We specifically use the extracts of the prickly pear pads in ioula products. The extract of the pads can :
- provide hydration and help retain moisture
- soothe irritation because of its anti-inflammatory properties
- nourish the skin with amino acids
- provide anti-aging effects due to the presence of anti-oxidants that combat the effects free radicals by binding to them and neutralizing them