Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil

This ingredient is also known as prickly pear seed oil (PPSO); it's one of the more nutritionally dense plant oils you can find in cosmetics.

Its fatty acid profile is dominated by linoleic acid (57-65%), followed by oleic (16-22%), and palmitic (12-16%).

That high linoleic acid content is a big deal for skin. Linoleic acid is a key component of the skin's own lipid barrier and this combination is associated with improved skin hydration + barrier repair.

PPSO also contains some phytosterols and is exceptionally rich in tocopherols (vitamin E). The phytosterols contribute to anti-inflammatory activity and the tocopherols provide meaningful antioxidant protection.

Animal studies have shown that topical application of PPSO reduced edema formation and inflammatory cell infiltration; this supports its traditional use for wound healing and skin inflammation.

In vitro studies, preclinical, and clinical evidence all point to a very low toxicity profile for this ingredient.

Typical use levels range from 1-100% :

• 1% in rinse off or hair care products
• 100% as a pure face oil
• 1-4% for scalp and hair formulations
• 1-5% in serums

Fungal acne: The Malassezia species can metabolize fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-24. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid fall into this range, making PPSO not fungal acne safe.