Cactus Oil: A Natural Beauty Ingredient You Should Know

Hormones can wreak havoc on your skin during and after pregnancy, leaving you with anything but a glow — sensitive skin, rashes, acne, stretch spots, dark spots… The list goes on. But don’t reach for the concealer just yet. Prickly pear seed oil is here to save the day. This natural beauty ingredient is all the rage in anti-aging, anti-stretch mark and mama-to-be skincare.

Basically, you could make a list of all the things you’d want an oil to do for your skin, and prickly pear seed oil , also known as Opuntia Ficus Indica, would check off everything on your list. Hydrating? Check. Soothing? Yup. Problem-solving? Of course! Not to mention, it’s a favorite among beauty experts for improving skin elasticity! Read on to find out what prickly pear seed oil can do for you, and then get to know this pregnancy miracle ingredient in one (or more!) of these three natural beauty products.

1. Kypris Body Elixir Inflorescence. In this intoxicatingly luxurious body elixir, you’re getting the best wild-crafted, hand-harvested fresh prickly pear seed oil around, from an Arizona-based company and with packaging so pretty, you’ll want to keep the box it comes in! The scents of Neroli and Sweet Orange oils will make you feel instantly joyful and fresh. After a few weeks of use, you’ll see a difference in your skin. Whether you’re pregnant or postpartum, you can look forward to smoother, more elastic, flexible skin as your body changes. Buy it here.

2. Mun Skin Care No. 7 Ayour Body Toning Serum. This body oil is perfect for winding down at the end of a stressful day. The Lavender, Neroli, and Frankincense aromatherapy are going to fix all your problems while the prickly pear seed oil tones your skin. Mun makes an unusually silky and fast-absorbing body oil with organic olive oil from Morocco. It’s organic, vegan, and sustainably sourced. We love this oil and the philosophy of the company that makes it. Buy it here.

3. La Bella Figura Beauty’s Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil/Prickly Pear Seed Oil. If you want to try something with prickly pear seed oil in it, why not try it straight up? This is a single-ingredient oil, certified organic and uniquely produced from an EcoCert farm in Tunisia. This magic oil is a triple threat: it’s good for acne, soothes the most sensitive skin, and prevents wrinkles. Plus, it’s totally safe to use while pregnant (and after). Whether you’ve tried many face oils or you’re looking for a good one to try for the first time, LBF’s is cold-pressed, ethically sourced, and as pure as can be! Buy it here.

Image of DIY Cactus Macarons from Sugar & Cloth here. Yes, seriously, those are macarons.