Prickly pears are the fruits of a resistant cactus that grows in the desert in southern Morocco.
A spokesperson for Le sens de Marrakech told CosmeticsDesign that prickly pear seed oil is ‘a powerful elixir of beauty’, as the rapidly absorbed oil contains exceptionally high levels of essential fatty acids (over 85 per cent), tocopherols (vitamin E), and linoleic acid (over 70 per cent).
She added that the oil, which has powerful anti-oxidant properties and helps protect against free radicals, helps to support the natural nutrition and protection mechanism of the skin, refines skin texture and brightens the complexion.
To produce just one litre of prickly pear seed oil, 10,000 seeds are needed.
The harvesting of the fruit, which is done by a local village in Morocco, takes place between June and September. After de-seeding each fruit, the seeds are then dried in the sun. When dry, the oil can then be extracted.
In addition to prickly pear seed oil, the skincare products are composed of two other principle ingredients; aloe vera and argan oil.
Argan oil is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids with high levels of linoleic and oleic acids (omega 4). The oil helps to promote the skin’s hydrolipid layer, increasing skin elasticity, according to the company.
The skincare range, which contains no parabens, colourants or silicone, comprises four products including a purifying mask and foaming cleanser.
The products are sold in boutiques and spas across Morocco, Europe and the Middle East, as well as in a dedicated Le sens de Marrakech boutique in Rouen, France.
The company says that through participation in trade shows such as Cosmeeting and World of Beauty and Spa, it is developing its product distribution in both European and international markets.