Prickly Pear Seed Oil: The Complete Guide

What it is

Barie is 100% cold-pressed prickly pear cactus seed oil. Each prickly pear holds a few hundred tiny, rock-hard seeds, and each seed is only about 5% oil. About 250 prickly pears go into one 1 oz bottle, and it takes roughly 66 pounds of seeds to press a single quart. That is why Barie costs what it does, and why we treat every drop with respect.

For all that effort, it feels surprisingly light. It sinks in within a couple of minutes and leaves skin soft, smooth and luminous, never greasy.

Two drops a night is enough. Used that way, a 1 oz bottle lasts three months or more.

Where it comes from

Barie comes from wild cactus forests in Tunisia. Nobody plants or sprays these cacti; they grow on their own in dry, rocky land. The fruit is picked by hand, carefully, around the thorns. The seeds are separated, cleaned, dried and cold-pressed by Tareq, our maker in Tunisia. The seeds and the pressing process are EU organic-certified.

How to use it

1. Mist. After cleansing, mist Roseau or Géran so skin is damp.
2. Warm 1-2 drops. Barie is concentrated. Warm one or two drops between your fingertips.
3. Press, don't rub. Press into face, neck and décolleté. For the under-eye area, pat a single drop with your ring finger; that is enough for both eyes.
4. Layer at night. For dry or mature skin, press in Hoba first, then Barie on top. For a richer night ritual, layer Rubi, then Barie.

More ways to use Barie

• Makeup primer. One drop on damp skin before foundation.
• Gua sha or facial massage. Barie gives just enough slip for a slow, lifting massage.
• Cuticles and nails. A drop on each hand at night.
• Tattoos and texture changes. A conditioning oil for tattooed skin and areas where skin has changed texture.

The chemistry

Prickly pear seed oil is prized for two things: a high share of linoleic acid, the omega-6 the skin barrier is built from, and one of the highest natural levels of vitamin E found in any plant oil. It also carries rare plant sterols, including delta-7-stigmasterol.

Typical values for cold-pressed prickly pear seed oil from published analyses. Values vary by harvest.

Who it's for

• Dry, mature or fragile skin, especially from your mid-30s on.
• Skin in perimenopause that suddenly feels thinner and drier.
• Tired, puffy-looking under-eyes.
• Anyone who wants the richest oil in the collection without a heavy feel.

For professionals

Barie is a luxurious finishing oil for facials and a beautiful eye-area treatment. Because it is so concentrated, one or two drops per area is plenty. Pair it with gua sha or lymphatic massage, or blend a drop into Hoba for full-face massage.

Storage and shelf life

Barie has a 2-year shelf life. Keep the cork closed and the bottle out of direct sun and bathroom steam. For the freshest oil, we suggest enjoying it within 3-6 months of receiving it.

Safety

For external use only. Patch test any new product: apply a little to your inner forearm once a day for two days. If you notice redness, itching or swelling, rinse with cool water and stop using it. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing or under a doctor's care, check with your doctor first.

Questions