Sans spines, of course…
From contributor Laura Lajiness Kaupke.
Growing up in the Southwest, I’m hardly a stranger to the prickly pear cactus and its many uses — margaritas and tea made with the stuff are truly a chef’s kiss. But, beyond a great beverage, I haven’t experienced its many other touted benefits, from medicinal to dietary, firsthand. I knew that the cactus’s vibrant fruits, sprouted from its spiky verdant pads, were the key ingredient in many an enjoyable edible recipe. (They also happened to be the source of much adoration and entertainment during nature walks and hikes as a Sonoran desert kid). But the nopals (aka pads) pack an even greater antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral punch, not only in recipes but in beauty products.
Growing up in the Southwest, I’m hardly a stranger to the prickly pear cactus and its many uses — margaritas and tea made with the stuff are truly a chef’s kiss. But, beyond a great beverage, I haven’t experienced its many other touted benefits, from medicinal to dietary, firsthand. I knew that the cactus’s vibrant fruits, sprouted from its spiky verdant pads, were the key ingredient in many an enjoyable edible recipe. (They also happened to be the source of much adoration and entertainment during nature walks and hikes as a Sonoran desert kid). But the nopals (aka pads) pack an even greater antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral punch, not only in recipes but in beauty products.
Perhaps the menacing spikes kept me at bay (plus the fact that I didn’t appreciate the desert nor its native delicacies growing up). But now, I’m keener to learn about and experiment with naturally-derived products, especially while pregnant.
I’ve assembled a choice edit of elixirs and salves as a writer and editor who has trialed my fair share of beauty products. But a recent relocation from New York City to Denver’s semi-arid climate has exacerbated my naturally dry skin, leading to my quest for new hydrating products – ideally, those of the non-toxic variety. As a result, I came upon Nopalera’s line of cactus-based products, including soaps, an exfoliant, and a moisturizing bar, all of which piqued my interest. Naturally, my desert roots stirred up an immediate connection, and the plastic-free packing is quite chic aesthetically, which also drew me in.
Though I tend to cure parched skin with thick creams, my foray into the world of nopal oil products began with the moisturizing bar, which comes in a recyclable tin that I can already think of several uses for when the bar is long gone. I figured since I don’t typically care for the tacky feeling that can come with freshly applied cream, a nourishing solid might feel less clammy, and I was right. The vegan, beeswax free-formula is anything but sticky and melted into my dry skin for instant relief — my favorite spots to apply it so far are on cuticles, knuckles, and wrists. Plus, all over my growing belly, where the skin is seemingly stretching far past its natural limits. Even more, it’s fragrance-free, which I generally prefer, but even more so with heightened smell sensitivity.
It’s been just a couple of weeks of use, but I’m most certainly noticing a hydrating difference. In addition to one of the star ingredients, prickly pear oil, the solid moisturizer is packed with hydrating vitamin E (an antioxidant) and vitamin K, promoting skin elasticity (need all of that in the belly area). Plus, omega fatty acids, amino acids, and Tepezcohuite — commonly referred to as the “skin tree” — combine to encourage collagen production and skin cell turnover and regeneration. Though I still lean on another moisturizer for larger areas of my body right out of the shower, Nopalera’s bar is earning a permanent role in my hydrating routine. I especially love it on the go and next to my couch and bed for moments when I’m deeply enveloped in blankets but need a moisture fix. And because prickly pear cactus is a renewable resource, the ingredient certainly skews sustainable, giving me those all-natural feel-good vibes I crave with new beauty product additions.
I’ve most definitely got my eye on the cactus flower-extract exfoliant next.
I’ve assembled a choice edit of elixirs and salves as a writer and editor who has trialed my fair share of beauty products. But a recent relocation from New York City to Denver’s semi-arid climate has exacerbated my naturally dry skin, leading to my quest for new hydrating products – ideally, those of the non-toxic variety. As a result, I came upon Nopalera’s line of cactus-based products, including soaps, an exfoliant, and a moisturizing bar, all of which piqued my interest. Naturally, my desert roots stirred up an immediate connection, and the plastic-free packing is quite chic aesthetically, which also drew me in.
Though I tend to cure parched skin with thick creams, my foray into the world of nopal oil products began with the moisturizing bar, which comes in a recyclable tin that I can already think of several uses for when the bar is long gone. I figured since I don’t typically care for the tacky feeling that can come with freshly applied cream, a nourishing solid might feel less clammy, and I was right. The vegan, beeswax free-formula is anything but sticky and melted into my dry skin for instant relief — my favorite spots to apply it so far are on cuticles, knuckles, and wrists. Plus, all over my growing belly, where the skin is seemingly stretching far past its natural limits. Even more, it’s fragrance-free, which I generally prefer, but even more so with heightened smell sensitivity.
It’s been just a couple of weeks of use, but I’m most certainly noticing a hydrating difference. In addition to one of the star ingredients, prickly pear oil, the solid moisturizer is packed with hydrating vitamin E (an antioxidant) and vitamin K, promoting skin elasticity (need all of that in the belly area). Plus, omega fatty acids, amino acids, and Tepezcohuite — commonly referred to as the “skin tree” — combine to encourage collagen production and skin cell turnover and regeneration. Though I still lean on another moisturizer for larger areas of my body right out of the shower, Nopalera’s bar is earning a permanent role in my hydrating routine. I especially love it on the go and next to my couch and bed for moments when I’m deeply enveloped in blankets but need a moisture fix. And because prickly pear cactus is a renewable resource, the ingredient certainly skews sustainable, giving me those all-natural feel-good vibes I crave with new beauty product additions.
I’ve most definitely got my eye on the cactus flower-extract exfoliant next.
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