It takes 8 tonnes of prickly pear fruit, 1 million seeds, and 36 hours of manual labour to produce a single litre of Prickly Pear Seed Oil. This is why it costs approximately $2,000 per litre wholesale — making it one of the most expensive carrier oils on earth.
It is also inside the Golden Ora Face Serum Oil by Santorini Sun Beauty. For $39.
Here is the science behind why this oil is worth every cent — and why you may never go back to argan, rosehip or jojoba once you understand what Prickly Pear actually contains.
What is Prickly Pear Seed Oil?
Prickly Pear Seed Oil — also known as Barbary Fig Seed Oil or Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil — is cold-pressed from the tiny seeds of the prickly pear cactus fruit. The seeds are so small and so densely packed that the extraction process is extraordinarily labour-intensive, which is why the oil is so rare and so valuable.
It has been used in North African and Mediterranean skincare traditions for centuries. Modern science has now confirmed exactly why it is so extraordinary.
The Science: What Prickly Pear Seed Oil Does to Skin
150% More Vitamin E Than Argan Oil
Prickly Pear Seed Oil contains the highest concentration of Vitamin E (tocopherol) of any beauty oil on earth — 150% more than argan oil, which has long been celebrated as the gold standard of Vitamin E-rich oils. Vitamin E is your skin's primary antioxidant shield, protecting against UV damage, pollution, and oxidative stress that accelerates ageing.
The Highest Betalain Concentration of Any Plant
Betalains are a class of antioxidant pigment compounds found in plants. Prickly Pear has the highest concentration of betalains of any plant species on earth — higher than goji berries, higher than acai, higher than beetroot. The wellness industry has been selling goji and acai as antioxidant superfoods for years. Prickly Pear has more antioxidant power than all of them combined.
Phytosterols That Reverse the Effects of Ageing
Prickly Pear Seed Oil is exceptionally rich in phytosterols — particularly beta-sitosterol. Research has shown that these phytosterols can reverse the visible effects of skin ageing by rebuilding collagen in the deeper layers of the dermis. Not slow ageing. Reverse it.
Vitamin K for Dark Spots and Dark Circles
High Vitamin K content makes Prickly Pear Seed Oil one of the most effective natural brightening oils available — fading hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and the dark circles under the eyes that so many skincare products claim to address.
60% Omega-6 Linoleic Acid for Barrier Repair
Linoleic acid (Omega-6) is essential for maintaining and repairing the skin barrier — the protective layer that keeps moisture in and environmental aggressors out. Prickly Pear contains approximately 60% linoleic acid, making it one of the most effective barrier-repair oils available for any skin type, particularly combination and acne-prone skin where linoleic acid deficiency is common.
Why Prickly Pear Beats Argan, Rosehip and Jojoba
Argan oil has a similar Vitamin E content but lacks the betalains, phytosterols, and Vitamin K found in Prickly Pear. Rosehip is an excellent source of Vitamin A and Omega-3, but cannot match Prickly Pear's antioxidant profile or collagen-rebuilding phytosterols. Jojoba is technically a liquid wax rather than an oil, and while excellent for balancing sebum, it lacks the active regenerative compounds found in Prickly Pear.
Where to Find Prickly Pear Seed Oil in Australia
The Santorini Sun Beauty Golden Ora Face Serum Oil contains Prickly Pear Seed Oil alongside PDO-certified Chios Mastic, Helichrysum, Pomegranate and Frankincense — five of the most powerful Greek botanical superfoods in one serum, at $39.
This is exceptional value. Standalone Prickly Pear Seed Oil retails for $80–$150 per 30mL in Australia. Golden Ora gives you Prickly Pear plus four additional rare botanicals, in a 50mL bottle, for $39.