My mom has always taken meticulously care of her skin. In fact, her night-time ritual was probably the most fascinating event of my day when I was a child. There was something magical about the way she washed her face, patted it dry, then opened the cabinet and took out a myriad of tiny jars containing serums and creams. Her face was the focus, of course, but she never neglected the rest of her body. From watching her, I learned the skincare basics and the importance of taking care of my entire body. When Dalila C Biocosmetics offered me to try their skincare brand* containing prickly pear seed oil, I simply had to say yes and share the news with no other than my mom!

*gifted product

What is prickly pear seed oil

Prickly pears are edible cactus fruit native only to the Americas and originating mostly from Mexico. The fruit, depending on the cactus it comes from, can be red, yellow, orange or green. It grows on flat cacti that have sharp spikes and colourful flowers.

These fruits are very good to include in your diet: they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, carotenoids and essential fatty acids. They also contain minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium. This explains why they have several historical medicinal uses in the Mexican culture. Nowadays, extracts or supplements of the fruit are available on the market to treat various health issues.

The cosmetics uses of prickly pears are also very important. Prickly pear seed oil helps to slow down skin aging, eliminate under-eye circles, strengthen brittle nails, hydrate skin, tighten pores, etc.

Dalila C Biocosmetics: efficient, natural, pure

The Montreal-based brand uses pure prickly pear seed oil in its vast cosmetics line. Why? Because this nearly-magical ingredient has so many benefits: it is restorative, moisturizing, nourishing and anti-aging. Dalila C Biocosmetics uses oils from Morocco and Algeria that are certified by Ecocert. According to the founder, Dalila Chennafi, PhD, Naturopath, essential and vegetable oils are “the purest, most precious and most natural source of beauty there is.”

She uses the most recent technologies to create products that are rapidly absorbed and perfectly compatible with the skin. Everything in her skincare line is rich in vitamins and antioxidants in order to generate precise and visible results. Each product is conceived with the highest respect for both the skin and the environment. Oh, and did I mention everything is made in Montreal? How amazing is that?!

Anti-aging Firming Body Cream: The details

I was very excited to receive the anti-aging firming body cream to try and review. Since I moved into my apartment 1 1/2 years ago, my skin is ALWAYS dry so I have to apply lotions and body creams year-round… I’m always on the hunt for anything that is super hydrating, especially since winter is just around the corner 🙁

Here is what Dalila C Biocosmetics’ website says about the product :

“This anti-aging body cream, rich in vitamin E, vitamin F, omega 6 and 9, gives your skin firmness as well as a soft and satiny appearance. The high-performance active ingredients of prickly pear seed oil, shea butter and argan oil restore the skin’s natural elasticity. It regenerates, firms and nourishes the skin leaving with a supple and satiny appearance. Providing softness and smoothness of a young, nourished, silky skin.”

The review

The cream is meant to regenerate, nourish, firm and hydrate the skin while restoring its natural elasticity and making it soft and silky. And believe me, it does ALL that – and more. In fact, the cream is so hydrating that I don’t need to apply it daily: once every 2-3 days is enough.

My favourite part of this product? The skin absorbs it very rapidly and it is non-sticky and non-greasy. A little goes a long way and it’s quite easy to apply the cream. Because it is so concentrated, it leaves a white mark where you apply it, which disappears as soon as you rub it in a little. The scent is slightly sweet, almost like honey. It is very subtle and won’t interfere with your other fragranced products, which is a big plus for me.

My mom aka the body cream expert tried it and loved it too. She is particularly fond of the size of the product, which she says is perfect for travelling. She also noticed that her skin looked and felt firmer, which is the whole point of this cream, so yay!

Overall, this is a pretty incredible body cream that does so much for your skin. I especially love that the ingredients are clean and that it’s made in Montreal. It is good for any skin type and can be used at any age!

Have you ever tried products containing prickly pear seed oil?

-xox- Marika