Cactus plants can be intimidating because they have prickly thorns, but don’t be scared of them because they are super delicious and super healthy. There’s a reason why these plants thrive in the desert and that’s because they hold on to moisture better than anything else. This is why we are seeing more and more products that include these nutritious plants that are not only great to eat but also great for your beauty regimen.
Prickly Pear Cactus: These cactus are fairly inexpensive and can be found at your local Mexican grocery store. They are called “nopales” in Spanish and are used in various dishes among the Hispanic community. There are many products that include nopales because they have an excellent reputation because they are great for digestion and even weight loss. These beauties grow barrel-looking fruits that come in different shades of green and even pink, they are super sweet when eaten raw, and they are slowly making their way into gourmet dishes. This plant is packed with calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, as well as antioxidants Omega 6 and Omega 9. It contains linoleic acid and zinc, two ingredients that are often found in expensive moisturizers. They also have amino acids, which naturally stimulate collagen production, which helps keep your skin firm and looking young, and as an added bonus it also helps protect you from the sun, wind and environmental pollutants.
