Ingredients: The bottle should contain only Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil and not any fillers, additives, or synthetic preservatives.
Color and Texture: Pure prickly pear oil has a light golden-green color, with a silky, non-greasy texture that sinks quickly into the skin. If the oil is too translucent or watery, it might have been diluted.
Aroma: Good quality oil has a light, natural, earthy aroma. A powerful or synthetic aroma may also signify that impurities have been added or chemicals have been included.
Packaging: Because light and air can destroy the oil’s potency, it should be packaged in a dark glass bottle to retain its nutrients. Stay away from plastic packaging, which can damage the oil over time.
Price: Pure, high-quality prickly pear oil comes with a hefty price, as the extraction process is labor-intensive. So cheap versions, or spurious copies, may simply dilute them down to nothing — or be of little to no quality at all.