About this material
Prickly Pear Stem Extract (Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract) is cactus mucilage polysaccharide extract supplied by MakeYourSkin as pale powder or aqueous solution for professional cosmetic formulation. Used worldwide across mainstream cosmetic formulation. It is valued for hydration, barrier support, soothing, prebiotic and microbiome support.
What is Prickly Pear Stem Extract?
Prickly Pear Stem Extract is supplied under the INCI / technical name Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract.
It belongs to the Cactus mucilage polysaccharide extract group. The material reaches you as pale powder or aqueous solution. The cladode mucilage gives both hydration and a soothing film; low odour and colour. Useful as the calming half of a cactus-plus-olive-leaf pairing.
Key Properties & Benefits
- Hydration
- Barrier support
- Soothing
- Prebiotic and microbiome support
- Supplied with full documentation — CoA, SDS and specification
Uses & Applications
Typically formulated into sensitive and barrier care, mucosal and intimate care, scalp care.
How to Use — Recommended Use Level
Typical use level: 0.5-5%. Add at the water phase. Water-soluble. Disperse into the water phase with stirring; avoid prolonged high heat where the material is heat-sensitive.
Always trial the material in your own base at small scale before scaling up. Use levels are formulation starting points, not approvals.
Technical Specification
- INCI name: Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
- Ingredient family: Cactus mucilage polysaccharide extract
- Origin / tradition: Global
- Typical form: Pale powder or aqueous solution
- Solubility: Water Soluble
- Typical use level: 0.5-5%
- pH range: 4.5–7.0
- Addition phase: Water phase
- Pack sizes: 50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request
Technical Notes
The cladode mucilage gives both hydration and a soothing film; low odour and colour. Useful as the calming half of a cactus-plus-olive-leaf pairing.
Regulatory Note
Sold as a cosmetic raw material for professional formulation. A published INCI name does not by itself authorise use: the buyer is responsible for confirming permitted status, maximum concentration, restrictions by product type, labelling and claim rules in every market the finished product is sold in. In India, cosmetics fall under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules 2020 administered by CDSCO, with BIS standards (including IS 4707 Part 2) listing restricted substances. The EU applies Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its Annexes; the United States applies the FD&C Act as amended by MoCRA; Korea, Japan and China operate their own positive lists and functional-cosmetic frameworks. Every finished product needs its own safety assessment.
Documentation Supplied
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the batch supplied; Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS) in the current GHS format; INCI and technical specification sheet; allergen, GMO and origin statements on request; vegan, halal and kosher declarations where the supply chain supports them.
Available Pack Sizes
50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request
Disclaimer & Caution in Use
For external cosmetic use in professionally formulated products only. This is a concentrated raw material, not a finished product: do not apply it undiluted to skin or hair. Wear suitable gloves and eye protection when handling, weigh in a ventilated area, and keep out of reach of children. Patch test every finished formulation. Not for ingestion unless a food or oral-care grade is specifically supplied and documented as such. Seek medical advice in case of eye contact, ingestion or an adverse reaction.
Specification
| INCI NAME | Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract |
|---|---|
| CAS NUMBER | Not assigned |
| FAMILY | Cactus mucilage polysaccharide extract |
| ORIGIN | Global |
| SUPPLY FORM | Pale powder or aqueous solution |
| SOLUBILITY | Water-soluble. Disperse into the water phase with stirring; avoid prolonged high heat where the material is heat-sensitive. |
| TYPICAL USE LEVEL | 0.5-5% |
| pH RANGE | 4.5–7.0 |
| ADD AT | Water phase |
| FUNCTIONS | Hydration, barrier support, soothing, prebiotic and microbiome support |
| USED IN | Sensitive and barrier care, mucosal and intimate care, scalp care |
| STORAGE | Store at 15–25 °C in a tightly closed container, protected from light. Do not freeze. Some biological materials are supplied chilled — follow the batch documentation. |
| PACK SIZES | 50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request |
| LEAD TIME | 7–10 days |
| REGULATORY | Sold as a cosmetic raw material for professional formulation. A published INCI name does not by itself authorise use: the buyer is responsible for confirming permitted status, maximum concentration, restrictions by product type, labelling and claim rules in every market the finished product is sold in. In India, cosmetics fall under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules 2020 administered by CDSCO, with BIS standards (including IS 4707 Part 2) listing restricted substances. The EU applies Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its Annexes; the United States applies the FD&C Act as amended by MoCRA; Korea, Japan and China operate their own positive lists and functional-cosmetic frameworks. Every finished product needs its own safety assessment. |
How to work with it
The specification's Add at row is the one to read first. Water-phase materials added to a hot oil phase are the most common reason a batch separates.
Measure the finished product, not the premix. Outside the range the activity drops away and, for some materials, the degradation route is what causes complaints.
Then work up through stability and compatibility testing. Higher is not better, and the destination market's limit may sit below your formulation ceiling.