We've been getting a few questions about our oils, specifically our 'seed' oils. If you’ve spent any time on social media recently, you’ve probably seen heated debates about seed oils. Critics claim they’re harmful, linking them to inflammation, chronic illness, and other health concerns. But like most things, the reality is more nuanced.

Let’s break it down:

The issue isn’t seed oils themselves—it’s how many of them are processed. Mass-market oils like canola, soybean, and sunflower oil are often extracted using high heat, chemical solvents, and other methods that alter their natural composition. This process can strip the oil of nutrients and even create harmful byproducts, especially when these oils are used in processed foods.

But seed oils in their pure form—cold-pressed, minimally processed, and organic—are a different story. Oils like our prickly pear seed oil or sunflower oil, when simply pressed from the seed, retain their natural nutrients like antioxidants and fatty acids. They’re rich in omega-6, an essential fatty acid that our bodies need but cannot produce on their own. In the case of prickly pear seed oil, it contains compounds like Vitamin K and other nutrients that do wonders for the skin.

For skincare, the story is similar. The oils we use at Desavery—like prickly pear seed oil and camellia seed oil—are cold-pressed and organic, meaning they retain their beneficial nutrients. These oils are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that nourish and protect your skin. The difference lies in how they’re sourced and processed: the partners who produce our ingredients press the seeds using cold presses with no synthetic chemicals. When we order our organic ingredients, each batch comes with a technical sheet detailing how, when, and where it was processed, giving us a complete picture. We also believe that the fresher the ingredient, the better it is. That’s why we use ingredients in our skincare that have been produced within just a few months of being incorporated into our formulas.

In short, it’s not seed oils themselves that are bad—it’s the ultra-processed versions used in packaged foods that deserve scrutiny. For skincare, high-quality, cold-pressed seed oils are powerful tools for hydration and skin health. With their light molecular weight, they effectively deliver nutrients to your skin, allowing all that goodness to sink in.