You may have heard about macadamia nuts being a healthy snack, but did you know macadamia oil also has many benefits for your skin? You’re in the right place if you want to learn more about how this natural plant oil can benefit your skin.
Macadamia oil moisturizes skin and fights the signs of skin aging. Antioxidants in macadamia oil offer protection from damaging free radicals and UV rays. It also contains essential fatty acids that are anti-inflammatory for the skin.
In this article, I’ll cover the benefits macadamia oil has for your skin and discuss the best ways to use it.
Macadamia Oil Benefits for Skin
Macadamia oil (also known as macadamia ternifolia seed oil) is lightweight and sinks right into your skin without being greasy. It’s an amazing moisturizer due to the high content of essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid and palmitoleic acid. Macadamia nut oil closely mimics the human sebum that your own skin produces so it is very gentle on even sensitive skin.
It also has anti-aging benefits due to its powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Besides being an antioxidant, Vitamin E is also soothing to the skin and is great for calming irritation. Phytosterols, which are plentiful in macadamia oil, are also great for calming skin. They reduce irritation and strengthen the skin barrier.
Another benefit of macadamia oil is that it is anti-inflammatory. This not only will reduce redness and puffiness but is healthy for your skin all the way down to the cellular level.
It Moisturizes Your Skin
Macadamia oil is very moisturizing and yet absorbs easily, leaving no greasy residue behind. The moisturizing benefit is due to the high content of Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids and as well as oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and linoleic acid. These last three fatty acids are particularly moisturizing.
Macadamia oil is a light enough facial oil that it can be used by all skin types, including those with oily, dry, or sensitive skin.
You may think that oily skin doesn’t need a moisturizer, but that’s not true! They actually can help control oil production in your skin. If you use moisturizing fats and oils your face will be hydrated and your skin will slowly start to regulate its sebum production.
Macadamia Oil Has Anti-Aging Benefits
Macadamia oil provides your skin with plenty of antioxidants Vitamin E and squalene. Antioxidants protect our skin by neutralizing free radicals caused by UV rays, pollution, and other irritants like cigarette smoke.
If left unchecked, free radicals increase the speed at which collagen breaks down in our skin. Loss of collagen leads to wrinkles and sagging in mature skin, two of the biggest signs of aging.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that effectively reduces the signs of aging such as dark spots, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. It’s also known for being soothing to burns and helping fade scars, making it a great choice for sunburned skin.
Squalene is a moisturizing lipid found in macadamia oil that also has antioxidant benefits. In the past, it’s been harvested from shark livers so it’s great to have a sustainable, plant-based source of this beneficial ingredient.
In this study, a macadamia oil cream was found to be effective for anti-aging purposes, with results in only 4 weeks.
✅ Anti-Aging Tip: Antioxidants are one of the best weapons against aging skin. Check out my article here about green tea, one of the most powerful antioxidants in skincare.
It Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Inflammation causes our skin to look puffy and red, making us look tired and older.
As someone with very pale skin, my face tends to be red in the heat, the cold, and anytime I get my heart rate up, even just a brisk walk. So this means my skin is pretty red all the time! That makes ingredients that are anti-inflammatory an important part of my skincare routine. This not only will reduce redness and puffiness but is healthy for your skin all the way down to the cellular level.
With high levels of antioxidants, plus linoleic and oleic acid, macadamia oil has lots of anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it a great choice for achieving a smooth, even skin tone.
Protects The Skin’s Natural Skin Barrier
Essential fatty acids and monounsaturated fats are an important part of the stratum corneum, the outer layer of our skin. Thankfully macadamia oil provides lots of these acids and fats. They help form our natural skin barrier, which keeps in moisture and keeps out irritants, improvising our skin health.
Macadamia oil also contains phytosterols. These are plant-based compounds that mimic lipids (fats). Phytosterols play an important part in helping skin cells maintain their cell membrane, which keeps the skin cells healthy and reduces irritation.
The strength of our skin cell membranes becomes even more important as we age and the collagen levels in our skin start to decline. Since my skincare routine is focused on anti-aging, I love ingredients like facial oils that keep my skin’s barrier function strong and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s take a look at some questions you may have about macadamia oil.
Is macadamia oil safe for acne-prone skin?
Macadamia nut oil has a rating of 2-3 on the comedogenic scale of 0 to 5. This means it is a medium level, not terribly pore clogging but something you may want to avoid if you are acne-prone and have had bad experiences with oils in the past.
I’ve written a guide to The Ordinary Facial Oils here. Check it out if you are interested in finding out which oils may be a better choice for acne-prone skin. I also cover heavier oils such as jojoba oil for very dry skin.
How do I use macadamia oil for my skin?
Macadamia oil can be used alone, applied directly to your skin, or in skincare products that combine it with other ingredients. When used alone it makes a great makeup remover! It also can be used as a carrier oil for essential oils and in massage oils.
Where can I buy macadamia oil?
You can find macadamia oil in your local grocery store. We’ve been talking about topical application, but it’s a great ingredient to add to your diet too! It’s also available in skincare products, usually blended with other oils as well as in many hair care products. Last but not least, it makes a great hair conditioner, particularly for curly hair.
✅ Buying Tip: When buying any oil for your skin, look for one that is cold-pressed. If oil is cold-pressed, most will say this right on the label since it’s an important selling point. If oil is extracted using high heat it can damage the antioxidants, making it much less effective.
How should I store macadamia oil?
Keep macadamia oil in a cool, dark place. It should never be warmer than room temperature. Direct sunlight will compromise the antioxidants, making them less effective.
How long will macadamia oil stay fresh?
Macadamia oil should last up to two years if stored in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight. I’ve read that it can last up to 5 years, but I’ve never had a bottle last that long!
Is macadamia oil good for sensitive skin?
On the whole, macadamia oil is a good choice for sensitive skin. It’s gentle and unlikely to cause irritation. However, any ingredient can cause an allergic reaction. You should always patch test on your skin prior to using a new product to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction.
Final Thoughts on Macadamia Oil Benefits For Your Skin
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the many benefits macadamia nut oil has for your skin. If you have sensitive skin like me you know how important it is to find natural products with no artificial fragrance or dyes. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something natural that will not only moisturize but provide a whole host of benefits for your skin!
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