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The Skincare Power of Macadamia Oil Explained Simply
Skin Care

The Skincare Power of Macadamia Oil Explained Simply

28 May 2025


Macadamia Oil in Skincare

Macadamia Oil (Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil) is a versatile natural skincare ingredient that contains skin-repairing fatty acids, free radical-scavenging antioxidants

And many minerals that benefit skin health, such as calcium and magnesium. People with tree nut allergies should avoid this ingredient.

Since macadamia oil is non-comedogenic, it is safe for most skin types. The ingredient has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Learn all about the effects and benefits of macadamia oil here!

Products

Macadamia oil is used in many different products; here are some of our favorites! (Look for the octagon for your skin type on the product page to make sure the product is right for your skin!)

What is macadamia oil made of?

What is macadamia oil made of?

Macadamia nuts are primarily composed of oils and fatty acids, with oleic acid being the highest, followed by palmitoleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids.

In addition to fatty acids, the ingredient also contains the antioxidant vitamin E (tocopherol) and several B vitamins, namely B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), and B9 (folic acid). (3,4)

Macadamia nuts also contain calcium and magnesium. This combination of ingredients makes macadamia oil an ideal choice for treating a variety of skin issues, from inflammation to skin aging.

How does it work?

The ingredients in macadamia oil perform a variety of functions in skin care. The most common compound, oleic acid, is effective in helping ingredients penetrate the skin. (5)

Palmitoleic acid, the second most abundant fatty acid in macadamia nuts, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, making it a great acne treatment. (6)

Linoleic acid is a soothing fatty acid that helps repair the barrier in moisturizers, protecting and restoring the skin’s phospholipid bilayer.

This ingredient can relieve irritation and inflammation in sensitive skin, and studies have even shown a slight skin-lightening effect. (7) Linoleic acid is also very effective in treating dry skin.

Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid, which gives macadamia oil a slightly thicker, more closed texture than pure unsaturated oils.

Macadamia oil also contains vitamin E, which is one of the most studied antioxidants in the skin care field.

It is known for its ability to bind and eliminate free radicals on the skin that can cause genetic damage and wrinkles. (8)

While this ingredient contains B vitamins, the concentration is too low to have any significant benefits for the skin.

What does macadamia oil do?

Is macadamia oil good for the skin?

Depending on your skin type, macadamia oil can be very beneficial for your skin.

For extremely sensitive skin, the high concentration of oleic acid in this ingredient may cause facial redness or mild irritation. In this case, a special anti-inflammatory should be used.

Even for skin that is not particularly sensitive, macadamia oil has many beneficial properties, including antibacterial, skin barrier repair, ingredient absorption, and antioxidant properties. Macadamia oil is non-comedogenic, which means it does not leave a residue on the skin. h. It does not clog pores, making it suitable for most acne treatments.

The oleic acid in macadamia oil helps promote the penetration of slow-absorbing ingredients like retinoids.

Be mindful of how you layer your skincare products, as they work best when applied in the correct order.

Calcium is known to regulate the skin’s sebum production, which prevents excess oil from forming on the face. This helps prevent acne in oily skin.

Magnesium is an anti-inflammatory and hormone-regulating component of macadamia oil for acne treatments, as it has anti-inflammatory and hormone-regulating properties.

To find out if macadamia oil is right for you, take our quiz to determine your Bowman skin type and get personalized skincare recommendations.

Uses for macadamia oil

Macadamia oil is versatile and can be used in cleansing products, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and hair products.

Depending on which macadamia oil products you use, the correct time to use them will vary.

The best order to apply skincare products is usually:

Cleansing

Toner

Exfoliation

Moisturizer

Sunscreen

Since all of these types of products contain macadamia oil, this order is especially important. Serums can support all of these steps, depending on their ingredients.

There are cleansing serums, moisturizing serums, and more.

If you are using homemade macadamia oil alone as part of your skincare routine, the fourth step is moisturizing. Macadamia oil won’t work as well without other ingredients to enhance its benefits.

Therefore, we recommend using complementary ingredients. Ingredients that can be used in combination with macadamia oil include retinoids.

Side Effects

The biggest risk of side effects when using macadamia oil for skin care is tree nut allergies. For some people, tree nut allergies can be severe.

Organizations such as the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel have evaluated macadamia oil for safety and deemed it safe for cosmetic use.

For extremely sensitive skin, the high concentration of oleic acid in macadamia oil can cause mild facial irritation.

Additionally, overuse of macadamia oil can lead to over-moisturizing the skin, which may alter the microbiome because it provides a fat-rich breeding ground for the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Even with beneficial ingredients, it’s important to use them in moderation.

Macadamia Oil for Acne Care

For Acne

Macadamia oil is non-comedogenic and can be safely used to treat acne.

Palmitoleic acid is a compound in macadamia oil that is known for its beneficial effects in treating acne.

(6) This fatty acid has exceptional antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for the skin.

Anti-inflammatory medications are important for acne treatment because clogged pores can cause irritation and inflammation, which can make the appearance of pores worse.

When the skin becomes inflamed, the pores around the original blockage become compressed, which can lead to further blockage.

The antimicrobial effects of this compound mean that acne-causing bacteria exposed to palmitoleic acid are likely to be eliminated before they cause serious problems.

Note that palmitoleic acid is not found in very high concentrations in macadamia oil.

Therefore, ingredients such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and even bergamot oil are great supplements.

Linoleic acid has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat acne. Oleic acid, on the other hand, ensures that ingredients such as retinoids can penetrate the skin faster and more effectively.

The calcium and magnesium present in macadamia oil also have a positive effect on acne treatment.

Good for dry skin

Macadamia oil is beneficial for dry skin because it is rich in barrier-renewing and occlusive fatty acids such as linoleic acid and palmitic acid.

Occlusive compounds such as palmitic acid help prevent transepidermal water loss (evaporation of water from the face).

There are many different moisturizers available, many of which contain macadamia oil. For extremely dry and sensitive skin, the oleic acid in macadamia oil may be slightly irritating.

To find the best moisturizer for your skin type, take our free quiz and get our recommendations!

Anti-Aging

Macadamia oil contains high amounts of vitamin E, one of the most researched antioxidants in skincare.

Antioxidants work by binding to free radicals in the skin, which helps prevent various genetic damage and wrinkles.

Palmitoleic acid has also been shown to support collagen synthesis. Collagen is an important component of skin health and shape. (9)

Macadamia oil alone is not enough to prevent or treat signs of aging.

Therefore, we recommend using products that combine macadamia oil with other active ingredients such as peptides, exosomes, or retinoids.

For a full list of anti-aging ingredients that work well with macadamia oil, check out our Anti-Aging Ingredients Glossary!

Inflammation

Macadamia oil is rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients such as linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and calcium.

Linoleic and palmitoleic acids can repair the skin barrier for dry, sensitive skin and can even be used to treat conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

Inflammation can lead to acne, redness, and general skin irritation.

It’s worth noting that people with particularly sensitive skin may have a mild reaction to the oleic acid in macadamia oil.

Therefore, combining it with a special moisturizer to repair the barrier can help.

There are many effective anti-inflammatory ingredients on the market. If you want to learn about all of them, you can find our anti-inflammatory ingredient dictionary here!

Macadamia Oil for Hair Care

Hair Care

Macadamia oil contains several compounds that are beneficial for most people’s hair care, especially linoleic and oleic acids.

Oleic acid helps other compounds and ingredients penetrate the scalp, follicles, and hair strands to work more effectively.

Linoleic acid is great for repairing the scalp barrier and regenerating individual hair strands from the inside.

As with other hair oils, it’s important to use this ingredient with caution, as overuse can lead to a greasy feeling on the skin. Hair.

Too much oil on the hair and scalp can also lead to acne, as it attracts dead skin cells and dirt from the scalp.

We recommend applying macadamia oil to your hair only after shampooing, and adjusting the amount according to the thickness, texture and oiliness of your hair.

If your hair is naturally oily, you don’t need to add any oil unless your hair is particularly curly.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
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