Uses of Macadamia Nut Oil in Skin Care Products

Macadamia nut oil (Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil) is a versatile natural skin care ingredient loaded with barrier repairing fatty acids, free radical binding antioxidants, and many minerals like calcium and magnesium that are good for skin health. This ingredient should be avoided by people with tree nut allergies. Because macadamia nut oil is not comedogenic, it is safe for most skin types. This ingredient has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Find out all about how macadamia nut oil works and what kinds of benefits it has here!

Products

Macadamia nut oil is extremely common in a variety of product types; here are some of our favorite products! (Be sure to look for your skin type’s octagon on product pages to make sure they’re right for your skin!)

What is macadamia nut oil made of?

What is Macadamia Nut Oil Made of?

Macadamia nuts are mostly made of oils and fatty acids, mainly oleic acid, followed by palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid.

Besides fatty acids, this ingredient contains the antioxidant Vitamin E (tocopherol), and a few B Vitamins, namely B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic acid), and B9 (folate). (3,4)

Macadamia nuts also contain calcium and magnesium. This variety of compounds makes macadamia nut oil great for a number of skin concerns from inflammation to aging.

How does it work?

The compounds in macadamia nut oil provide a number of functions in skin care. The most common compound, oleic acid, is excellent for helping ingredients penetrate into the skin. (5)

Palmitoleic acid, the second most common fatty acid in macadamia nuts, is known for anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, meaning it is good for acne treatments. (6)

Linoleic acid is a soothing fatty acid that helps protect and restore the skin’s phospholipid bilayer when used in barrier repair moisturizers. This ingredient is great for soothing irritation and inflammation on sensitive skin, and has even demonstrated mild skin lightening properties in some studies. (7) Additionally, linoleic acid is great for treating dry skin.

Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid that gives macadamia nut a slightly thicker occlusive texture than purely unsaturated oils.

Vitamin E, also present in macadamia oil, is one of the most well studied antioxidants in skin care, known for its ability to bind and eliminate free radicals on the skin that can cause genetic damage and wrinkles. (8)

Though B vitamins are present in this ingredient, the concentration is too low to provide significant measurable benefits to the skin.

How does macadamia nut oil work?

Is Macadamia nut oil good for the skin?

Macadamia nut oil could be very good for your skin depending on your Baumann Skin Type. If you have extremely sensitive skin, the high concentration of oleic acid in this ingredient might cause some redness or mild irritation to your face, and should be followed by a dedicated anti-inflammatory ingredient.

If you do not have extremely sensitive skin, macadamia nut oil has a number of beneficial properties such as antimicrobial, barrier repairing, ingredient absorbing, and antioxidant properties. Macadamia oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it does not cause clogged pores, so it is safe for most acne regimens.

The oleic acid in macadamia nut oil aids in the penetration of slow absorbing ingredients like retinoids. Be sure you understand how to layer your skin care products, because products are most effective when applied in the correct order.

Calcium is known to regulate the production of sebum on the skin, keeping excess oil from developing on the face. This can help keep acne at bay in oily skin types.

Magnesium is anti-inflammatory and hormone regulating, making it a helpful component of macadamia nut oil for acne treatments.

To find out if macadamia nut oil is right for you, take our quiz to find your Baumann Skin Type and receive personalized recommendations for your skin care regimen.

How to use Macadamia Nut Oil

Macadamia nut oil is very versatile, so it can be found in cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and hair care products. Depending on what kind of product you have with macadamia nut oil, the right time to use it will vary.

In general, the best order to apply your skin care is:

Cleanser

Toner

Exfoliator

Moisturizer

Sunscreen

Since macadamia nut oil can be found in any of these product types, the most important thing to keep in mind is this general order. Note that serums can serve the purpose of any of these steps based on their design. There are cleansing serums, moisturizing serums, etc.

If you are using homemade macadamia nut oil on its own as a step in your skin care regimen, it would be the 4th step; moisturizer. Without other ingredients to compound its effectiveness, macadamia nut oil is not very potent, so we recommend it in formulations with complimentary ingredients. Some ingredients that would benefit from use alongside macadamia nut oil include the retinoid family of ingredients.

Side-effects

The largest risk of side-effects when using macadamia nut oil in skin care is an allergy to tree nuts. Tree nut allergies can be severe for some people.

Otherwise, organizations such as the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel have conducted safety evaluations on macadamia oil and have found it safe for use in cosmetics.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, the high concentration of oleic acid in macadamia nut oil has a chance of causing mild irritation to the face. Additionally, overuse of macadamia nut oil can result in hyperhydration of the skin, leading to a possible change in microbiome by providing a fat-rich medium for acne causing bacteria to develop. It is crucial to use even beneficial ingredients in moderation.

Macadamia nut oil for acne care

For Acne

Macadamia nut oil is non-comedogenic and safe to use in acne treatments.

Palmitoleic acid, a compound found in macadamia nut oil, is known to have a few benefits in terms of acne treatments in skin care. (6) Specifically, this fatty acid has expressed antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin.

Anti-inflammatories are important for acne care because when a pore gets clogged it is likely to cause irritation and inflammation that exacerbates the appearance of those pores. When the skin gets inflamed, you can imagine the pores around the original clog getting squished together, potentially leading to additional clogged pores.

The antimicrobial nature of this compound means that acne causing bacteria exposed to palmitoleic acid is likely to be eliminated before it develops into anything serious.

Note that the concentration of palmitoleic acid in macadamia nut oil is not very high, so ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or even bergamot oil would be good supplements.

Linoleic acid is also anti-inflammatory and beneficial for acne care, while oleic acid is great for helping ingredients like retinoids penetrate the skin for faster and increased effectiveness.

The calcium and magnesium present in macadamia nut oil also have positive effects on acne care.

For Dry Skin

Dry skin can benefit from macadamia nut oil because of its high concentration of barrier repairing and occlusive fatty acids like linoleic and palmitic acids.

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

There are many kinds of moisturizers, and many include macadamia nut oil in their formulation. If your skin is extremely dry and extremely sensitive, the oleic acid in macadamia nut oil might be slightly irritating to your skin.

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

Anti-aging

Macadamia nut oil contains a notable concentration of vitamin E, one of the most studied antioxidants in the skin care world. Antioxidants help prevent skin aging by binding free radicals on the skin that can lead to various kinds of genetic damage and wrinkles.

Palmitoleic acid has demonstrated the ability to assist in collagen synthesis as well. Collagen is a crucial compound for the health and form of your skin. (9)

Macadamia nut oil alone is not enough to prevent or treat aging concerns, so we recommend using products that pair macadamia nut oil with others like peptides, exosomes, or retinoids. For a comprehensive list of anti-aging ingredients that could work well with macadamia nut oil, check out our anti-aging ingredient dictionary!

Inflammation

Macadamia nut oil is loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds such as linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and calcium. Linoleic and palmitoleic acid can be used to repair the skin barrier of dry, sensitive skin types and even have uses for treatments of conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

Inflammation can lead to concerns like acne, redness, and general irritation of the skin.

It is important to note that people with particularly sensitive skin might have a subtle reaction to the oleic acid in macadamia nut oil, so pairing this ingredient with a dedicated barrier repair moisturizer could be helpful.

There are many effective anti-inflammatory ingredients on the market, and if you’d like to check them all out, see our dictionary of anti-inflammatory ingredients here!

Macadamia Nut oil for Hair Care

Hair Care

Macadamia nut oil contains multiple compounds that are beneficial for most people’s hair care; specifically linoleic and oleic fatty acids.

Oleic acid helps other compounds and ingredients penetrate into the scalp, follicles, and hair strands to provide a more efficient transference of benefits.

Linoleic acid is great for repairing the barrier of the scalp and for individually repairing hair strands from the inside out.

Just like other hair oils, it is important to use this ingredient sparingly because overuse can result in a greasy feeling on the hair. Too much oil on the hair and scalp can also result in acne by trapping the dead skin and dirt from the scalp. We recommend only using macadamia nut oil in your hair after shampooing, and to moderate the amount you use based on hair thickness, texture, and oiliness.

If you have naturally oily hair, you do not need additional oils unless you’re having a particularly frizzy hair day.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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