Benefits
Absorbs rapidly, mimicking sebum
Replenishes omega-7 for ageing skin
Locks in moisture, softens skin
Soothes redness and irritation
Provides antioxidant protection
Best For
Dry skin
Dehydrated skin
Mature skin
Redness and irritation
What Is Macadamia Oil?
Macadamia oil is a natural, plant-based oil extracted from the kernels of macadamia nuts (Macadamia integrifolia), a tree native to Australia. It is widely celebrated for its exceptionally high concentration of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, around 80% of its total fatty acid content (Fang et al., 2026).
How It Works
Macadamia oil is exceptional for the skin because it is rich in palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid naturally found in human sebum that depletes with age. This chemical similarity allows the lightweight oil to absorb quickly without a greasy residue, while deeply moisturising, helping support the skin's barrier, and helping reduce the visible signs of premature ageing.
Macadamia oil works on the skin by mimicking human sebum, allowing its high levels of palmitoleic, oleic and linoleic acids to absorb rapidly, lock in deep moisture, support the skin's barrier, and visibly soothe irritation.
Why Formulation Matters
Macadamia oil is a formulator favourite because its high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids make it highly resistant to rancidity and oxidation, allowing it to tolerate heating much more than other oils. This makes it a good ingredient to pair with more fragile oils when stability is a formulation goal.
Like many plant-based oils, it carries a distinct odour, which may need to be managed in the final formulation.
Scientific Notes
Macadamia nut oil is a well-studied natural ingredient, with topical research pointing to a number of skin benefits through biochemical mechanisms affecting inflammatory, oxidative and genomic ageing pathways in the skin, though further research is still needed to understand its full potential (Fang et al., 2026).
A human volunteer study found that formulations containing 15% Macadamia integrifolia oil acted as significant radical scavengers and hyaluronidase inhibitors, enhancing skin hydration and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. A separate small comparative study also found that macadamia nut oil formulated into a nanocream improved skin moisture and elasticity compared with a conventional cream. Research into palmitoleic acid, abundant in macadamia oil, has also shown it can accelerate wound healing and reduce inflammation when applied topically.
Products With Macadamia Oil
