Native to Australia, the Macadamia tree has been growing ‘Down Under’ for over 60,000 years. A little thicker than many carrier oils, macadamia oil is popular in beauty products, skincare routines and massage oils. Macadamia oil is extremely like the sebum produced by our own skin which acts to hydrate and protects us from pathogens like bacteria and fungi.

Macadamia oil uses

Macadamia oil is packed with nutrients that help our skin to look and feel its best. It contains mono-unsaturated fatty acids, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. They may sound technical, but in summary, they all help our skin to stay healthy.

You’ll often find macadamia oil in products aimed at dry skin, and that’s because its composition softens and hydrates skin. The oil’s regenerative effects help chapped skin start to recover, so it’s a great oil to use during the cold winter months.

Thanks to its omega 7 content, macadamia oil can also help to heal sunburn, scratched, and sore skin. Its phytosterol content helps to soothe itchy areas and discomfort, making a bottle of macadamia oil a trusty friend to keep in your natural wellbeing kit.

Macadamia oil is easily absorbed by the skin, and it’s perfect for use in a massage blend as it’s easy to work with too. Like many of our carrier oils, macadamia oil is mostly odourless, so you can combine it with your favourite aromatic essential oils to create a gorgeous massage oil. When used on the skin, macadamia leaves a slightly greasy layer, but it doesn’t tend to clog the pores.

Macadamia oil benefits

We love the fact that macadamia oil benefits our hair as well as our skin. As we age, our hair follicles don’t produce as much of the sebum that helps to keep our hair soft and shiny. Luckily, macadamia oil is packed with omega 7, which helps hair to appear hydrated when massaged into the scalp and locks.

To create a homemade hair mask, combine macadamia oil with sweet almond oil and coconut oil. Together, these hair-nourishing oils will keep your hair looking super healthy and feeling soft. Why not add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to give your conditioner a sweet scent? We’d recommend using a hair mask every other week if you struggle with dry ends.

Macadamia oil can also help to balance the oils on your scalp, preventing hair from becoming greasy between washes. The linoleic acid inside the oil can also help to restore the skin’s natural barrier and prevent your scalp from becoming dry, making you less likely to experience dandruff.

It’s also good news that macadamia oil contains antioxidants. These clever little guys are believed to play an active role in protecting our bodies from free radicals which can impact our health and accelerate the ageing of our skin.

Macadamia oil facts

Botanical name	Macadamia integrifolia
Extraction method	Cold pressed
Aromatic description	Macadamia has very little scent, which is characteristic of most other carrier oils
Consistency	Slighter thicker than most other carrier oils
Colour	Almost clear, slightly yellow
Absorption	Macadamia will leave an oily feeling on the skin
Shelf life	Macadamia oil is extremely slow to go rancid. Expect a minimum shelf life of 6-12 months in proper storage conditions (cool and out of direct sunlight). Refrigerate after opening