Popularly used for cooking, hair and beauty treatments, macadamia oil is derived from the nuts of macadamia trees, native to Australia. Unlike coconut oil, macadamia oil is a clear, light yellow liquid at room temperature that is mostly used in its pure form.
Macadamia oil is loaded with nutrients, fatty acids, and potassium, and the concentration of palmitoleic acid makes it a well-known ingredient in cosmetic products and is found in various skin lotions, face creams, hair masks, etc. Apart from being a great moisturiser for the skin and an excellent conditioner for your hair, here are some incredible benefits of macadamia nut oil:-
10 Benefits of Macadamia Nut Oil
There are multiple benefits of using macadamia oil for skin, hair and body. Although there are other oils like olive oil, coconut oil amongst others that are usually used for cooking, eating, skin care and hair care, people have started considering macadamia oil now more than ever. In fact, this nutty and sweet flavoured oil is 40 times stronger than olive oil, which means it can potentially reduce the risk of heart ailments, inflammation, and stroke among other things. Now let’s discuss in detail ten amazing and some lesser-known benefits of macadamia oil.
1. It Helps Reduce Itchiness and Rash:
Macadamia oil contains phytosterols, which help reduce inflammation. Being rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, this oil aids sensitive skin, and reduces itchiness and rashes along with easing out skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. If you’re unsure or trying macadamia oil for the first time, then you can start with the Pure Sense Relaxing Macadamia Deep Nourishing Face Cleansing Oil. It is a luxuriously unique cleansing oil that gently cleanses your skin and hydrates it. As this face wash has a non-drying formula, it pampers your skin by satiating its thirst for moisture. Since the macadamia oil-infused cleansing oil nourishes your skin and calms your senses, you can use it without worrying about rash formation or itchiness.
2. It Repairs Scars and Stretch Marks:
Macadamia nut oil for skin is proven to be beneficial in treating stretch marks, healing chapped skin and repairing scars as it contains high levels of linoleic, palmitoleic and oleic acid. This oil helps nourish the skin and works as a great moisturiser.
3. It Prevents Premature Wrinkles:
Macadamia oil also contains a rare antioxidant called squalene that helps prevent premature formation of wrinkles on your skin, by shooting up the regeneration of skin keratinocytes. Apart from palmitoleic acid, another acid in macadamia nut oil that helps keep the skin hydrated and supple is linoleic acid. Macadamia oil benefits baby skin, mature skin, dry skin, hence it is a useful ingredient in eye creams and lip balms as it has great levels of hydration.
4. It Heals Chapped Lips:
Since this oil helps reduce inflammation in wounds or sores, it is used in various cosmetic products including lipsticks, sunscreen, skin conditioners and many more. You can even make a natural lip balm using macadamia oil and beeswax. It helps hydrate chapped lips and noticeably changes the appearance and health of your lips. If you don’t have time for DIY, no problem. You can try the Pure Sense Macadamia Nourishing Lip Balm that is infused with the goodness of macadamia oil. It is made with organic ingredients and is free from sulphates and parabens. Along with macadamia oil, this nourishing lip balm also contains castor oil that helps get rid of discolouration and gives your lips a fresher look.
5. It Tames Frizzy, Dry and Dull Hair
Macadamia oil contains fatty acids that add moisture to the hair. This works great for dry and frizzy hair as macadamia oil is lightweight and non-greasy. So, the moisturisation that this oil provides transforms your lifeless hair into fresh and healthy-looking hair without weighing it down.
6. It Hydrates the Scalp and Regenerates Scalp Skin:
Macadamia oil has the ability to regularise the oil production of the scalp, hence keeping the scalp and hair moisturised at all times.
As mentioned earlier, macadamia oil contains linoleic acid that helps restore skin barrier function, while oleic acid regenerates scalp skin, softens it by moisturisation and nourishment.
Macadamia oil powerfully boosts the overall health of your hair right from the roots. Speaking of how this oil works wonders to protect your scalp health, you can go a step further to give your hair the care it deserves with the Pure Sense Macadamia Deep Nourish Hair Care Combo. Infused with macadamia, this deep nourishing hair care combo includes a hair cleanser and hair conditioner, which gently clean and nourish your scalp and leave it looking frizz-free. Enriched with ethically sourced macadamia nut oil, the hair conditioner locks in the nutrients that soften your hair and adds a natural shine as well.
7. It Regulates Oil Production:
Macadamia oil has the ability to regularise the oil production of the scalp, hence keeping the scalp and hair moisturised at all times. The oleic acid in this oil renews and restores body levels for sebum production. This helps people with oily hair type as it puts a stop to oil overproduction and in turn, reduces dandruff and other bacteria.
8. It is Packed with Antioxidants:
Just like most nuts, macadamia nuts are also a great source of antioxidants. Free radicals can increase the risk of heart diseases, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease that can be significantly neutralised by antioxidants in order to reduce the risk of such diseases. This oil is also rich in tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E that helps lower cholesterol levels.
9. It Works Best for Roasting, Baking and Deep-Frying:
Macadamia oil has a smooth buttery flavour and works phenomenally for roasting, baking and deep-frying food. You can also use it as a base for salad dressing and a substitute for butter when you bake cookies or other such food items.
10. It Aids Weight Loss:
Macadamia nut oil is loaded with minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, fibre and healthy fats; all of which promote weight loss. Palmitoleic acid in macadamia oil helps increase fat metabolism and reduce fat storage. The omega-7 fatty oil controls the burning of fat and appetite that indirectly supports weight loss.
Conclusion
As macadamia oil is loaded with monounsaturated fats and is also a rich source of vitamin E, it gets effortlessly absorbed by your skin without feeling greasy. As for the hair, this oil contains antioxidants that recover hair from environmental damage. Besides its exceptional benefits for skin and hair, macadamia oil is also a great oil to use for cooking, baking and roasting foods. However, people who are allergic to nuts should avoid this oil or consult a doctor before using it in any way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should macadamia nut oil be refrigerated?
Macadamia nut oil should be stored in a cool place in an ait-tight container. You can refrigerate it too. It is organically suitable for all sorts of cosmetic products including the ones that are rinse-off and leave-on. You can also use it directly as a massage oil without heating or cooling it.
2. Is macadamia oil better than olive oil?
Statistically, macadamia oil contains 85% of monounsaturated fats, while olive oil contains just 76% of it. Additionally, the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in macadamia oil is quite balanced. Both of these oils help in moisturising and softening the skin and hair but as mentioned earlier, macadamia oil is 40 times stronger than olive oil, which makes the former better than the latter.
3. Does macadamia nut oil go bad?
Macadamia nut oil has a longer shelf life and good resistance to rancidity as it contains low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Hence, in comparison to a lot of other oils that go rancid pretty quickly, macadamia oil is fairly stable once harvested for two years. So, if you're thinking of switching from your regular oil to macadamia oil for cooking and eating, it sounds like a good idea.
