Until recently, most people thought of macadamia nuts as purely a delicious food or maybe a souvenir from Hawaii. However, greater research has shown that macadamia nut oil is actually one of nature’s most powerful skincare treasures. Replete with anti-oxidants and fatty acids, few other oils can match its specific health benefits to the skin.
The rarest of these antioxidants is squalene. Previously sourced from shark livers, squalene is an antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress, thus preventing wrinkles and bolstering your skin’s protection from environmental toxins and UV damage. Because squalene naturally occurs in the body, it is easy for your skin to assimilate. However, after the age of thirty, squalene production drastically ramps off. When used in your skincare regimen, macadamia nut oil can replenish this vital antioxidant (without endangering the shark population). In addition to moisturizing the skin, squalene’s antibacterial properties reduce acne and skin irritations and help balance skin tone.
Other powerful antioxidants found in macadamia nut oil are tocotrienols, a uniquely potent variant of Vitamin E that not only feeds the skin but increase the oil’s shelf life and rescues the skin from free radical damage.
The phenolic compounds in macadamia nut oil inhibit the oxidation of lipids, proteins, and DNA that can lead to cell mutation and diseases such as skin cancer. The phenolic compounds also give macadamia nut oil its antibacterial and antifungal properties. This not only makes it essential for a healthy skincare regimen but also drastically increases the shelf life of the oil itself, making it the perfect base ingredient for skincare products.
Macadamia nut oil also contains extremely high levels of beneficial fatty acids. Its high content of linoleic acid restores the skin’s “barrier function”, preventing water loss, infiltration of toxins, and environmental skin damage. This enables skin to stay hydrated and healthy, appearing younger and smoother. Because its oleic acid is moisturizing and anti-inflammatory while palmitoleic acid repairs skin cells, macadamia nut oil is particularly beneficial for mature skin. These fatty acids also make macadamia nut oil effective in preventing dry skin and discouraging the formation of wrinkles.
Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are also crucial for skin health. Because Omega 6 is not naturally produced in the body, we must seek it in foods. As the largest organ in the human body, skin absorbs whatever you put on it, so macadamia nut oil applied topically can also provide these necessary omegas. In fact, macadamia nut oil has a nearly perfect ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6. This favorable ratio makes macadamia nut oil perfect for sensitive skin and healing for all skin types. These fatty acids can also help ease skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. While anti-inflammatory Omega 3 reduces skin irritation and blemishes, regenerating Omega 6 enhances cell growth and makes skin smoother and more supple.
Thankfully, savvy skincare product creators are onto this, and we can now take advantage of all of the amazing vegan and organic benefits macadamia nut oil has to offer our skin. We’re so glad we discovered the powerful healing of this simple nut.
”From our soil to your soul”, Mahalo Kollette Stith and Sue Mandini
