Macadamia Oil: Comedogenic Rating & Ingredient Analysis
Macadamia oil is a rich, cushioning oil pressed from macadamia nuts. It is prized for dry and mature skin because it is unusually high in palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 fatty acid that also occurs in young human skin and becomes scarcer with age. This gives it a soft, skin-mimicking feel that many people find deeply comforting. It is a fairly heavy, oleic-rich oil, so while it is wonderful for dry skin, oily and acne-prone skin should approach it with more caution because of its moderate pore-clogging potential.
Quick facts
- Comedogenic rating
- our estimate — not measured
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Effective pH
- —
- Typical strength
- 1–100% (blended or neat)
- Pregnancy
- Considered safe
- Suits skin types
- drynormalmature
Where this number comes from
No one has published a comedogenic rating for this ingredient. Fulton's 1989 table tested about 250 raw materials and this was not among them, and we found no later study measuring it. The figure shown is our own reasoning from the ingredient's chemistry and how it is used — treat it as an estimate, not a measurement.
Fulton read his own scale as 0-1 not significant, 2-3 borderline, 4-5 positive. The assay is the rabbit ear at 10% dilution, which the paper itself calls extremely sensitive and not fully predictive of human skin. Ratings describe the raw ingredient; concentration and formulation change real-world behaviour.
Caution profile
The four published fields on this page, on one 0–5 scale. Further from the centre means more care is needed — never that the ingredient is worse.
Derived, not measured: pore-clogging is the published comedogenic rating; irritation maps low/moderate/high to 1/3/5; pregnancy maps safe/caution/avoid to 0/3/5; skin-type limits is how many of the seven skin types this entry does NOT list. Every input is printed in words in the quick-facts card above.
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 | Published field |
|---|---|---|
| Pore-clogging | 3 | 3/5 |
| Irritation | 1 | Low |
| Skin-type limits | 2.9 | 3/7 |
| Pregnancy | 0 | Considered safe |
Working pH and typical strength
Where this ingredient is formulated to sit, and at what concentration.
Both bars come from the fields above: the pH window and the typical strength range published for this ingredient. The tinted column is healthy skin's surface pH (about 4.7–5.75).
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 |
|---|---|
| Typical strength | 1–100% (blended or neat) |
What is it?
Macadamia oil is dominated by oleic acid with a notably high share of palmitoleic acid, an uncommon omega-7 fatty acid. This combination makes it rich, stable and cushioning, with a feel often described as similar to the skin's own oils. It also carries antioxidants such as tocopherols and squalene-like components that support the skin surface. Its oleic-heavy profile places it toward the richer end of facial oils; Fulton-style assessments of similar oils fall in the low-to-moderate range, and we assign it a comedogenic rating of 3, so it is best matched to dry rather than oily skin.
Benefits
High in skin-mimicking palmitoleic acid
Macadamia is one of the richest plant sources of palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 also found in young skin, which gives it a soft, familiar feel that dry and mature skin welcomes.
Rich, cushioning comfort
Its oleic-heavy profile forms a soft protective layer that eases tightness, flaking and roughness, making it a luxurious final step for very dry skin.
Stable and long-lasting
With relatively little fragile polyunsaturated fat, macadamia resists oxidation well and keeps longer than delicate seed oils, so a bottle lasts.
Supports the barrier
Its fatty acids and antioxidants help a dry, stressed barrier feel more comfortable and resilient, useful in winter and for mature skin.
How to use
Press a few drops into cleansed, slightly damp skin at night, either neat on dry areas or blended into a richer moisturiser or butter like shea-butter. It also works as a nourishing body and cuticle oil. On combination skin, focus it on the drier zones, and on oily or acne-prone skin either skip it or use only a tiny amount on dry patches. Its good stability means it stores well, but keep it cool and dark all the same, and patch test first if your skin is reactive.
Side effects
Macadamia oil is gentle and low-irritation for most people. Its main drawback is richness: on oily or acne-prone skin, its oleic-heavy profile can feel heavy and contribute to congestion. As a nut-derived oil, people with nut allergies should be cautious, though the highly refined oil contains little protein; patch test if you have any concern.
Who should avoid it
Oily and acne-prone skin should be cautious, as the moderate comedogenic rating and rich feel raise the pore-clogging risk; a lighter, linoleic-rich oil like hemp-seed-oil suits those skin types better. People with nut allergies should approach with care and patch test. Using it on skin while pregnant is regarded as fine; if anything here needs clearing with a doctor first, it is the nut-allergy question rather than the pregnancy one.
Pairs well with
Avoid combining with
Frequently asked questions
Is macadamia oil good for oily skin?
Not especially. Its oleic-heavy profile and comedogenic rating of 3 make it rich, so oily and acne-prone skin may find it heavy. A lighter, linoleic-rich oil like hemp-seed-oil is a better match for those skin types.
What is palmitoleic acid and why does it matter?
Palmitoleic acid is an omega-7 fatty acid found in young human skin that becomes scarcer with age. Macadamia is one of the richest plant sources, which gives the oil its soft, skin-mimicking feel valued for mature skin.
Is macadamia oil safe for nut allergies?
Highly refined macadamia oil contains very little protein, but people with nut allergies should still be cautious, choose well-refined products, and patch test carefully or consult a doctor before use.
Does macadamia oil go rancid quickly?
No, it is relatively stable thanks to its high oleic content and low share of fragile polyunsaturated fats. Stored cool and dark it keeps well, though you should still replace it if the smell turns sharp.
Sources & further reading
Medical disclaimer
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