Combine glycerin and macadamia oil: omega-7 for mature skin

Macadamia oil contains a fatty acid that almost no other vegetable oil provides. This explains its special place in skincare for mature skin.

Palmitoleic acid, or omega-7

It represents twenty to thirty percent of the fatty acids in this oil. It is naturally found in human sebum, where its proportion decreases with age — it is one of the rare cosmetic components that fills an identifiable gap.

This similarity also explains its rapid penetration and its unique feel, both silky and non-greasy. An oil rich in omega-7 behaves differently from an oil rich in oleic acid, even with comparable viscosity.

The role of vegetable glycerin

It is used as a humectant: its molecule attracts water and retains it in the superficial layers of the skin. It is one of the most common cosmetic ingredients, and one of the least expensive — its presence in a formula does not indicate anything about its overall quality.

Of vegetable origin, it comes from the saponification of oils — rapeseed, coconut, palm. The resulting molecule is identical regardless of the starting plant, and the "vegetable" label provides information about the source, not the properties.

The blend, in practice

A simple skincare product can be prepared: five milliliters of glycerin for one hundred milliliters of hydrosol in a bottle, to be sprayed on the face. Macadamia oil is then applied separately — mixing an aqueous phase and an oil without an emulsifier does not yield a stable result.

A homemade aqueous preparation without preservatives will last one week in the refrigerator, no longer. After this period, it becomes a culture medium and should be discarded.

This constraint is the main limitation of homemade products. A commercial formula contains a declared preservative, which is an advantage and not a flaw.

On the body and face

For the face, two to three drops of oil are sufficient, particularly in the evening. For the body, the quantity is free: legs, arms, and décolleté can tolerate doses that the face would not.

Macadamia oil is appreciated after hair removal or sun exposure, for its soft touch and rapid penetration. It has a good shelf life — twelve to eighteen months — thanks to its low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

For which skin types

Dry, mature, and normal skin: without reservation. Combination skin: on dry areas. Oily skin: it is better tolerated than most rich oils, but testing is still necessary.

Our macadamia oil sheet details its composition, and the vegetable glycerin page reviews useful concentrations.

In the catalog

The hydrating day cream with hyaluronic acid already combines both functions, and the nourishing face oil offers a comparable light profile for the oily phase.

The basic recipe, by the liter

For a family preparation: fifty milliliters of vegetable glycerin in one liter of water or hydrosol, or five percent. Mix, bottle, and keep refrigerated. This base immediately softens the skin and serves as a first layer for the whole family.

Some recipes add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance. This is not necessary, it introduces allergens, and any preparation of this type must be kept out of reach of children. An unscented base is suitable for more people.

Storing a homemade preparation

Without preservatives, an aqueous preparation will keep for one week in the refrigerator. After this period, it becomes a culture medium, even if nothing is visible to the eye. This is the main limitation of homemade products and cannot be circumvented.

Macadamia oil, on the other hand, keeps for twelve to eighteen months thanks to its low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is one of the most stable vegetable oils on the market, and this matters when buying in large quantities.

On hair

The same mixture can be used as a spray on the lengths, followed by a few drops of macadamia oil on the ends. This oil is particularly appreciated on thick hair, which it softens without weighing it down.

In dry weather, the proportion of glycerin should be reduced, otherwise the opposite effect is obtained: the molecule draws water from the fiber instead of providing it. Three percent is sufficient in winter.

What each one is

Vegetable glycerin is an ingredient obtained by saponification of vegetable oils. It is also used in food and pharmaceuticals, where it bears the same name. The molecule is identical regardless of the starting plant.

Macadamia vegetable oil comes from Macadamia integrifolia or tetraphylla nuts. Cold-pressed, unrefined, it retains its subtle dried fruit scent. Combined with glycerin, it forms one of the simplest and best-tolerated bases available.