By now, you’ve probably heard of flaxseeds. These tiny seeds have been a buzz word for a while by those into health and fitness. You’ve likely seen the quote by Mahatma Gandhi in regards to flax, “Wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health.”
Flaxseeds (aka linseeds) have a number of health benefits, such as its cancer prevention properties, like antioxidants and being an anti-inflammatory, and aiding in digestion. They can help with the cardiovascular system, immune system, nervous system, and more. The nutritional benefits of flaxseeds include:
- Omega-3 fats (one of the good guys!)
- Selenium
- Vitamin B1
- Fiber
- Manganese
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Phosphorus
There are other flaxseed benefits that you may not have heard of yet, though.
Flaxseeds come in a number of different forms. There are the whole seeds, flaxseed meal (aka ground flaxseeds), and flaxseed oil. In terms of using flaxseeds for skin care, flaxseed oil would be the one of most interest, but the other forms can be used to. Flaxseed oil comes from the seeds of the flax plant, which has beautiful blue flowers.
When it comes to skin care, there are a number of ways you can use flaxseed for its skin benefits.
A flaxseed oil facial is a great way to help those annoying skin issues. They are great for helping with an acne flare-up, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and even acne scars. This is gentle on the skin and can be used daily without drying out your skin. It is actually hydrating, which is very important for taking care of your skin and keeping it looking young. For people searching for natural skin care options, this is a great one.
The oil can also help with wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes, so don’t forget to put some focus there.
Flaxseed oil can be applied directly to the skin, as-is. Take a bit of the oil and massage it gently into your skin. Flaxseed oil tends to be kept in the refrigerator, so if you dislike the cold feeling, hold the oil in your hands for a minute or two, which will bring up the temperature. It is not recommended to heat this oil up via the stove or microwave, especially if you’ll actually be ingesting it as a supplement. Do this daily and this healing oil will hydrate your skin as a moisturizer and begin to heal those skin issues.
Flaxseed can also be used a homemade facial. There are a number of ways to do this and here are a few ideas to get you started.
Homemade Flaxseed Facial
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
- 2 tablespoons honey (raw honey is best)
- Warm water
Directions:
Thoroughly mix together the honey and flaxseed oil. Add a bit of warm water and mix it in. Continue mixing in water until you reach your desired consistency; you do not want it to be too thick or too thin. Apply to face and let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes before gently washing it off.
Flaxseed Breakfast Facial
This homemade facial can also double as a healthy breakfast, so I recommend making a larger batch so you have enough for both!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of plain yogurt (Greek yogurt is best)
- 4 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon honey (raw honey is best)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
Thoroughly mix together all ingredients. Apply to face and let is sit for at least 10-15 minutes before gently washing it off.
As a breakfast (or dessert!), mix together all ingredients and adjust honey and spices to taste.
In addition to your face, flaxseed oil can be used on other parts of your body. For those with sensitive skin or frequent rashes, flaxseed oil can be really beneficial. As with your face, you can rub the flaxseed oil directly on your skin, wherever you are suffering from irritation or need hydration. Another option is to mix it with your favorite lotion in equal parts. My favorite one for this is cocoa butter.
For those that are wanting the other flaxseed health benefits, the oil can also be used as a supplement. To do this, take a tablespoon twice a day with a meal. It can also be used within your meal, such as on a salad. As mentioned above, though, this oil it not meant to be cooked with, so add it to foods after they are already prepared.
Do you have a favorite way to use flax or a recipe to share? Leave a comment and let us know!
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