Why You Need Flaxseeds in Your Beauty Routine

By Anna K. Fryxell · Apr 17, 2014

Flaxseeds aren’t exactly the sexiest ingredient, but they sure can pack a punch when it comes to our health and beauty and it’s been that way for centuries. In fact, in the 8th century, Emperor Charlemagne was so convinced of the benefits of flaxseeds that he passed laws that required his subjects to consume them. Back to the present day, flax is a great source of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, among many other benefits, that keep our waistline slim and our hair and skin flawless.

Scroll through this gallery to see what beauty products you need to reap the benefits.

1 / 6

KLORANE Shampoo ($15) and Leave-in Spray ($16) with Flax Fiber

Add “volumizer” to the list of what flaxseeds can do for your beauty. Flaxseeds are harvested to collect the mucilage that is resourced into flax fiber extract. This extract coats the hair with a film that naturally lifts the hair and adds texture without weighing it down. A study revealed a 38.2 percent increase in volume to hair treated with the extract. Wash your hair with the shampoo and use the leave-in to give limp hair a boost of va-va-voom volume.

2 / 6

Ouidad Omega-3 Replenishing Hair Treatment ($36)

If you have especially dry, dull or damaged hair, then this treatment is for you. It uses an “amino acid cocktail” of flaxseed oil, passion fruit seed oil and acai pulp oil, among other ingredients to hydrate and restore the hair shaft.

3 / 6

SUNDAY RILEY Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil ($125)

This face oil takes advantage of the flaxseeds’ high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and a bunch of other beneficial ingredients like milk thistle seed oil, black cumin seed oil and grapefruit essential oil to clarify and tone your skin and prevent aging.

4 / 6

Éminence Blueberry Soy Sugar Scrub ($48)

This body scrub is packed with antioxidants like blueberries, green tea and coconut oil that help nourish the skin. It employs ground flaxseeds to mechanically exfoliate and soften skin.

5 / 6

Add a dose of flaxseeds to your beauty routine with a DIY face mask that’s full of omega-3, vitamin E and antioxidants that all work together to fight dryness and premature aging and soften the skin. All you need is three tablespoons of finely ground flaxseeds, one tablespoon of honey and ¼ cup of water. Use a blender to grind the flaxseeds into a fine powder. Then, mix all the ingredients together into a paste and apply it to your face. Leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes and wipe it off with a warm washcloth.

6 / 6

While you apply it to your hair and skin, it’s also important to get the benefits internally. Try this delicious and healthy smoothie from COOKIE + kate. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:
1 frozen banana broken up into large chunks
1 big spoonful of almond butter
2 spoonfuls of flax seeds
½ cup almond milk
Drizzle of honey, agave or maple syrup
Drop of almond extract or vanilla extract

Place all the ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth and enjoy.