Is Flaxseed Botox The Natural Alternative We’ve All Been Waiting For?

Natural botox alternatives spring up occasionally – from face yoga to gua sha, acupuncture to red light therapy – but flaxseeds are really making a splash in recent weeks, with ‘flaxseed botox’ gathering more than 30 million views on TikTok. Some users swear by it, reporting smooth and glowing skin and reduced acne – but are flaxseeds all they’re being touted as?

Does Flaxseed Botox Actually Work?

What Is Flaxseed Botox?

Flaxseed Botox is a TikTok trend seeing users whip up a flaxseed mask and apply it to their faces, comparing the skin-tightening results to those achieved with chemical Botox.

@alexisdimaya Its just water and flax seed #flaxseedmask #botoxathome #clearskin #glowyskin #koreanskincare #relatable #acnetreatment ♬ original sound – alexis dimaya

What Is A Flaxseed Mask?

A flaxseed mask ‘is flaxseeds and water which, when you mix them, create this jelly-like substance that people are applying to their face,’ explains Dr. Scott Walter on TikTok. ‘When it dries, it really tightens. Essentially, all that’s doing is creating a glue that helps tighten your skin. If you’ve seen that viral Peter Thomas Roth under eye tightener, it’s the same concept.’

How To Make It

Making a flaxseed face mask is really simple. All you have to do is combine flaxseeds with water.

Ingredients

• ½ cup flaxseeds (approx. 67.4 g)
• 2 cups boiling water (approx 473 ml)

Method

1. Boil the water
2. Measure out the flaxseeds
3. Add the boiling water to the flaxseeds (don’t boil the flaxseeds)
4. Leave to cool, preferably overnight but at least six hours

@victoria__benitez God i love this mask #flaxseedgel #flaxseed #health #natural #skincare ♬ original sound – victoria__benitez

Does It Work?

‘Flaxseeds are full of omega 3,’ says skin surgeon Dr Neera on TikTok. ‘Fatty acids can help to repair a damaged skin barrier. This could be really good if you are on accutane or overdid it with your retinol.’ Likewise, omega 3 can improve skin hydration and reduce acne. ‘I will say most of the data about omega 3s does come from ingesting them,’ says Dr Neera. ‘It’s unclear if topical application is going to work as well.

‘Is this Boxtox, or does this work as well as Botox?’ Dr Neera asks. ‘Nothing that you can put on your face is going to give you the same exact results as Botox. The closest you can get to that is a peptide called Argireline. But if you want a DIY to temporarily tighten, hydrate, soothe the skin, and potentially get some benefits from omega 3s, I say go for it.’

‘Flax does contain fatty acids and anti-inflammatory compounds, but I’m not sure they are going to penetrate the skin well with this DIY,’ adds dermatologist Dr Dray. Plus, if you’re looking for a natural alternative to the harsh chemicals found in modern skincare products, this might not be your remedy. ‘“Natural” stuff can be just as irritating to the skin (if not more) as skincare products,’ Dr Dray says.

Are The Results Long Lasting?

‘Yes, [the flaxseed mask] could tighten as it dries, but is it going to give you any long lasting effects on your wrinkles?’ asks Dr Walter. ‘No.’

‘If you’re looking for liquid Botox at home, try peptide Argireline,’ he continues, recommending Cosrx’s The 6 Peptide Skin Booster and The Ordinary’s 10% Argireline Solution. ‘In my opinion, the flaxseed mask is not worth your time,’ he concludes.