Linseed oil for skin: methods of use, benefit and harm
Vegetable oils have long been known to all the fair sex as effective, readily available and natural biologically active substances for skin care of the face and not only. One of them is the oil obtained from flax seeds, which has found wide distribution in modern aesthetic medicine and cosmetology.
Flax properties for the body
Therapeutic effects of flaxseed oil have been noted for a long time. In the aesthetic field of medicine on the basis of this product produce a variety of different cosmetic products: masks and creams with nourishing, moisturizing and anti-aging effects, suitable for dry, oily and combination skin types.
Flax seed oil is cold pressed. It can be called the safest way, since the seeds are not affected by heat or chemicals. Seeds are subjected to high pressure under a special press, so that they do not overheat and the output temperature of the finished product is only 40-42 degrees. This ensures the safety of all nutrients and the achievement of maximum effect from the application. The resulting liquid is clear, dense consistency, greenish-yellow color, with a faint characteristic aroma.
We list all the components included in the chemical composition.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids, better known as omega-3 fats (more than 50%) and omega-6 (30%). The complex of these substances is vitamin F, containing the following acids: linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic. Fatty acids are the main components of cell membranes. They restore the defenses of the skin, as well as improve the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the cells.
- Phytoestrogens - non-steroidal plant compounds that are natural antioxidants.
- Tocopherols or Vitamin E - biologically active substances that have antioxidant properties, normalize reproductive function, improve tissue metabolism, prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
- Retinol or Vitamin A - fat-soluble vitamin, which actively and favorably affects the epidermis and skin condition, also has antioxidant properties.
- Folic acid or vitamin b9 - water-soluble vitamin, which is necessary for the emergence of new young cells and their support.
- Fillohinon or vitamin K - fat-soluble, hydrophobic vitamin, necessary for normal metabolism and bone health.
- Minerals: Zn, K, Mg, Cu, Fe, P, Mn.
Cosmetological effect
Flaxseed oil has the most beneficial effect on the appearance and condition of the skin of the face and body.
- It evens the tone of the face, giving it a healthy color and freshness. Completely removes fine lines and reduces the expression of deeper wrinkles. The skin becomes elastic, elastic, hydrated and saturated with oxygen.
- Contributes to the production of collagen by the body, which is responsible for connective tissue, the degree of its strength and elasticity. It has a rejuvenating effect.
- Helps in getting rid of edema and bags under the eyes.
- It has a regenerating effect, heals wounds and microcracks.
- It helps in the fight against acne, shows a bactericidal property and reduces inflammation.
There is no age limit in the use of oil; in its own way it will be useful for both girls and mature women. Oil copes with acne and normalizes the sebaceous glands, nourishes the skin with moisture and nourishes it.
The product is able to reduce the number of mimic wrinkles, and with prolonged use to reduce the severity of deeper wrinkles, for example, on the forehead or nasolabial folds.
Beauticians advise to contact the oil in the following cases:
- to moisturize very dry skin;
- peeling;
- for smoothing mimic and deep wrinkles, smoothing the contour of the face;
- treatment of acne, acne;
- for clarification of freckles and pigmentation;
- for the treatment of warts.
No less useful oil for the care of the skin of hands and nails, it heals wounds, burrs, smoothes the skin and strengthens the nail plasticity, preventing the appearance of various spots and the development of brittle nails. For eyelashes and eyebrows oil is used to protect their environmental effects and the effects of various chemicals. The hair follicles are strengthened, the hairs become smooth and shiny, with regular application a protective film is formed. Massage with flax product is able to get rid of cellulite.
Terms of use
In home use, skin care products can be applied as follows:
- stir it in everyday cream;
- apply oil compresses on the periorbital area;
- prepare masks based on it;
- add to the composition of home scrubs or cosmetics;
- wipe with oil the skin of the face;
- to do a cosmetic massage with linseed oil.
Face Mask Recipes
Before applying the mask, it is important to prepare the skin in advance, clean it with a soft scrub, steam it up a little so that the pores open. Flax oil before making the mask can not be heated, it should be at room temperature.
For dry skin type
You will need:
- linseed oil - 10 ml;
- cream no less than 30% fat - 15 ml;
- half a cucumber.
We take half a cucumber and clean it from the skin. Grind in a blender to a mushy state. In plastic or glassware, mix cream, butter and cucumber gruel.
The resulting composition is applied to the face and leave for 15 minutes. After the past time, wash off with warm water. Repeat the procedure should be twice a week, and for the onset of cold weather, especially for owners of dry skin type, it is necessary to use a mask more often.
After some time, you can see how the skin will get a healthy color, tighten, and dry with peeling disappear without a trace.
For oily skin
You will need:
- linseed oil - 10 ml;
- sour cream - 5 g;
- cottage cheese - 5 g;
- one egg.
Break the egg and separate the yolk from the protein. Protein whisk whisk in a glass or plastic dish and mix it with other components used.
Apply the mass on the face, while not affecting the periorbital area, and leave it for 15 minutes. After we wash our face with warm water and apply everyday cream. This mask should be used twice a week. After some time, the shine will decrease, the sebaceous glands will return to normal, and the pores will become less noticeable.
The second recipe for this problem.
You will need:
- flax seed oil - 15 ml;
- flour - 200 g;
- kefir - 45 ml;
- lemon juice - 10 ml;
- salt - 5 g
All components are mixed together in a glass or plastic bowl. Pre-clean the skin of the face and apply the composition to it, avoiding the periorbital area, hold for 20 minutes. We wash our face with cool water and apply everyday remedy. You can use this mask 1-2 times in 7 days.
For problem skin
You will need:
- linseed oil - 6 drops;
- medicinal product of animal origin - 15 g;
- parsley seeds - 3 g;
- green tea.
Brew green tea. In a plastic or glass dish, use a mortar to grind seeds and bodyagi. Pour tea into the powder until it turns thick pulp. We drip into the oil and mix thoroughly.
The composition is distributed over the skin of the face, without affecting the periorbital area, and leave it for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and wash your face with any anti-acne agent. The mask has an anti-inflammatory effect, kills bacteria, perfectly fights acne, as well as fortifies and restores the skin damaged by inflammation.
For smoothing skin
You will need:
- linseed oil - 7 ml;
- fiber from flax seeds - 30 ml;
- natural yogurt without additives - 45 ml.
All ingredients combine in a glass or plastic bowl and mix thoroughly. Give the composition to infuse for 60 minutes.
Pre-prepare the skin of the face, neck and décolleté. We distribute the composition and leave it for half an hour.
We wash with warm water and lubricate the skin with a daily moisturizer.
Honey
You will need:
- flax flour - 45 g;
- linseed oil - 15 ml;
- honey - 15 ml;
- one egg.
In a glass or plastic container, mix all the ingredients until a soft slurry is obtained, which will not drip when applied.
Initially, having resorted to any everyday cleanser, we prepare the skin by removing particles of dust, sebum and make-up. Apply the resulting pasty mass evenly across the face, leaving the area around the eyes not filled, keeping the mass for about half an hour. Over time, remove the mixture with warm running water and apply the usual moisturizer.
To restore skin elasticity
We take 15 grams of flaxseed oil and blue clay, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Mix the components in a glass or plastic bowl, gradually adding warm water, until a homogeneous mixture.
We clean the face and with a brush we distribute the formed mass over the face, without affecting the periorbital area. We maintain a quarter of an hour and wash our face with cool running water, apply daily moisturizer.
Flax oil is perfectly combined with cosmetic clay, and therefore, depending on the desired effect, you can take any other clay for the mask.
Vitamin
Vitamin this mask is called, because it contains nettle, rich in various vitamins, vegetable acids and trace elements.
Fresh nettles must first be doused with boiling water to neutralize its burning effect, and cut into small pieces or crush with a blender. We take 30 g of grass and pour 15 g of oil into it, gently stir it.
The finished mixture is distributed over the previously cleansed skin of the face and withstand a quarter of an hour. After just wash the mask with a wet towel. Vitaminize the skin can be 1-2 times in 7 days.
Anti wrinkle
It will take:
- flax seed oil - 5 ml;
- honey - 5 g;
- white clay - 30 g;
- milk - 30 ml.
Mix the butter and milk, preheat the composition in a water bath to a temperature of 35-40 degrees. Warm milk mixed with clay, mix thoroughly, to get a homogeneous mass. We distribute the warm mask over the previously cleansed skin of the face and leave it for half an hour. Wash off with warm running water. Apply the mask 2 times in 7 days.
Already after 3 weeks, you can notice the results: nasolabial folds are smoothed, the crow's feet around the eyes almost disappear. And in two months the face contour and sagging cheeks are tightened.
Tightening lifting mask
In order for the skin to retain its elasticity and elasticity, it needs collagen. The external source of this substance can become gelatin, on the basis of which produce a large number of different masks.
Five grams of gelatin pour 40 ml of water (if the skin is dry, pour gelatin with milk or water, and if oily, with juice and herbal decoction). To the base add 5 ml of oil, 5 ml of aloe juice and 5 drops of retinol and tocopherol. All this is thoroughly mixed and let us swell, insisting about half an hour. After that, in a water bath, we heat the mask to 40 degrees and distribute it over the previously cleansed skin of the face. Half an hour later we wash off the mask and apply the daily remedy. Repetition rate 1-2 times a week.
Compress for eyelids
For this care procedure, you need to take linseed oil, a glass or plastic container and a pair of cotton pads.
Pour product into container. Pre-clean the skin, remove makeup with micellar water. We wet both disks and squeeze out the excess. We put the discs on the eyes, maintain the compress for 20 minutes.
If you regularly use this tool, then in the near future, swelling and circles under the eyes will disappear, mimic wrinkles will smooth out.
The second option - a compress with fiber.
Put on the fire 200 ml of water and boil. After we pour 15 g of flax seeds, ground in a coffee grinder, and then boil for half an hour over low heat, while constantly stirring. Ready broth to cool and pass through a sieve.
We take a couple of small gauze napkins and fold them in four layers. We moisten the napkins in the finished broth and squeeze a little, removing excess liquid. Put the napkins on the eyes and hold for 30 minutes, wash with warm water.
Skin Scrub
You will need:
- linseed oil - 5 ml;
- high-quality oatmeal - 15 g;
- honey - 15 g;
- pure water.
If honey is already thickened, then we take 2/3 of the volume used and dilute it in warm water. Chop the oatmeal with a blender and fill it with a small volume of water, then leave it for a while to make the grass swell. Take flakes and gently squeeze to get rid of excess fluid. And finally, combine the water with honey and flakes in a glass or plastic bowl, mix thoroughly.
Clean up the face in advance. Moving with the palms in a circle, apply the scrub on the face and neck area, without affecting the periorbital area. We make a small massage, observing the massage lines: starting from the center of the face and neck, moving to the back of the head. Scrub is desirable to use once every seven days.
The scrub of these components is able to carefully separate the dead skin epidermis. Honey and flaxseed oil also nourishes it, makes it soft and pleasant to the touch. Regular use of this tool tightens the pores and tightens the skin, it acquires a healthy color and appearance.
Peeling Lotion
First, prepare two separate mixtures.
- Mix 15 ml of flaxseed oil, 3 separated yolks and 200 ml of cream.
- Take a lemon zest of one lemon and grind on a fine grater, pour 200 ml of hot water over it and leave for 120 minutes. After the past tense, decant the tincture and add 15 ml of honey and lemon juice to it.
After both mixtures are ready, they need to be mixed. Pour 150 ml of camphor alcohol into the preform and dilute with water so that you end up with 500 ml of lotion. Means can be stored in the refrigerator for 8-9 days. It is recommended to apply it twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, leaving for 20 minutes, and rinse with slightly cool running water.
User Opinion
Women of all ages note a noticeable positive result before and after using flaxseed oil. Numerous positive reviews suggest that the benefits of the tool are undeniable.
It was often believed that oily masks should not be applied to oils. But one of the users shared their changes. After regular application of a mask for oily skin, the amount of acne has decreased, enlarged pores narrowed, and scars from old acne have healed.
The effectiveness of the combined use of flaxseed oil was also noted by the fair sex, especially in adulthood. Rubbing oil on the face of the capsules has a striking rejuvenating effect.
The use of a compress from mimic wrinkles has shown that in just a couple of months you can successfully get rid of the crow's feet at the corners of the eyes.
However, it is important to consider that the skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive, so all compresses can be done only without adding additional components.
Useful tips
Before you start using flax oil, It is necessary to exclude contraindications for external use:
- intolerance to the substance and allergic reaction to it;
- damage to the skin of a mechanical or chemical nature;
- herpes on the face;
- Any skin disease requires prior consultation with a dermatologist.
With a complex effect on the body and ingestion of oil inside it is also worth considering that under certain conditions, it should be used with caution and only after consulting with a specialist:
- cancer;
- during menopause;
- during pregnancy;
- with poor blood clotting;
- in the presence of stones in the gall bladder.
This tool is often completely harmless to pregnant women without any restrictions. In addition, it helps to compensate for the lack of vitamins and nutrients, improves skin elasticity and works against the formation of stretch marks and cellulite.
Allergy test
Before you apply a mask, you need to check for possible intolerance for security reasons. We take some oil and rub it on the skin on the wrist, and after that we observe for half an hour. If symptoms such as itching of the skin on the palms, redness of the eyes, tearing, eyelid swelling, runny nose, then apply this oil is undesirable.
Allergy to flax occurs infrequently, but it is better to warn her in advance, otherwise the consequences will be more severe.
Application in pure form
The texture of the oil is quite dense. However, smearing it on the night instead of night cream on the face is not prohibited. In this case, unrefined oil should be chosen. If after a long stay of the oil on the face a positive effect is observed, then it can be safely used without affecting the thin and sensitive skin around the eyes, this may cause puffiness.
It is better to buy oil in a pharmacy, paying attention to the shelf life of the product. If it is made more than three months ago, then you should not buy it. No need to take too much oil, the faster it is used up, in about a month the better.
Store flax seed oil in darkened bottles, transparent vessels will not protect it from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays. The product of natural origin is stored in jars and bottles of green or brown glass.
Room temperature in this case is also not suitable, so the bottles must be put in the fridge. If it is possible, it is better to cork the dishes with a cork lid; it will allow the product to breathe, but will prevent the ingress of pathogenic microflora.
On the properties and application of linseed oil, see the following video.