Skincare Girlies Swear by This DIY "Natural Botox" for Fighting Wrinkles
Published Dec. 18 2023, 12:23 p.m. ET
Social media is abuzz about a possible natural alternative to botox that uses a natural ingredient: flaxseeds.
TikTok influencers are claiming that a flaxseed face mask smooths out fine lines and wrinkles, similar to the way botox, a cosmetic injectable, does. But can it really work?
Let’s look closer at what people are saying about the wrinkle-reducing properties of a flaxseed face mask, what a dermatologist says about the claims, and how to make the mask at home.
Flaxseed face masks can supposedly smooth the skin naturally.
TikTok creator Drea Buer demonstrated how the flaxseed face mask works in a Dec. 8, 2023, video. “I kid you not, TikTok teaches me everything, I know,” she said before making the flaxseed concoction that she’s hoping will smooth out the creases in her forehead, which can only be seen when she scrunches up her eyebrows.
The mask is made with just two ingredients: flaxseeds and water, which are cooked on the stove, cooled, and then strained. (You'll find the full recipe at the end of this article.)
The mask appears to have worked, at least in the immediate aftermath of applying it.
“I can’t even move my face, my skin is so tight,” she said in her initial reaction to using the mask. “I don’t know about my forehead but I can tell you, around my mouth, it’s like impossible to move.”
“I just put it on because I didn’t figure it was going to work. And now I’m sitting here, and I tried to take a drink, and I like couldn’t move my mouth. So, I’m just telling you, I think it works,” Buer said.
A simple search for "flaxseed face mask" on TikTok reveals a plethora of other TikTok creators trying the same thing, but most of those trying the mask appear too young to really have any wrinkles or fine lines to begin with.
Dermatologists aren't convinced that the flaxseed face masks are anything like botox.
Dermatologist Andrea Suarez, aka Dr. Dray, is skeptical about the claims. “Flaxseed gel for the skin may be moisturizing and hydrating, temporarily smoothing fine lines. However, it certainly does not work like botox, as botox works to prevent muscles from contracting and wrinkling the skin with movement,” Dr. Dray stated in a duet video on her TikTok channel.
She also warns that the flaxseed concoction can still irritate some people’s skin, even if it is made with natural ingredients. “I wouldn’t make up a huge batch like this either, as the lack of preservatives will cause this to spoil, growing bacteria and mold,” Dr. Dray said.
Despite Dr. Dray's remarks, many of the commenters to Buer’s video said they are excited to try the flaxseed face mask for themselves. After several people asked Buer if they could wear the mask under makeup, she tested it in a followup video, and it turned out fine.
Want to try this? Here's the flaxseed face mask recipe:
Making the flaxseed face mask at home is easy.
Buer boiled 4 tablespoons of flaxseed in 2 cups of water, simmered it for 15 to 20 minutes, and then cooled it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The results were a gel-like goop.
Buer said you could apply the gel to your face with the seeds intact; or, strain them out of the gel with a cheesecloth.
Some people also freeze the mixture into ice cubes and apply them to the face that way, Buer said.
