Flaxseed oil is pressed from flax seeds and is one of the richest plant sources of alpha linolenic acid, an omega 3 fatty acid known for its calming, anti inflammatory properties.
A controlled study giving women a flaxseed oil supplement over several weeks found measurable improvements in skin hydration, roughness, and sensitivity, along with a calmer overall skin barrier, compared to a placebo.
Because much of the strongest evidence for flaxseed oil comes from studies where it was taken as an oral supplement rather than applied to skin, its effects when used purely as a topical facial oil are less directly proven, though it is still widely included in skincare formulas for its fatty acid content.
Flaxseed Oil References
Intervention with Flaxseed and Borage Oil Supplements Modulates Skin Condition in Women, British Journal of Nutrition, 2009
Supplementation of Flaxseed Oil Diminishes Skin Sensitivity and Improves Skin Barrier Function and Condition, Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
