Flaxseed and flaxseed gel

Q: What is flaxseed in cosmetics?

These are the seeds of cultivated flax, Linum usitatissimum, used for their mucilage, a gel made of arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan I, and for their oil. The glossary uses the INCI LINUM USITATISSIMUM SEED; CosIng lists the oil, extract, flour, powder and polysaccharide.

Q: What are the benefits of flaxseed for the skin?

A microemulgel with seed extract showed significant effects on hydration and elasticity in 13 volunteers, against a placebo. It is a hydroalcoholic extract and a small trial. The skin benefits of flaxseed oil described in the literature come from ingestion.

Q: What is the difference between flaxseed gel, flaxseed oil and flaxseeds?

Flaxseed gel is the seed mucilage, rich in polysaccharides. Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3, including alpha-linolenic acid. Seed flour or powder, abrasive or absorbent, is used for texture.

Q: Does flaxseed gel keep?

Like any water-based gel, it needs a preserved and tested formula. We retained no shelf-life study of flaxseed gel: stability is validated on the finished formula.

Q: Are there risks with flaxseed?

No restriction applies to the ingredient in the EU and it is not among the allergens to declare in Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Raw seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that must be controlled. We retained no CIR or SCCS assessment.

Q: Can you manufacture a styling gel or a flaxseed product for my brand?

Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 3 flaxseed formulas (curl styling gel, curl leave-in, hair mask) that you can customize, or a custom formula. Samples are free.

Cosmetic flax comes from the seeds of Linum usitatissimum. Their mucilage, made of arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan I, gives a thick gel used for texture1. The glossary INCI does not exist as such in CosIng, which lists the oil, extract, flour, powder and polysaccharide8. We found no controlled trial on flaxseed gel applied to hair.

Mohamed El HjoujiFounder and CEO · Updated November 3, 2026 · Reading time 7 min

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Flaxseed at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database8. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

INCI name (glossary): LINUM USITATISSIMUM SEEDEntry absent from CosIng under this exact name: the database lists neighboring forms8
Neighboring CosIng entries: Oil, extract, flour, powder, polysaccharideLINUM USITATISSIMUM SEED OIL, SEED EXTRACT, SEED POWDER, SEED FLOUR and SEED POLYSACCHARIDE8 9
Other names: Flax, flaxseedFlaxseed; linseed; flaxseed gel (mucilage)
CAS number: 8001-26-1For the seed oil, extract, flour and powder8; not given for the polysaccharide
EC number: 232-278-6Same CosIng entries8
Botanical origin: Cultivated flax (Linaceae)Seeds of Linum usitatissimum L.8
Mucilage: Arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan IWith a little protein, minerals and phenolic compounds; composition varies with cultivar and harvest year1
CosIng functions: Skin conditioning; hair fixing (polysaccharide)Oil: "skin conditioning" and "perfuming"; polysaccharide: "hair fixing" and "hair waving or straightening"; flour: abrasive, absorbent, bulking and viscosity controlling8 9
EU status: No restriction specific to the ingredientCosIng only mentions the general prohibition of ozone-depleting substances for some entries (extract, flour)8; no annex II to VI of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 consolidated as of May 1, 2025 mentions flax
Allergen to declare: NoNot in Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 or the consolidated Annex III
Safety: No CIR or SCCS assessment retainedRaw flaxseeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that must be controlled7

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

Composition and materialChemistry

A mucilage of two polysaccharides

Laboratory

Mucilages of yellow and brown cultivarsSeveral harvest years

The mucilage is made of arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan I, with some proteins, minerals and phenolic compounds. Its composition and viscosity vary markedly with cultivar and storage time: the ratio between the two polysaccharides drives the rheological behavior1.

Golden flax gums thicken better than brown ones

Laboratory

Gums extracted under alkaline and acidic conditionsBrown and golden flax

Golden gums have a higher molecular mass (1.34 to 1.15 × 10⁶ Da) and a higher intrinsic viscosity (6.63 to 5.13 dL/g) than brown ones, with better thickening power2.

Mucilages used for stability, texture and appearance

Review

2021 reviewFlax, yellow mustard, chia

Mucilages from flax, mustard and chia seeds are used in food, pharmacy and cosmetics for stability, texture and appearance3.

An oil rich in omega-3

Review

2023 reviewFlaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, notably alpha-linolenic acid, and the seed contains lignans4. The review covers the effects of the oil when eaten; it does not measure any cosmetic effect of the oil applied to the skin.

HairHaircare

A fixing function recognized by CosIng, no hair trial

Review

CosIng, polysaccharide entry

CosIng classifies flaxseed polysaccharide as hair fixing and hair waving or straightening9. We found no published controlled trial on flaxseed gel applied to hair: its use for curls rests on formulation, not on proof.

Skin and bodySkincare, bodycare

A seed extract in a microemulgel: measurements on volunteers

Clinical trial

13 healthy womenMicroemulgel with ethanolic seed extract versus placeboNon-invasive measurements

The microemulgel produced significant effects versus placebo (p < 0.05) on erythema, melanin, sebum, hydration and elasticity. In the lab, the extract gave 87.00% in the DPPH test, 72.00% tyrosinase inhibition and an SPF of 21.75. It is a hydroalcoholic extract: it holds for neither the mucilage nor the oil5.

Flaxseed oil taken by mouth improves skin condition: oral route

Clinical trial

Randomized double-blind trial13 women per group, 12 weeksFlaxseed oil dietary supplement

Women taking flaxseed oil saw skin sensitivity, water loss, roughness and scaling decrease, and smoothness and hydration increase. The result was obtained by ingestion: it does not apply to a topical product6.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Several of the studies cited were run or funded by industry; this is indicated in the sources.

Which products use flaxseed?

Our white label catalog includes 3 formulas with flaxseed: the key active in 3 of them, a supporting ingredient in the others. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).

3Hair

Mask, leave-in and styling gel for curly and coily hair.

Flaxseed Hair Mask for Curly and Kinky HairKey active Curl Styling GelKey active

In our formulas, it is most often paired with

Shea butter 3 Vitamin E 3 Panthenol 2 Sweet almond oil 1

Frequently asked questions about flaxseed

What is flaxseed in cosmetics?

These are the seeds of cultivated flax, Linum usitatissimum, used for their mucilage, a gel made of arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan I1, and for their oil. The glossary uses the INCI LINUM USITATISSIMUM SEED; CosIng lists the oil, extract, flour, powder and polysaccharide8.

What is flaxseed gel used for in hair care?

CosIng classifies flaxseed polysaccharide as hair fixing and hair waving or straightening9. It is a gel that gives hold to curls. We found no controlled trial on hair: this is a formulation use. Our catalog includes a styling gel, a leave-in and a flaxseed mask.

What are the benefits of flaxseed for the skin?

A microemulgel with seed extract showed significant effects on hydration and elasticity in 13 volunteers, against a placebo5. It is a hydroalcoholic extract and a small trial. The skin benefits of flaxseed oil described in the literature come from ingestion6.

What is the difference between flaxseed gel, flaxseed oil and flaxseeds?

Flaxseed gel is the seed mucilage, rich in polysaccharides1. Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3, including alpha-linolenic acid4. Seed flour or powder, abrasive or absorbent, is used for texture8.

Does flaxseed gel keep?

Like any water-based gel, it needs a preserved and tested formula. We retained no shelf-life study of flaxseed gel: stability is validated on the finished formula.

Are there risks with flaxseed?

No restriction applies to the ingredient in the EU and it is not among the allergens to declare in Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Raw seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that must be controlled7. We retained no CIR or SCCS assessment.

Can you manufacture a styling gel or a flaxseed product for my brand?

Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 3 flaxseed formulas (curl styling gel, curl leave-in, hair mask) that you can customize, or a custom formula. Samples are free.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

Troshchynska Y, Bleha R, Synytsya A, et al. Chemical Composition and Rheological Properties of Seed Mucilages of Various Yellow- and Brown-Seeded Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Cultivars Polymers (Basel). 2022;14(10). doi:10.3390/polym14102040
Hellebois T, Fortuin J, Xu X, et al. Structure conformation, physicochemical and rheological properties of flaxseed gums extracted under alkaline and acidic conditions Int J Biol Macromol. 2021;192:1217-1230. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.087
Liu Y, Liu Z, Zhu X, et al. Seed coat mucilages: Structural, functional/bioactive properties, and genetic information Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2021;20(3):2534-2559. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12742
Al-Madhagy S, Ashmawy NS, Mamdouh A, et al. A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils Eur J Med Res. 2023;28(1):240. doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01203-6
Tasneem R, Khan HMS, Rasool F, et al. Development of Phytocosmeceutical Microemulgel Containing Flaxseed Extract and Its In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization Pharmaceutics. 2022;14(8). doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14081656
Neukam K, De Spirt S, Stahl W, et al. Supplementation of flaxseed oil diminishes skin sensitivity and improves skin barrier function and condition Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2011;24(2):67-74. doi:10.1159/000321442
Duarte S, Shah MA, Sanches Silva A Flaxseed in Diet: A Comprehensive Look at Pros and Cons Molecules. 2025;30(6). doi:10.3390/molecules30061335
European Commission. CosIng, entry LINUM USITATISSIMUM SEED OIL (CAS 8001-26-1, CE 232-278-6). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
European Commission. CosIng, entry LINUM USITATISSIMUM SEED POLYSACCHARIDE (no CAS or EC number given). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing

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Flaxseed at a glance

What the research says

Composition and materialChemistry

A mucilage of two polysaccharides

Golden flax gums thicken better than brown ones

Mucilages used for stability, texture and appearance

An oil rich in omega-3

HairHaircare

A fixing function recognized by CosIng, no hair trial

Skin and bodySkincare, bodycare

A seed extract in a microemulgel: measurements on volunteers

Flaxseed oil taken by mouth improves skin condition: oral route

Which products use flaxseed?

3Hair

Frequently asked questions about flaxseed

Further reading

Sources

Tell us about your project