You may think that skincare starts and ends with what you put on your face – but that’s not entirely true. While the products you use, play a big part in how your skin acts, food can also be a significant help! Different foods have different health and beauty benefits to them, and here’s a quick cheat sheet on how to utilise them.
Turmeric
Tumeric is such a little miracle worker that if I could eat it on its own, I definitely would. A potent anti-inflammatory it helps to even skin tone and speeds up healing. I love to add some to my scrambled eggs, but you can also make a turmeric latte, add it to your soups, or make a DIY face mask with it! Watch out though – it does stain, so unless you want bright yellow plaguing your life for the next few weeks, keep it neat.
Sweet Potatoes and Carrots
These are full of amazing vitamins, including beta-carotene, which gets converted into the all-powerful vitamin A. Vitamin A helps to repair your skin from the inside out and adds a layer of protection from the sun. (Although you will need an SPF on holiday as well, you sadly can’t just eat a carrot). Cheap, cheerful, and versatile, they make a great kitchen staple, and you can use them in so many dishes!
Chia Seeds
Chia is having a bit of a moment right now. Every health food nut is going mad for them – and for a good reason! These tiny specks are bombs of omega-3 and antioxidants, which are anti-inflammatory and help to give your skin a healthy glow. They prove that you don’t have to eat fish to get your omega-3 fix! Watch out though, as they can get rather pricey, so head to T. K. Maxx and see if they have any of the big bags on offer – I got mine over a year ago, and it’s still going strong!
Almonds and Walnuts
These nuts provide a bunch of fatty acids and omega-3 that your skin will drink up. Perfect for a healthy snack! They are super high in calories though, so a little handful goes a long way – although I have been known to go through an entire pack of walnuts in a day.
Avocados
Avocados deserve their massive popularity when it comes to skincare thanks to all the healthy fats they carry with them! Also full of antioxidants, they help to keep skin hydrated and elasticated. Plus I just found out they’re technically a fruit!
Lemons
These get a bad reputation. They’re not just garnishes for your drinks! They have benefits too! Their vitamin C helps with collagen production, and they help to boost the immune system thanks to the fact that they neutralise excess acid.
Broccoli
That humble vegetable that so many of us hated as a child… well, it’s full of lovely vitamins such as A, C, and E, along with zinc, so your skin is going to thank you with every bite! It also contains a little-known compound called sulforaphane, which helps to protect your skin from UV rays (still wear SPF though! SPF is essential!)
Some honourable mentions that are too good to leave out: garlic (so garlic bread is technically healthy), spinach, blueberries, cinnamon, and onions will all have your skin thanking you by being all lovely and glowy. Of course, the rest of your body will thank you as well – so go forth and eat!
