We can’t talk about your Beautiful You without considering skin care; good skin is a key component of overall beauty and good health. Food plays an important role in the health and appearance of your skin. To the same degree that unhealthy foods can harm your skin, some can enhance it beyond belief!
Here are five foods filled with powerhouse ingredients that will help keep your skin healthy.
Sister Strawberry
These delicious fruits have even more to offer beyond their sweetness — they are packed with nutrients. You may be surprised to hear that strawberries have more vitamin C per serving than oranges or grapefruits! The berries can also be used as a great natural exfoliator, as they’re a natural source of salicylic acid.
Here’s one of my favorite natural exfoliation remedies using strawberries. Try this once a week for smoother, more radiant skin.
Step 1: Mash a handful of ripe strawberries
into a paste.
Step 2: Mix in a teaspoon each of sugar and
olive oil. (You can also add coconut oil.)
Step 3: Gently massage the paste onto your face
or body using a circular motion.
Step 4: Wait 10 to 15 minutes before washing off.
Kale Yeah!
Kale is a leafy vegetable with an abundance of beautifying nutrients and benefits. It is a rich source of vitamin C, A and K, and helps fight inflammation in the body. The vitamin A in kale helps increase the rate of cell turnover, which slows the aging process and reduces skin dryness. The vitamin K helps increase skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Now say it with me — kale yeah!
Your Body’s Bestie, Water
Water is not only vital for a healthy body, but it is essential for beautiful, healthy skin. Water helps eliminate toxins from the body, supports blood circulation and transports nutrients to cells, making you feel and look as fabulous as you are! Drink at least eight glasses of water a day (add a couple more for those hot summer days). For a billion and one reasons, I emphatically stress that you hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Olive Oil, a.k.a Liquid Gold
Olive oil is packed with anti-aging antioxidants and vitamin E, making it a must-have for your skin care routine and a beauty DIY favorite. When topically applied, antioxidants protect your skin from premature aging, while vitamin E helps restore skin smoothness and protect against ultraviolet light. For a chapped-lip fix, combine brown sugar with a teaspoon of olive oil. You can also use olive oil in lieu of shaving cream — it acts as a natural lubricant and combats razor bumps.
Green Tea: Magic in a Cup
This anti-oxidant powerhouse may be the closest thing to a magic potion for your skin. Green tea reduces inflammation, helps your body get rid of toxins and promotes the healing of blemishes and scars. It even improves skin’s elasticity, keeping your skin looking fresh and healthy! You can find green tea in countless cosmetics, but why not benefit from this magic potion directly — just drink it!