Six Super Foods for Glowing Skin

You are what you eat. So is your skin. No matter how fancy your skincare or makeup routine, if you want your face to glow, you’ve got to feed it properly. But that doesn’t mean giving up the good stuff. These six yummy super foods make it easy to keep your skin looking its best. 

Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries pack high amounts of antioxidants, which help prevent damage caused by free radicals. Though this doesn’t replace sunscreen, antioxidants add an extra line of defense from the sun’s rays and the premature aging such exposure causes.

Green Tea
In addition to getting you through the afternoon, green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties “may help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer,” says New York Board–certified dermatologist and cosmetic dermatologic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ostad.

Healthy Oils
Bring on the fat! Oils such as olive, canola, and coconut can give your skin much-needed moisture, dewiness, and that plumping effect synonymous with healthy, youthful skin.

Low-Fat Dairy
Naturally occurring vitamin A helps prevent wrinkles and increases production of collagen. One of the best places to get it is from low-fat dairy products such as skim milk and yogurt. The live bacteria in yogurt also regulate digestion, which is reflected in healthy-looking skin.

Sweet Potatoes
High in beta-carotene and vitamins A and C, these sweet spuds help retain skin moisture and prevent dryness. Even better: they’re high in fiber and low in calories!

Salmon, Walnutss and Flax Seed
These seemingly unrelated foods all deliver essential fatty acids, which are responsible for healthy cell membranes that provide the passageway for nutrients to enter and waste products to escape. “Because the cell membrane also holds water in, the stronger that barrier is the better your cells can retain moisture. And that means plumper, younger looking skin,” says Ostad.

Read more of Elizabeth’s musings at Beauty Bets.