Because you are what you eat…
When you hear the word skincare, you probably think of cleansers, serums, and moisturisers. But while a three-step bedtime routine might help to keep your skin peachy, what you put inside your body often has an even more profound impact on the look and feel of your skin.
Think about it - if you feed your body with nutrient-packed foods, your digestion, hormones, and immune system will work better, and it shows on your face in the form of clearer, brighter skin.
A healthy diet can be hard to maintain day in and day out. After all, you’re only human and sometimes, other things get in the way. That’s where supplements come in to help fill any nutritional gaps and keep your skin looking its best. Here’s what to eat and the best supplements to take for inside-out skincare.
The skin-health connection
Before we dive into exactly what your skin needs to glow, it’s worth mentioning how other areas of your health will have a big impact on the appearance of your skin.
Poor gut health, for example, is more than just bloating and toilet troubles; a sluggish digestion can lead to spotty, dry, and pigmented skin. That’s because your gut is responsible for absorbing the nutrients your skin needs. It also plays a key role in your immune system, which protects against skin flare-ups.
Stress and sleep also impact your skin. Ever noticed how dark your undereyes look after a poor night’s rest? Or perhaps your skin feels drier when you’re going through a period of stress or unrest. On the flip side, you may notice your face glows when you’re sleeping well, enjoying moments of calm, and eating a skin-loving diet.
Last up, hormones. Imbalances in your hormones, such as during pregnancy, monthly cycles, and menopause, can affect your skin’s production of oil, often leading to clogged pores and spots. Hormonal imbalances can also lead to dryness and skin ageing.
The nutrients (and foods) for glowing skin
Several different vitamins and minerals can help give your skin a boost.
First up, vitamin C, which supports skin by contributing to normal collagen formation. Collagen is a major building block of skin, giving it structure, firmness, and elasticity, but as you age, collagen production naturally declines. This can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. Doing what you can to help your body produce collagen will go a long way in keeping it youthful.
Find vitamin C in citrus fruits such as oranges, strawberries, kiwis, broccoli, and kale.
Vitamin A, vitamin E, biotin, and zinc are four other essential skin-supporting nutrients found in foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, liver, avocados, eggs, nuts, pumpkin seeds, and red meat.
Getting enough omega-3 fatty acids also goes a long way in keeping skin happy and healthy. So much so that research has found that omega-3s could help to improve inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. Turn to oily fish such as sardines and mackerel, or if you're veggie or vegan, try flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.
Finally, a diet filled with antioxidants helps to maintain radiant, youthful, and supple skin. These compounds protect your cells from the damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to ageing, dull skin, and inflammation.
Astaxanthin, which can be found in salmon and shrimp, and polyphenols and flavonoids in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and teas, are all examples of antioxidants that can help to support your skin.
Smart supplements
Following a nutrient-packed diet isn’t always easy. So to make sure you’re getting enough of the vitamins and minerals your skin needs, incorporate supplements into your daily routine.
For healthy skin, hair, and nails, make Verve Naked Beauty your daily go-to. Not only is it packed with zinc, vitamin A, C, and E, but it also packs in an impressive 12.5 g of hydrolysed Marine Collagen peptides, which are more easily absorbed by your body than other types of collagen. MSM, also found in Naked Beauty, supports collagen production, and it can reduce skin inflammation and improve skin elasticity.
Hyaluronic Acid, Naked Beauty’s hydration hero ingredient, helps to retain skin’s moisture and avoid fine lines and wrinkles.
Probiotics (good bacteria) in Naked Beauty also work to improve gut health, which can lead to clearer and more radiant skin, plus antioxidants protect against free radicals.
For all-round health, which in turn can help to support skin, Verve’s V80 Greens powder contains 80 all-natural ingredients which, together, provide over 200 health and wellness benefits. Verve V80 contains 100% of your RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamins, such as vitamin C, E and D, as well as 8 billion CFU (Colony-Forming Units - a measurement which indicates the number of live and active microorganisms in probiotics) of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and B. Bifidum probiotics and adaptogenic medicinal mushrooms, Shiitake and Reishi, to help combat stress and selenium.
Both these powdered supplements have been designed to be mixed with water and drunk alone, but they also work well blended into a smoothie or mixed into overnight oats.
Ultimately, while a consistent skin care routine does go a long way in keeping skin clean and balanced, showing your skin plenty of love from the inside with the right foods and supplements is the REAL secret to a smooth, glowing, and flawless complexion.