A lot of the time we think that the products we put on our skin are the only way to keep our skin clear, reduce acne, blemishes, fix skin tone, solve all our problems, etc. And although our skin is our largest and most important organ and what we put on it is very, very, important, we have to remember that what we put in our bodies is just as important. The food we eat may be some of the most important ingredients to a great skin care routine. Some food we eat can give us glowing skin, and some food can give us break outs, redness or even dry skin. In our Want Great Skin? two-part series, we are going to look at foods that help hydrate your skin, keeping it moist and free of blemishes, and then in the second part, we will look at what foods to avoid to prevent breakouts.
Before we begin though, the first question we have to answer is: Why do we need to hydrate our skin if our skin hydrates naturally?
Our skin does hydrate naturally, thanks to a substance called Hyaluronic Acid, which can be found throughout our bodies. Hyaluronic Acid is designed and made to regulate the moisture in our skin cells by holding water – one gram of Hyaluronic Acid holds approximately six liters of water. And all of this holding water helps make our skin healthy and smooth. The more hydrated your skin, the less sensitive it will be to irritants. Hyaluronic Acid is the reason why healthy skin glows.
But, weather, what we eat, environment, pollution, hot water, etc. can reduce the amount of Hyaluronic Acid in your skin leaving your skin dry, irritated and vulnerable. So the best way to keep our skin healthy, moist and plump – and not flat and dry – is to keep it hydrated. So we have to hydrate our skin.
When we talk about hydrating our skin, the most obvious thing we can consume to keep our skin hydrated is water – which is no surprise if approximately 60% of our bodies are water. Keeping up with the recommended 8 glasses of water daily will do wonders to your skin, but if you can’t drink 8 glasses of water – these are some foods that can help hydrate your skin to keep it glowing and healthy.
Avocado
Avocado is super tasty in guacamole or sliced in street tacos, but it’s also super good for your skin. The healthy fats found in avocados help moisturize the skin. Switch out your cooking oils for avocado oil or add some avocado toast to your daily breakfast, so your skin can benefit from the healthy fats.
Salmon
Everyone knows salmon has Omega-3s and everyone knows Omega-3s help prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure. But there is another good reason for eating salmon, the omega-3 fatty acids can help lock water into your skin so it doesn’t evaporate, and instead keeps the skin hydrated throughout the day. Such a good reason to indulge in a bagel and lox, or grilled salmon with dill.
Berries
Not only are berries filled with antioxidants, which are so good for your skin, but they are also filled with water. Berries are about 85% water, so it’s like eating water when you sprinkle them all over your favorite breakfast dish or just eat them one by one.
Cucumbers
Berries may think they are the “water snack” but cucumbers steal the title of being the best way to eat water. Cucmbers are 96% water, which means they almost act identical to hydrating the skin as actual water does. But this isn’t why cucumbers are always used in facials, cucumbers also lower sebum levels – which helps reduce acne – and they can be used to reduce puffy eyes and swelling. Just two of many reasons of why these water snacks should be found in your next salad.
But as we said before, what you eat is only part of a great skin care routine. We still highly recommend using something on your skin to help lock in moisture if you find your skin is dry and dull. Some of our products like our facial creams or Absolute! Divine serums work wonders in locking moisture in.
Absolute! Divine Serum is a miracle worker for hydrating and revitalizing your skin. You will love the amazing results.