If clearing up your skin and brightening your complexion without makeup seems impossible to do, you’ll be happy to learn there’s a natural solution- and it’s simpler than you think. Although it seems like the natural glow is only reserved for airbrushed photos of celebrities, it’s entirely possible for you to get clear and brighter looking skin, naturally. The best part is that no expensive creams, gels, face masks or cosmetics are required, and all of the ingredients may already be in your kitchen.
Here are 3 nutrition secrets for clearer and brighter looking skin:
1. Drink a Green Smoothie on an Empty Stomach Each Morning
Green smoothies are the ultimate skin food because they combine several antioxidant vitamins and minerals from fresh fruit, leafy greens and vegetables that help support the health of the skin. Antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, E and selenium, help disarm the harmful toxins that our skin encounters in our environment each day. From the air we breathe, to the water we drink and the body care and cleaning products we use, no one is exempt from toxins. Two signs of high levels of toxins in the body include frequent breakouts and accelerated signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. By drinking an antioxidant-rich green smoothie every morning, you’ll offer your body the nutrition it needs to help detoxify harmful toxins and promote healthier, brighter looking skin.
A few ideal skin supportive green smoothie ingredients include:
1. Superfoods
Leafy greens such as watercress, spinach and swiss chard. Algae such as chlorella or spirulina. Fruit such as bananas, berries, apples, pears, lemons or limes. Chia seeds and flax (as they contain traces of selenium and are rich in fiber). Drinking a green smoothie first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is recommended, as the nutrients are better digested and absorbed without being combined with other foods.
2. Vitamin C
Since we’re on the topic of antioxidants, vitamin C is another important antioxidant vitamin needed for the skin. But vitamin C deserves a subheading of its own because it also helps the skin produce collagen. Collagen supplement is needed to help maintain skin elasticity, which helps it appear more youthful. Collagen powder also helps the skin maintain a plump and smooth appearance while promoting the healing of acne scars. As you can see, vitamin C is a must-have nutrient for naturally brighter skin. A few excellent food sources of vitamin C include peppers, leafy greens, berries, papaya, kiwi, broccoli, lemon, lime and cherries. If you feel your skin could use an extra boost of vitamin C, you may want to apply a natural vitamin C rich oil on your skin, such as rosehip oil. Rosehips are extremely concentrated in vitamin C, which allows it to work efficiently as a topical treatment for scars and collagen production. Rosehip oil can also be used to moisturize the skin, and is non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog pores.
3. Filtered Water
One of the most important (yet extremely underrated) nutrients for the skin is plain old H20. The trick to having brighter looking skin is to stay hydrated. The more hydration your body receives, the more dewy and supple your skin can appear. Filtered water keeps the skin free from breakouts and helps prevent signs of aging by flushing out toxins in the body that can cause blemishes and dull looking skin. This is why drinking an adequate amount of water each day is one of the best things you can do for your skin right now. The amount of water you should be drinking is half of your body weight in pounds, divided by 2 in ounces. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, divide your body weight by 2, which = 70. You should be drinking a minimum of 70 ounces of water each day for clear and brighter looking skin. As you can see, the foundation of glowing skin begins in your kitchen. You can also help clear up and brighten your skin by reducing your sugar intake, switching to natural cosmetics or natural body care products, exercising regularly and sleeping 7-8 hours each night. By incorporating healthy diet and lifestyle changes, you’ll be on your way to your healthiest skin yet.