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5 foods for fantastic skin
It's not only beauty products that give you a glowing complexion - you actually can eat your way to great skin too. Five foods in particular have been revealed to repair skin cells, aid skin tone and wipe out wrinkles. Start munching on these healthy skin-saving foods as part of a 'great skin' diet:
Skin super food #1: Almonds
Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, containing more than any other nut, so add a handful to your cereal bowl for peachy-smooth skin. Also the number one source of nut protein, they'll assist with skin cell repair, help moisturise dry skin and prevent inflammation, all of which can lead to ageing. While almonds may also be high in fat, you don't need to fret about adding kilojoules to your waistline, as researchers have found that people who regularly eat nuts tend to eat less overall during the course of a day.
Skin super food #2: Salmon
This oily fish is high in omega-3 fatty acid - otherwise known as the fat that can help prevent ageing and wrinkles by keeping skin cells hydrated and supple. Research has found that omega-3 fatty acid not only helps smooth out lines, but also aids in preventing them from occurring in the first place, too, by adding a layer of lipids to your skin that hold on to moisture. Because your body doesn’t produce omega-3 naturally, eat a few serves of salmon per week, and you'll be at the front of the anti-ageing race.
Skin super food #3: Kiwi fruit
Snack on a kiwi fruit during the day and you’ll be giving your skin a surge of vitamin C - with one kiwi fruit containing twice as much vitamin C as an orange. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that promotes collagen production (a fibrous protein and the building block of your skin) and helps fight free radical damage to cells, a common cause of skin ageing.
Skin super food #4: Tomatoes
New research has found that adding five tablespoons of tomato paste to your daily diet can improve the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays, helping prevent premature ageing. Due to an extra injection of the antioxidant lycopene into your skin (with cooked and canned tomatoes containing more lycopene than fresh) eating spag bol, pizza and other tomato-rich foods could well be helping prevent wrinkles.
Skin super food #5: Broccoli
While broccoli mightn’t be everyone’s favourite vegetable, the green veggie is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, which can help decrease oil production in your skin, and help fight off anti-ageing free radicals. If you’re cooking up a stir-fry, be sure to include lots of broccoli and throw in some onions and red capsicum, which also contain skin-tightening amounts of antioxidants.
3 simple steps to glowing skin
Try this easy daily skincare routine and products for fabulous, glowing skin:
Cleanse daily with a natural-ingredient cleanser, such as Lush’s Coalface cleanser. This charcoal-based soap will help keep skin shine to a minimum and contains sandalwood and softening liquorice to help soften and nourish your skin. Even better, the charcoal grains also act as a mild exfoliator.
The gold standard of anti-ageing skincare is wearing an SPF30 or more on your skin each day. The beauty editor’s (and supermodel’s) favourite is Invisible Zinc’s Environmental Skin Protector 30+. If it’s good enough for Nicole Kidman, it’s good enough for us.
Use a foundation that is free of nasty chemicals that are harmful to your skin. BareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation contains just five natural ingredients, looks like a powder but feels like a cream, and has the added bonus of SPF 15 protection. Even better, no chemicals or preservatives mean it’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin types.
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