Let Food Be Thy Skincare 

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates. I have seen this quote be true in my life and in the lives of many of my clients. Food is not only medicine for our bodies, but it is fuel for our minds, it comforts our souls and when we eat the right foods, it’s amazing for our skin. 

Keeping our skin looking radiant and hydrated can be challenging, especially during our 40’s and 50’s with hormonal imbalances, dryness and adult acne.  However, food is not only our medicine, but can also be a part of our everyday skin regimen. There’s plenty of beauty secrets hiding right in your kitchen. 

I am going to share five things you can do to keep your skin looking amazing, just by using food; foods for dry skin and oily skin, a beauty mask you can make for your face and enjoy as a smoothie, as well. I also asked two of my best friends, what’s in their fridge and pantry they are using to keep their skin looking incredible in their 40’s. So, let’s get started:

1. Dehydrated Skin. Drink plenty of water, clear teas, and clear broths. Clear liquids help us remove toxins from the body, but it keeps our skin cells hydrated.
2. Dry Hands.  You can rehab those hands by using coconut oil or olive oil before bed and then slip on white cloves, covering the hands will help the oils to absorb into the skin. I like to do this after my bath when my skin is still damp. Also using oils right after a bath on your body locks in moisture. Jojoba oil has the same sebum as our own skin, so it’s an excellent oil for your body. 
3. Rough Elbows.  A great solution for this, exfoliate those puppies. All you need is scoop of sugar, a 2 tbsp of olive oil and a little lemon juice, mix and you have a great scrub. After you finish the exfoliation, rinse thoroughly and apply coconut oil or shea butter. 
4. Face, Irritated? Try milk, it’s awesome for the skin on the outside. Milk is loaded with proteins, fat, amino acids and vitamin A – these key ingredients reduces redness and calms irritated skin. The best way to get these benefits, is to soak a clean washcloth in cold milk and place over your face for 10 minutes, wash off with a good cleanser and add your favorite serum or moisturizer. 
5. Acne at any age can be annoying, try dabbing apple cider vinegar on the spot. To make your own apple cider vinegar spot treatment, simply dab a small amount onto the blemish with a soaked cotton swab or cotton ball. 

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“My number one best food for my skin health isn’t really a food – it’s water! I start every day with lots of water and teas. My favorite food to add to meals is avocado. The healthy fat helps me absorb the vitamins in my veggies and makes my skin more supple and smooth. I also love eating nuts, mostly cashews and almonds. The minerals and fats in these nuts are great for skin too!” Andrea Christian Parks, MD/MBA Obstetrician and Gynecologist

Now for the inside out. 

Here’s some foods to help you hydrate and keep a healthy glow for your skin type:

Foods good for normal to dry skin:

• avocados
• extra virgin oil
• flax seeds
• fresh walnuts
• hazelnuts
• oily fish (mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna)
• sweet potatoes
• oatmeal
• leafy greens
• green tea
• low sugar fruits, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries

Herbs for dry skin: dandelion root, fennel seeds, licorice; red clover, stinging nettle, yellow dock. 

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Foods good for oily/acne prone skin:

Eating fruits and vegetables particularly rich in vitamin A is a great source to help heal the skin naturally for acne prone skin, such as;

• apricots
• tangerines
• mango
• papaya
• leafy greens
• broccoli
• winter squash
• pumpkin
• carrots
• halibut, flounder, trout and salmon
• flounder
• oranges
• cucumbers

 “The two things in my diet are alkaline water. I carry around a jug with me everywhere I go.  Secondly avocado one daily.” Dr. Julie Lord, Chiropractor, Partner Lead Pilates Instructor at Studio 13 in Serenbe

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Hydrating Smoothie and Mask

Ingredients:

•  3/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 avocado
• 1/2 tablespoon honey 

Instructions:

Peel the avocado. Add to a blender with the remaining ingredients and enjoy. 

After making it a smoothie, take one half cup of the smoothie and slater it on your clean face for about 15 to 20 minutes, before rinsing off, thoroughly. 

The yogurt or kefir and avocado, will hydrate and moisturize the skin. The avocados fat will help keep the skin smooth and radiant from the omega fatty acids and lactic acid from the milk in the yogurt and kefir will brighten up the skin, because it is a natural alpha hydroxy acid. Lactic acid is one of the best natural alpha hydroxy acid because it is able to penetrate the skin. The honey in the mask will help give your skin a natural glow. The antioxidants in the blueberries will make you skin also glow and when consumed, blueberries are known to help boost your mood. 

Note: Alpha hydroxy acids will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so use these as treatments, once a week and no longer than 15 minutes and make sure to use sunscreen. 

I hope these suggestions will help you look at the foods you eat in a different way. Food truly is our no one line of defense for our bodies and minds and it makes great skincare. 

Live Well. Live Beautifully. Love and Light. 

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