OK guys – this is not exactly the most earth shattering revelation, but hear it again anyway. The best way to look your best is not a Facial, or even Microdermabrasion it’s living a healthy lifestyle. What? you knew that? I told you it wasn’t earth shattering. One thing it is though it’s easier said than done. We are all running around all ad trying to get a million things done. We are all dealing with a lot of stress every day, and most of us are not getting nearly enough sleep at night. We are all in the sun all the time (even if we aren’t at the beach) Most of us aren’t drinking enough water and are probably drinking too much coffee and Alcohol. With all of that it’s a wonder our skin looks as good as it does.
Now this post isn’t meant to be a guilt trip (although it’s turning into that). It’s meant to tell you about the Superfoods to add to your diet to give your skin the love and care it deserves, because even with all that I mentioned above you are still gorgeous and totally deserve to look your best.
Omega 3’s – I’m sure you have heard about them before. Omega 3’s are the good fats. The fats that are complex and do all sorts of great things for just about every system in your body. It may not be a big surprise that they are also great for your skin. You can get Omega3’s from Wild fatty fish such as salmon and sardines. Walnuts and Flax seeds are great plant sources of Omega’3.
Vitamin C – Vitamin C is super important for your body – If you go without it your teeth fall out and you die, but wayyyy before that happens your skin gets saggy. That’s because Vitamin C is an important part of the collage production process in our bodies. That same wonderful collagen that creates firmness and lift in the skin. Some of the best ways to get Vitamin C are through consuming Citrus fruits including oranges, lemons, limes, and my all time favorite – Grapefruits! You can also use topical vitamin C creams that will increase blood flow to the skin and improve firmness.
Antioxidants- Here is another term we hear a lot when it comes to looking and feeling your best. You’ll find them in fruits and vegetables that have dark color such as blueberries, beets, Dark Chocolate, red wine (yep), and tea. Antioxidants protect our cells from nasty free radicals that are all around us. This keeps our cells in tact and in our skins case looking its best. Yes Vitamin C is an antioxidant as well but it deserved its own category.
Zinc – You’ll find Zinc in most natural sunscreens. It’s kind of like an antioxidant, protecting the skin from free radical damage. It helps with cell production, and boosts the immune system. You can get zinc from leafy greens, Oysters are full of it, you can also get it form animal proteins and beans. I like to use topical Zinc as a sunscreen if I have a sunburn. It helps the skin heal by protecting it and boosting immune function. It’s not going to soak into the skin and put more toxins into my body like a lot of sunscreens, and the sun has no chance of getting through it.
Water – It might not be a food but drinking enough water is one of the most important things that you can do to improve the look and feel of your skin almost instantly. When you are dehydrated your blood isn’t able to efficiently pump around your body. You end up with dark bags under your eyes and your skin pulls in. Once you hydrate your skin will appear former and have better color.
Hopefully you consider your skin the next time you reach for a snack or while you peruse the grocery isles. If you forget you can always get a boost by scheduling a facial in San Diego with me!
