As we battle some crazy days of winter – let this be the season you take control of your skin through the monitoring of the food you consume. Eating the right superfoods for skin this season (and all year long!) can help you combat signs of dullness, aging, and dryness the all-natural way. Ranging from produce, to nuts and drinks, everything you consume can and will have impact on your skin. Packed with different vitamins and minerals, we catalog our favorite anti-aging foods that make it easy to achieve the perfect glow this winter. By simply incorporating these foods into your everyday diet, you’d be surprised by how easily you can reinforce your skincare regimen – from within!
1
Almonds
Antioxidant-rich foods like almonds are often referred to as the ultimate power food for the chilly winter days. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B and E, minerals, and several antioxidants. All these nutrients help to keep the skin hydrated, promote skin elasticity, protect against pollutants and free radicals, and help with the regeneration of skin cells.
2
Broccoli
Adding more vitamin C to your diet can help prevent wrinkles and dryness that may be age or weather-related. Vitamin C provides skin-smoothing effects that are created due to the way it combats free radicals produced from UV rays, and also due to its role in synthesizing collagen, which is needed to maintain the skin’s firmness.
3
Cocoa
Cocoa may already be your list of things to consume this winter – and its nutrients will make sure you add more of it to your diet! Containing a type of flavonoid called epicatechin, cocoa helps increase your blood flow to the skin, boosting nutrient and oxygen supply – which is essential for keeping skin healthy.
4
Kale
While quickly becoming one of the most reached-for greens for vitamins for skin health, kale has been proven to be great for your skin and body overall. With high concentrations of Vitamin A, it can help combat the common dry and flaky skin that arises during the winter time. An added bonus is its high Vitamin K content, which can help get rid of tiresome under-eye circles!
5
Blueberries
No matter what form you decide to consume these, whether it be raw, cooked or dried – blueberries are full of antioxidants. This means that they help protect the skin from free radicals (that disrupt healthy cell production), leaving you with younger and smoother skin. Also commonly found as an ingredient in many skincare products, blueberries have an alkalizing effect, which means they can help prevent red, blotchy skin and other signs of inflammation that occur in an overly acidic body environment.
6
Flax Seeds
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, flax seeds help keep your skin hydrated – meaning they are one of your biggest allies to help combat signs of aging. Not only will it help reduce inflammation anywhere in the body (and on your skin), flax can also help keep your heart strong by lowering your triglyceride levels.
7
Avocados
Avocados are one of the great foods for collagen production. They are a great source of vitamins C, E, and monounsaturated fats. Vitamin C helps in the creation of elastin and collagen, which help bind skin cells together creating a softer, smoother surface. Vitamin E and monounsaturated fats help your skin lock in moisture and replenish nutrients in skin. Editor’s Note: While we adore Avocados for their skin-boosting benefits, Ayurveda also lays an emphasis on eating seasonally – and often Avocados fall into the summer-food variety of nutrition. If Avocado is not seasonally fit for your area in a given season, we recommend adding this more to a diet at a time it is more seasonally appropriate.
8
Tomatoes
Already perfect at almost any meal time, tomatoes are so packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that you will want to include these with everything you eat! High in lycopene, tomatoes are one of the most powerful foods in helping protect your skin from free radicals, while also helping to maintain moisture in the skin (which we all know is a must during this season!)
9
Green Tea
While you’re likely already looking to add hot, soothing drinks to your cold winter days, you’ll be surprised at how beneficial it will be to reach for those green tea bags more often. Consuming green gives you an overall immune system boost, and helps in the recovery of any imperfections on the skin’s surface. Green tea leaves can also be physically used and applied as a face mask, exfoliant, or even a toner to achieve a brighter, more awake look.
10
Carrots
Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they are, in fact, great year-round due to beta-carotene infused sun protection. As an antioxidant, vitamin A helps attack free radicals and makes it perfect to help treat skin conditions like pimples and acne, rashes, dermatitis and other skin problems. Packed with potassium, carrots also help combat winter-induced dry skin.
Winter skincare tips:
Try UMA Face Oils for dramatic hydration and glow! With their vitamin- and emollient-packed formulation, our blends will multiply the skin boosting benefits you will achieve with these dietary changes. Our face oils are formulated in an ultra-light, non-comedogenic and highly-absorbent pomegranate oil base, rich in vitamins A, K, D & E, as well as punicic acid – great for collagen renewal!
So here’s to perfectly radiant, hydrated skin even on the chilliest winter day!
