Everyone wants great skin, no matter how “flawless” it may appear to others. Most people think that if they use the best/most expensive skin care products that their palette will stay young forever but that isn’t the only factor. Sure consistently providing your shell with the necessary nutrients topically will help, but what you put into your body also affects the skin.

You are what you Eat

Does the food you eat affect they way you look? Of course it does, though it may not be prominent. You’re aware that eating and drinking nourish the body, but many aren’t aware of how far the word nourish goes. Your body could not function without food and water because what you put inside helps it perform. The nutrients (or toxins) that flow through the bloodstream are now food for the cells. Every component of you is made up of cells; from the top of your head to the bottoms of your feet. When your cells are nourishedwith garbage, you will not perform to the best of your abilities.

The skin is one of the last areas to receive energy from what you consume which is why you have to follow up with topical products, but what you eat will eventually show on your skin. Consuming foods that are high in fat and sugar can result in oiliness and acne. Have you ever complained about a pimple and were told to lay off the soda? This advice actually works!

The things you choose to eat can cause a ton of other issues that can, unfortunately, get in the way of great skin. For example, eating foods that are high in sodium can dehydrate the body and cause the skin to become dry, tight, and sometimes, wrinkled.

Read up on some healthy cholesterol lowering foods that can also help with your skin!

What Makes Skin Great?

To maintain great skin, you must know what actually makes it great. There are serval characteristics that you should long for your canvas to uphold, and many ingredients that can help you get there.

Clear Skin

Clarity– Having a blemish free surface is desired by almost everyone. A blemish could be a freckle, pimple, or even a skin patch. Getting rid of these marks all depend on which type you have. Acne is eliminated by clearing the pores of dirt, debris and bacteria so you’ll want to consume foods with anti-septic properties.

Freckles and other dark marks on the skin are called discoloration/hyperpigmentatoion. If you were born with freckles or are concerned about a birthmark, these blemishes are embedded in your DNA and cannot be removed. If you want to get rid of spots that are not native to your skin, you must eat foods packed with vitamin C and enzymes.

Learn how to naturally eliminate blemishes

Radiance/Youthful Glow- You want your skin to have a glow, so the correct features are highlighted. Radiance is a sign that your oils are balanced, so try consuming beneficial oils/fats. Consuming Omega 3 fatty acids can help provide your canvas with additional moisture. Omegas also help fight aging!

Firmness and Elasticity- To have smooth skin it must have stellar firmness and elasticity. If you are unaware of what elasticity means, think about a rubber band; it’s the skin’s “snap back.” Collagen and elastin are the two ingredients that will help provide great skin. Your body creates these components naturally, and there are several ingredients to help you get there!

Your New Grocery List

Now that you know what ingredients provide great skin, it’s time to go shopping! Here are the foods you should be eating to gain skin clarity, radiance, firmness, and elasticity!

Eat for clarity!

These foods are antibacterial and will help fight infection/acne.

Food loaded with vitamin C and Enzymes include:

Eat for radiance!

Consume these things to get your Omega 3’s

Eat for firmness and elasticity!

There isn’t a specific ingredient that helps to promote collagen and elastin production, just chow down on these foods:

Eating these foods will definitely help you along your journey to great skin. While results appear, you may also notice weight loss and increased energy. Most of these veggies can be made into a beneficial facial mask, here are a few recipes you’ll love:

Mixed veggie mask (Provided by motherearthliving.com)

• 1 cup fresh parsley
• 1/2 carrot, unpeeled
• 4 slices cucumber, unpeeled
• 1 small tomato
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal

Avocado Body Mask (Provided by sheknows.com)

• 2 avocados, thoroughly mashed into a paste
• 3 tablespoons sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/4 cup honey
• Grated rind of two fresh lemons, along with the juice
• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil

Carrot Face Mask (Provided by sheknows.com)

• 2-3 large carrots
• 4 1/2 tbs honey

Check out some other great masks!