POPSUGAR

Eat Them or Put Them on Your Face — These Foods Are Great For Your Skin

Jun 28 2016 - 5:55pm

It's an endless journey to find that perfect skin cream that does it all, because it doesn't exist — sorry. No elixir, cream, or wash, no matter how expensive, can transform your skin the way good nutrition does, because fortunately and unfortunately, true beauty isn't skin deep. Smooth, glowing skin that radiates is nourished from the inside out.

Yet, there are those few ingredients that do double duty and promote clear, smooth, hydrated, and youthful skin when both consumed and applied topically. Fuel up on these ingredients and be sure to save enough for an edible face mask too! Find out how these nutrition powerhouses naturally beautify your skin from the inside and out and the outside in.

Egg Whites

Eggs are full of protein, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids (just to name a few), all of which contribute to clear, healthy, glowing skin, but have you ever tried swapping that expensive face mask for a simple kitchen pantry DIY [1] egg-white mask? Used topically, egg whites may help to tighten and lift the skin, shrink large pores, reduce oiliness, prevent acne, and even add shine to hair.

Simply whip up an egg white and apply weekly to your face, scalp, or other problematic areas. Allow to dry, and rinse.

Yogurt

Full of calcium, zinc, and most importantly, enzymes and beneficial bacteria, yogurt does a body good inside and out. While these nutrients may help to ease and regulate digestion and strengthen the skin from the inside out, yogurt is an ingredient that has been used topically for millennia, prized for its beautifying properties. Even more beneficial to the skin in a raw, unpasteurized state, yogurt helps to gently and effectively exfoliate the skin, heal and clear imperfections, and fight off wrinkles and aging.

Apply raw yogurt to the face and/or body for approximately 30 minutes and rinse off to reveal glowing skin. You can also try adding raw milk or yogurt to a bath like Cleopatra did for smooth skin from head to toe.

Honey

Honey is so much more than just a sweetener. This superfood is known for its potent antibiotic and antibacterial properties, antioxidants, natural enzymes, and wide range of nutrients and can heal and soothe the body both internally and externally. Used internally, it may help to soothe the skin and strengthen immunity. Applied externally, honey is effective in reducing inflammation and redness, healing burns and wounds, and clearing up other skin issues. Because of its antibacterial properties, honey is a wonderful and gentle alternative to acne remedies.

Honey is so versatile and can be used as a mask, a spot treatment, makeup remover, or even face wash. For even more antibacterial benefit, source Manuka honey [3], which contains the healing properties of the Manuka tree, more commonly known as the tea tree.

Papaya

The wondrous papaya. Called "fruit of the angels" by Christopher Columbus, when consumed, this fruit benefits the body in numerous ways. Anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting, hydrating, and digestion-promoting, papayas are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins C and A, and natural papain enzymes that help digest proteins. When used externally, papayas' potent enzymes act quickly to slough dead skin, increase elasticity, hydrate, and prevent aging.

Simply enjoy your papaya, and when you're finished, rub the inside of the skin all over your face and/or body. Leave on for about 15 minutes, and rinse.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a superfood star for the skin inside and out. From its natural enzymes and antioxidant content, protein, omega fatty acids, and rich vitamin and mineral content, this blue-green algae does mega double duty for skin health. Used internally, it is highly cleansing and detoxifying. Its rich nutrient content and chlorophyll heal and nourish the skin from the inside. When applied to the skin, these nutrients help to soothe and reduce inflammation and acne and fight aging.

Mix with a little water, yogurt, or honey, and apply liberally to the skin. Allow to dry and wash clean.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Foods-Good-Your-Skin-41730725