Natural and organic skincare works best when coupled with good eating habits. Here’s what you should be tucking into – and what you should leave behind.
WATER: H2O facilitates all functions within the body and yes, that includes skin function too. Water keeps skin plump, reduces the appearance of wrinkling and boosts radiance.
Drink: Two litres a day – more if you’re doing a lot of exercise.
VITAMIN C: Vitamin C is a key vitamin in collagen synthesis and connective tissue development. This multi-tasking antioxidant also decreases wound-healing time, improves skin texture, decreases free radical damage and prevents premature aging.
Eat: All kinds of berries, broccoli, citrus and leafy greens like cabbage.
VITAMIN A: This vital antioxidant prevents free radical damage to the skin and other body organs, assists in skin development, and helps with skin cell regeneration and growth.
Eat: Carrots, egg yolk, dark green leafy vegetables and cod liver oil.
VITAMIN E: Another antioxidant, vitamin E prevents oxidative damage as well as improves cell stability. This can help reduce wrinkling and skin sagging.
Eat: Wholegrains, egg yolk, almonds and seeds.
OMEGA 3 & 6: Essential fatty acids are key for maintaining a radiant, youthful appearance as they improve cell fluidity and stability as well as reduce inflammation and dryness.
Eat: Omega 3 is found in oily fish such as red salmon, tuna and mackerel, while Omega 6 is found most commonly in nuts.
ZINC: Zinc is an important mineral for wound healing and general skin health as it is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions within the body. Maintaining optimum levels of zinc is essential for correcting and preventing skin disorders.
Eat: Oysters, egg yolks, pumpkin seeds and wholegrains.
SULPHUR: Keratin is one of the main components of our skin and the mineral sulphur is key in keratin formation. Sulphur decreases wrinkling, improves the bonding of our cells to one another and helps with healing.
Eat: garlic, cabbage and onions.
VITAMIN B5: This skin-saving vitamin helps prevent skin disorders such as acne. A deficiency of B5 allows oils to accumulate on the skin (which can lead to pimples and acne) so maintaining a healthy level of B vitamins will keep skin balanced and problem-free.
Eat: Mushrooms, egg yolk and wholegrains.
FOLIC ACID: This vitamin is involved in DNA replication and therefore benefits the skin by renewing and regenerating cells.
Eat: Broccoli, silverbeet, beet tops and kale.
PROTEIN: This macronutrient is vital in healing and regeneration as well as preventing premature skin aging. Protein is involved in repairing and regenerating the whole body, so consuming high quality protein is essential for maintaining skin tone and texture.
Eat: Lean meats, dairy, legumes, nuts and grains.
HERBS: There are many herbs with skin-improving powers. Many are high in silica, which improves skin tone and texture. Herbs are also used to decrease free radical damage, boost collagen synthesis, bolster circulation and ease inflammation.
Eat: Turmeric, hawthorn, horsetail, gotu kola, green tea and bilberry.
Ok, how here’s what to have less of:
STIMULANTS: Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, refined sugars and saturated fats and you’ll help prevent free radical damage and inflammation and improve skin tone and texture.
CIGARETTES: cigarettes are a major cause of oxidative stress to the skin. Quit them or zap any chance you had of keeping a youthful appearance long-term. No joke.
POLLUTION: City pollution is not ideal for a pristine complexion, so, where possible, stay out of the smog. Can’t avoid the daily commute into the CBD? City workers should add an antioxidant-rich serum to their morning skin ritual. We don’t leave the house without Mukti Antioxidant Facial Serum.
STRESS: Stress can manifest itself in all kinds of skin issues – from acne to all-out dryness. If a tropical island getaway isn’t on the cards, at least aim for some daily moments of calm – it will reward your looks, well, handsomely. Sitting down with a good book, joining a yoga class or taking a pleasant walk on the beach will keep the stress-levels under control.
WATER: H2O facilitates all functions within the body and yes, that includes skin function too. Water keeps skin plump, reduces the appearance of wrinkling and boosts radiance.
Drink: Two litres a day – more if you’re doing a lot of exercise.
VITAMIN C: Vitamin C is a key vitamin in collagen synthesis and connective tissue development. This multi-tasking antioxidant also decreases wound-healing time, improves skin texture, decreases free radical damage and prevents premature aging.
Eat: All kinds of berries, broccoli, citrus and leafy greens like cabbage.
VITAMIN A: This vital antioxidant prevents free radical damage to the skin and other body organs, assists in skin development, and helps with skin cell regeneration and growth.
Eat: Carrots, egg yolk, dark green leafy vegetables and cod liver oil.
VITAMIN E: Another antioxidant, vitamin E prevents oxidative damage as well as improves cell stability. This can help reduce wrinkling and skin sagging.
Eat: Wholegrains, egg yolk, almonds and seeds.
OMEGA 3 & 6: Essential fatty acids are key for maintaining a radiant, youthful appearance as they improve cell fluidity and stability as well as reduce inflammation and dryness.
Eat: Omega 3 is found in oily fish such as red salmon, tuna and mackerel, while Omega 6 is found most commonly in nuts.
ZINC: Zinc is an important mineral for wound healing and general skin health as it is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions within the body. Maintaining optimum levels of zinc is essential for correcting and preventing skin disorders.
Eat: Oysters, egg yolks, pumpkin seeds and wholegrains.
SULPHUR: Keratin is one of the main components of our skin and the mineral sulphur is key in keratin formation. Sulphur decreases wrinkling, improves the bonding of our cells to one another and helps with healing.
Eat: garlic, cabbage and onions.
VITAMIN B5: This skin-saving vitamin helps prevent skin disorders such as acne. A deficiency of B5 allows oils to accumulate on the skin (which can lead to pimples and acne) so maintaining a healthy level of B vitamins will keep skin balanced and problem-free.
Eat: Mushrooms, egg yolk and wholegrains.
FOLIC ACID: This vitamin is involved in DNA replication and therefore benefits the skin by renewing and regenerating cells.
Eat: Broccoli, silverbeet, beet tops and kale.
PROTEIN: This macronutrient is vital in healing and regeneration as well as preventing premature skin aging. Protein is involved in repairing and regenerating the whole body, so consuming high quality protein is essential for maintaining skin tone and texture.
Eat: Lean meats, dairy, legumes, nuts and grains.
HERBS: There are many herbs with skin-improving powers. Many are high in silica, which improves skin tone and texture. Herbs are also used to decrease free radical damage, boost collagen synthesis, bolster circulation and ease inflammation.
Eat: Turmeric, hawthorn, horsetail, gotu kola, green tea and bilberry.
Ok, how here’s what to have less of:
STIMULANTS: Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, refined sugars and saturated fats and you’ll help prevent free radical damage and inflammation and improve skin tone and texture.
CIGARETTES: cigarettes are a major cause of oxidative stress to the skin. Quit them or zap any chance you had of keeping a youthful appearance long-term. No joke.
POLLUTION: City pollution is not ideal for a pristine complexion, so, where possible, stay out of the smog. Can’t avoid the daily commute into the CBD? City workers should add an antioxidant-rich serum to their morning skin ritual. We don’t leave the house without Mukti Antioxidant Facial Serum.
STRESS: Stress can manifest itself in all kinds of skin issues – from acne to all-out dryness. If a tropical island getaway isn’t on the cards, at least aim for some daily moments of calm – it will reward your looks, well, handsomely. Sitting down with a good book, joining a yoga class or taking a pleasant walk on the beach will keep the stress-levels under control.
