10 foods to eat for better skin

Sherine Youssef talks you through how to nourish your skin with the right foods.

It seems as if a new superfood is “discovered” every other week, and while expert opinion may differ on what makes the list, we know there can be significant health benefits to adding these potent foods to our diet. So what about applying them to our skin?

Skin health clinician Amy Erbacher says that by ingesting as well as applying certain superfood ingredients, we can give skin its best chance at absorbing nutrients and maintaining a healthy texture.

“We have to nurture and protect our skin’s texture,” she explains. 

“Take dehydrated skin – it loses water topically, so to replenish and stop that happening, we can apply certain topical ingredients to help prevent water loss and drink the recommended amount of water.”

One of the main ways to effect positive changes in skin health is by the absorption of these nutrients through product application, she adds, and with the right cosmetic formulation and delivery system, these superfoods can also benefit our body from the outside in. 

Here, Erbacher nominates her top 10 superfoods for skincare.

1. Oatmeal

Oatmeal has soothing, calming and moisturising properties, making it ideal for those with eczema, sensitive, irritated or inflamed skin. 

2. Pomegranate

The seeds are rich in punicic acid, which has antioxidant properties to promote cell regeneration and renewal, and help brighten skin. 

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3. Walnuts 

Crushed walnut shells are gentle enough to be used as mechanical exfoliants on the face or body. 

4. Coconut oil

This is a natural anti-fungal that helps balance skin without clogging pores. It also reinforces the skin’s support structure to keep it smooth, firm and lifted.

5. Omega oils

These essential fatty acids hydrate, stimulate collagen production and improve the blood flow supply of nutrients for healthy skin cells.

6. Manuka honey

This has potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties, and honey also works to regenerate, soften, nourish and deeply hydrate skin. 

7. Cocoa

Cocoa has the feelgood factor (it enhances the production of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, which reduce the stress hormones that can cause collagen breakdown), plus antioxidants to fight free radical damage, and it helps to increase blood flow for better hydration.

8. Goat’s milk

This is gentle enough for those with skin conditions (dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema), and has lactic acid to help stabilise pH levels.

9. Spirulina 

The super-algae offers protection against free radicals, helps detox the body, and has amino acids and proteins that repair and restructure the fibres responsible for firming the skin. 

10. Berries

All berries – from blueberries and blackberries, to cranberries and strawberries – are high in antioxidants, which help the body fight infection and free radical damage caused by external pollutants.

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