Summer is just around the corner and we are all looking forward to the balmy evenings and beachside picnics this season brings. So how can we prepare our skin to match the season, to bring our best features forward and help us feel more confident in our own skin?
Today, we’re going to explore how you can ‘Get Beautiful Summer Skin’ with some nutritional hints and tips that can be paired with organic skincare products to complete your daily routine!
What foods can I bring into my diet to improve my skin?
The main thing we all know is the importance of staying hydrated! This is made so much easier in summer with the abundance of summer fruits and veggies available. Nourish your skin with delicious berries and rehydrate with leafy greens and cucumbers which hold a high water content.
For a tip that you might not have expected, go for orange foods! Vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes are high in Beta Carotene, an antioxidant found in specific plants and veggies. As detailed in The Role of Phytonutrients in Skin Health (Evans and Johnson, 2010) when coupled with the provitamin A, beta carotene and other antioxidants can assist in protecting your skin cells from harmful solar radiation.
Omega-3 fats are another important must-have in your diet. Regularly found in fatty fishes such as salmon, these ‘good fats’ are key in maintaining skin health and even reducing its sensitivity to the sun damage (Mel and Suphioglu, 2014). Omega-3 can also be found in avocados - there’s no easier way of getting the essential fats into your diet whilst keeping your skin flexible and taut.
And finally...here’s one that we know you’ll love! Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants, which we all know are great for you. Now, before you go running off to the convenience store to grab four blocks, moderation is key here! Dark chocolate is a great substitute for milk chocolate and other sugary sweets, so look for 70% cacao or higher and remember to indulge every now and then - because a smile on the face is the best feature on anyone!
Great, so what foods should I be swapping out or avoiding?
We like to take a positive approach to building a healthy lifestyle. This can be challenging when you start out, but remember that the best results come from a sustainable and healthy lifestyle, not some quick-fix fad diet. For that reason, we suggest adding some healthy goodies (like avocado, berries and salmon) to your diet in place of your pre/post meal snacks, and slowly but surely you’ll discover that the cravings for the unhealthy stuff will fade away!
In the meantime, we recommend staying away from foods with a high glycemic index (GI). High GI foods produce a sugar spike in blood that is terrible for your skin. When your body experiences a sugar rush it races to produce insulin in high concentration, which has been linked to increased sebum production (skin oils) and inflammation leading to breakouts.
You will also want to avoid anything that is likely to dry out our skin. Unfortunately, this includes two of the most common pleasures in life - coffee and alcohol! Consuming either of these beverages has the unfortunate side effect of drawing moisture away from your skin, which will leave your skin looking harsh and reduce your natural glow.
It’s not all bad news for our fellow caffeine addicts however! In fact, there are studies that suggest the polyphenols in coffee can protect against age spots (Fukushima, 2014), so perhaps you won’t have to put down that iced soy latte.
Why are natural skin care products important?
Ok, our diet is in check and we’re doing the best we can. Now it’s important to complement all that hard work with the best natural skin care products we possibly can. At Origani we are incredibly proud to be producers of organic and vegan skincare products.
As we’ve always said, consistency is key to beautiful skin. Here is a simple skincare routine that anyone can stick to:
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Cleanse with our Erda Daily Glow Toning Cleanser, infused with green tea extract to reduce UV damage
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Re-hydrate with a serum filled with Vitamin C, we recommend trying out Complexion Perfect Ultra Bright Serum to prevent dark spots and produce a natural, radiant glow.
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Moisturise with our Erda Rich and Hydrating Day Cream, featuring pomegranate seeds for Vitamin C and green tea extract
Preventative measures are always best, but if you’ve let the summer sun get the best of your skin previously, consistency and a good diet can help get your skin back to tip-top condition. Just remember, the best accessory you have for the beach this season is your smile!
