I love making fresh masks and scrubs from food I have around the house-honey, avocado, blueberries, lemon, the list is nearly endless. All these foods have unique properties that we cannot only benefit from topically but also internally. I have a few top foods that will give your skin that radiant glow from within.

Salmon is at the top of the list because of the overwhelming effects Omega-3 fatty acids have on our skin. It can reduce inflammation in our bodies, which is extremely beneficial to our skin. Omega-3 has polyunsaturated fats which help replenish fats lost from the skin, when this happens we can experience skin dryness and flaking. Skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema benefit from Omega-3 for these reasons. If your not a fan of sushi make sure you choose your supplement wisely. It should not smell or taste “fishy”

Blueberries and acai berries have the highest known levels of antioxidants of any foods.  Full of amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, these berries are skin care powerhouse!

Spinach is another high hitter in the “superfood” department. These leafy greens are loaded with lutein, beta carotene, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron zinc, potassium, B vitamins, fiber and alas, more omega 3’s. How could you go wrong with such a beautiful list of skin enriching ingredients?

Tomatoes get their wonderful red color from lycopene. In recent studies, this amazing antioxidant has been shown to have many heath benefits including reduced risk of cancer and heart disease in addition to protecting cells from free radical damage. Another beautiful skin care perk is that lycopene helps to build your bodies natural SPF defense (it has a SPF of about 3). Finally sunscreen you wont forget to reapply.

Of course we can’t talk about all this food without bringing in water. We need to keep our bodies and skin hydrated to look and feel our best. Without, our bodies sluggishly try to filter out what we don’t need. Stay mindful about what you put in your mouth and your skin will reap the rewards.

Richelle Killian

Richelle Killian is a wife and mother. She is the owner of Essentials Esthetics by Richelle.