Put Down The Makeup & Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin!

1/20 Hydration: Skin is the largest organ of the human body — it's important to keep it properly hydrated. And while moisturizers certainly do their part in plumping skin, hydrating from within is just as important. "If you are dehydrated, your skin will show it." Here are some foods that should help your hydration levels: Dark leafy greens.

2/20 Cucumbers.

3/20 Strawberries.

4/20 Watermelon.

5/20 Pineapple.

6/20 Fats. Fatty acids help skin cells maintain moisture and protect skin from environmental factors. Diets should be rich in Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acid, two essential fats that the human body cannot produce on its own. By focusing on balanced foods, which contain healthy oils, you can bring back skin's natural glow. Here are some foods to give you fats: Fatty Fish (such as salmon).

7/20 A tablespoon of oil (olive, hempseed, grapeseed and flaxseed oils are good options)

8/20 Handfuls of flax seeds, chia seeds or walnuts added to cereals, oatmeals or smoothies

9/20 Avocados

10/20 Antioxidants. Foods high in antioxidants are recommended as they may protect from environmental stressors like ultraviolet rays and pollutants, which can make skin "more vulnerable to unstable free radical molecules (or reactive oxygen species; 'ROS') from that break down proteins (collagen,) disrupt cellular renewal, damage DNA, and stimulate inflammatory reactions." Foods rich in antioxidants include citrus fruits that contain vitamin C, which may help amino acids convert into collagen, and may help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals break down skin's collagen and elastin. Some foods you should have are: Oranges

11/20 Limes

12/20 Lemons

13/20 Grapefruits

14/20 Blackberries

15/20 Raspberries

16/20 Skin-firming foods. Firm skin relies heavily on collagen, the main structural protein found in our connective tissues. "As we age, the natural weakening in cellular activity and increase in environmental stressors break down this structural framework, resulting in loose, thin and frail skin." To combat weakening, foods rich in mineral copper may help facilitate collagen production, as do foods high in vitamin C. Some foods recommended are: Poultry

17/20 Crab

18/20 Oysters

19/20 Sunflower seeds

20/20 Chickpeas