Start prepping your skin for a fabulous summer! By nourishing it with these must-have antioxidants, you can fight free radicals and their damaging effects on skin, which means facing the world with radiance.
Slather it on
Topical application of antioxidants is important so that your skin benefits from their nourishing effects immediately instead of the antioxidants having to travel to the skin after consumption. Vitamin C is especially good to look for in product ingredients lists because it decreases signs of ageing. Vitamin C boosts the skin’s collagen production, resulting in more elastic, firmer skin. Research has found that Vitamin C, although important in your diet from sources such as grapefruit, is even more powerful when applied topically to skin.
Another important antioxidant for skin that is best applied topically is Vitamin E. It also boosts collagen production and helps to smooth the skin so that wrinkles are diminished. By keeping skin hydrated, any lines and wrinkles will be less noticeable than if your skin is dry.
Drink up!
Teas, especially the green variety, are important when it comes to your skin health. Green tea contains a compound called epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) that actually decreases UV damage, so it’s a great teammate for your trusty sunscreen, but it also works well against inflammation. Summer skin sometimes falls prey to redness or irritation, so consuming green tea will keep these at bay in favour of a flawless complexion.
Chew Your Way to Gorgeousness
Beauty begins within and making the right food choices can help to improve your skin’s texture. Lycopene, an antioxidant found in red produce such as tomatoes, decreases DNA damage that can cause lines and wrinkles. Although lycopene gives fruits and veggies their bright red colour, it’s not found in all red-hued produce. Besides for tomatoes, it’s also found in carrots, watermelons and papayas but not in cherries, red bell peppers or strawberries.
Clear Your Skin
You don’t want blotchy or uneven skin to haunt you through the summer, especially when you’ll be showing off more of your skin than you were in the colder months. Anthocyanins, found in some red, blue and purple produce, are powerful antioxidants. They are most highly found in blueberries, so add these tasty treats to your morning yogurt or cereal. Anthocyanins improve circulation so that more oxygen and vitamins can reach and replenish the skin. They also fight free radical damage that can cause an uneven skin tone, clearing you up for a beautiful season.
Image credit: tverdohlib / Dollar Photo Club
