Whenever you’re at the supermarket, you make an effort to visit the health food section and check out the latest on skin-loving nutritionals. There isn’t a day that goes by without you indulging in antioxidant salads. And at snack time, you make sure you chew on hefty amounts of walnuts and almonds.

So you feel pretty good about chewing your way to fabulous skin. The question is, “Is having a proper diet enough to give your skin the TLC it needs?” Let’s delve into why skincare through skin food can be as crucial as your diet. 

Why Skin Care Products are Essential

Sure, a diet rich in nutrients gives your body the ingredients it needs to repair skin cells and regenerate. It is also common knowledge that drinking enough water can hydrate your skin and help it better absorb the nutrients from the food you eat. But with the toxicity of modern living, eating and drinking right are no longer enough.

Every day, your skin combats the damaging effects of the sun, stress, environmental pollutants, and toxins from different kinds of products that you regularly use. Many of your household items contain harsh chemicals that can harm your overall health and wreak havoc on your skin, from your all-purpose cleaners to your weed killers. To ensure good skincare, you need to further protect and nourish it from the inside out with skin food. 

Caring For Your Skin with Skin Food

To boost your skincare routine, we recommend these highly beneficial skin food products that your “hungry and thirsty” skin will absolutely love.

Toners 

We often think of skin food as a delivery vessel for beneficial skin ingredients instead of products that rid the skin of dirt, bacteria, makeup, and other unsavory molecules. While it’s true that they are great for thoroughly cleansing the face, many new-generation toners have added ingredients with brightening, soothing, and anti-aging effects.

In addition to removing impurities from the skin, this specific skin food also helps minimize the size of pores. By closing the gaps between skin cells, toners effectively protect the skin from damage-causing pollutants and toxins from the environment.

Moisturizers

It is typical to think of moisturizers as vanity products, but not many know that this skin food is vital to skin health. For example, some moisturizers contain vitamins A and B5 that tighten the skin to make it firmer. Others may also include the antioxidant vitamins C and E, which reverse the damage caused by free radicals while protecting newly generated skin. While the ingredients in moisturizers vary depending on their purpose, it is important to choose based on skin type.

If you have oily skin or are acne-prone, pick a lightweight moisturizing product that is non-greasy and is water-based. For dry skin, you can use a moisturizer with a creamy base. An occlusive moisturizer creates a barrier over the skin to seal in moisture. If you have combination skin, you can opt to apply a humectant on the oilier parts of your face and use heavier-formula moisturizers for the rest of your face.

Face Masks

If you’ve thought twice, even thrice, about purchasing a face mask and then ditching the idea, you’re not alone. After all, on the face of it, face masks appear to be just some passing trend. 

However, members of the medical community, such as dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, say that facial masks can actually be an excellent complement to your self-care regimen. 

Face masks work by helping beneficial ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin. Korean face masks can be incredibly soothing for inflamed, irritated, or sun-damaged skin. There are also acne-fighting masks with salicylic acid, which are effective pimple hacks that draw out excess oil and remove pore-clogging substances. 

Serum

Serums seem to be that one skincare product you can do without. However, closer scrutiny reveals that they can be an essential aid in reversing the damage caused by aging, such as wrinkles, brown spots, and lifeless skin. 

This skin food is similar to moisturizing lotions and creams but differs in concentration. They are intended to immediately sink into the skin to deliver that intense dose needed to reverse the effects of time on our appearance. Despite their high concentration, serums are light and feel feathery when applied to the skin. 

When shopping for a serum, check if it contains vitamins C and E, as well as ferulic acid. Vitamin C, in particular, can boost your skin’s collagen production to minimize sagging and keep your skin looking youthful and radiant. 

The Takeaway

Skinfood is not just nice to have. Like eating the right food and drinking enough water, it is also essential in keeping your skin healthy and glowing. So the next time you head out to shop for food, make sure to stop by the skincare section to look for products with beneficial ingredients that your skin deserves.