1. Guacamole face mask
Avocadoes are one of the most vitamin-rich foods in your kitchen. They contain Vitamin A, which helps with skin development; Vitamin E, which has anti-inflammatory properties; and Vitamin B, which delivers nutrients to your skin cells.
And the benefits don’t only come from eating them. They serve as an excellent moisturizer for your hair and skin, too! Here’s a quick recipe. Take a ripe avocado. Mash it with a fork. Add 2 tablespoons of honey and apply it to your face and hair for 10 minutes. Of course, you’ll want to rinse it off before you leave the house.
2. Boost your health with berries
Berries always lighten my spirit. When I was growing up, my mom always mixed blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries into a colorful and sweet berry salad when company came over for tea. I’ve carried on the tradition to this day. And the best part? Berries are loaded with antioxidants, which help prevent cell damage that causes wrinkles and promotes aging.
3. Watermelon, the skin mechanic
Did you know that watermelon is an ideal food to eat if you get a cut or scrape? That’s because the seeds contains zinc. I like to think of zinc as a little skin mechanic because it helps repair damaged tissue and heal wounds. Zinc also acts as a mild astringent and may help in the treatment of acne.
4. Protect your skin with tomatoes
Thankfully, sunscreen is not the only thing out there that shields us from the sun’s harmful rays. Believe it or not, a strong antioxidant called lycopene found in tomatoes helps protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.1 And if you use tomato paste in your recipes, you’ll get four times the concentration of lycopene you get from fresh tomatoes. Of course, you’ll still need to wear sunscreen, but it’s nice to have a little extra boost.
5. Fight off lines with chocolate
Ever heard of polyphenols? I hadn’t, until recently. But you’re probably quite familiar with red wine and chocolate, which contain polyphenols. They’re antioxidants that help block free radicals from damaging the cells in your body. Researchers found there was a 25% reduction in reddening from sun and 42% reduction in scaliness in a group of women who consumed a half a cup of cocoa per day for 12 weeks.2 So feel free to indulge a little. After all, you’re fighting wrinkles.
6. Brighten your skin with grapes
Grapes contain resveratrol, an ingredient being used in skin care products more and more often. It’s an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory, a skin lightener and brightener, and even a sun protector.
I found out that resveratrol develops in the grape skin in response to a bacterial infection that affects the plant. So it acts as a natural antibiotic. I also read that if you’re out of exfoliator, you can actually crush some grapes and spread them over your skin to help shed the dead cells.
7. Produce more collagen with papaya
I’d never consider a collagen injection. But thankfully, we can help our bodies make their own natural collagen by eating papayas. They contain vitamin C, which is required for the body to produce collagen and restore elasticity. Papayas also contain papain, an enzyme that can help repair wrinkles.
8. Hydrate your skin and hair with oysters
They’re not just an aphrodisiac. They’re good for your hair, skin, and nails. Oysters contain omega-3 fatty acids that help prevent dry, lackluster hair and dry, patchy skin. They also contain zinc, which helps prevent acne and promotes wound healing. I guess if your hair and skin become sufficiently lustrous, your partner may not even need an aphrodisiac.
