Did you know the fountain of youth could be right in your kitchen? These age-fighting foods minimize wrinkles, keep skin smooth and more. Click through to discover what to eat now to benefit your looks for a lifetime.
Mangoes
Minimize fine lines and wrinkles
Mangoes are loaded with vitamins A and C. Together they work hard to brighten and promote cell turnover for smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
BONUS!
Skin-softening mask
1 mango (peeled and sliced)
1 egg white
In a blender, purée the mango, then add the egg white. Whip the mixture until stiff. Apply with your fingertips to your face and neck using upward strokes. Let it sit on skin for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Finish with a dose of face lotion.
Tomatoes
Protect yourself from the sun
Cooked tomatoes, like those found in tomato-based soups and stews, have the highest levels of lycopene, a natural UV blocker for your body.
Cucumbers
“Good nutrition leads to radiant, healthy skin,” says Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist. She recommends starting each day with a skin-calming green juice. Greens help drain your lymphatic system, which depuffs your complexion. In a juicer or food processor, combine the following ingredients:
1 cup sliced pineapple
½ cucumber
½ green apple
Strawberries
BONUS! GET GLOWING
Mash three strawberries and apply them to your face for 10 minutes, then rinse. They gently exfoliate skin, while the vitamin C works to make skin brighter.
Red Peppers
Keep skin smooth and supple
Munch on fresh red peppers to achieve beautiful texture. They’re full of vitamin C, which promotes radiance and protects your skin’s moisture barrier, keeping it hydrated.
Blood Oranges
Block aging free radicals
Exposure to harsh elements like pollution, sun or cigarette smoke can take a toll on your skin. Enjoying an antioxidant-rich fruit like a blood orange helps your skin defend itself.
Blackberries
Prevent sagging skin
Flavonoids, which help strengthen skin’s connective tissue, and collagen-boosting vitamin C make fresh blackberries the perfect treat to help firm up your skin.
SOURCES: Marina Peredo, MD, dermatologist and founder, Spatique Medical Spa. David Pollock, creator, PUR attitude skincare, and author, 101 Recipes for Beauty.
