The quest for gorgeous skin is an ongoing crusade. My naturally pale skin shows every blemish and imperfection. I’ve tried several creams and topical acne treatments to help reach my goal of skin perfection, but have never really succeeded. I finally realized what I’m putting inside my body is affecting how it looks on the outside.

Some foods can actually help alleviate inflammation (like puffy eyes). Others can increase circulation, supplying cells with a regular stream of life-giving nutrients helping you look younger. Skip the overpriced products that never produce results. You can easily fix some of your biggest beauty blunders with the right diet plan.

Feed Your Face

Prevent Wrinkles. Citrus fruit, rich in vitamin C, can help maintain the structure of collagen and repair cuts and bruises. As your skin builds collagen, it retains its elasticity and slows the formation of wrinkles. For a quick C boost, snack on kiwi — it contains more than 100 percent of your recommended daily intake. You can also try oranges, grapefruit or berries.

Combat Free Radicals. Vegetables are rich in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals (like pollution and cigarette smoke) that lead to wrinkles. Broccoli and cauliflower also have the added bonus of being rich in fiber, which keeps your digestive system working properly and flushes out toxins from your body.

Thwart Sun Damage. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins C and E and can be helpful in combating the sun’s dangerous rays.

Moisturize Skin. Consume lots of olive oil, nuts, and fish. They contain antioxidants that disarm free radicals and reduce inflammation, plus omega-3 fatty acids for soft, smooth skin.

Banish Blemishes. One Swedish study found acne-prone patients with zinc-rich diets had an 85 percent reduction in acne in just three months. To add more zinc to your diet, try seafood, turkey, or eggs. Calcium can also be a great acne deterrent, so drink milk and snack on cheese or yogurt.

Attain Radiant Skin. Drink lots of water! At least eight glasses a day will help metabolize fat, reduce puffiness, and rid your body of toxins.

Here are some skin-harming foods you should steer clear of…but it’s always okay to indulge occasionally just for the taste.

•    Sugary Foods. These raise your blood sugar, interfering with the way your body naturally produces insulin. This can cause your collagen fibers to bunch up, resulting in wrinkles.
•    Alcohol. Unfortunately, alcohol increases the number of free radicals in your body, and it also dehydrates your skin. So stick to only the occasional cocktail.
•    Salty Foods. Salt can actually make you appear bloated or puffy thanks to fluid retention.
•    White Bread & Cookies. Several studies have linked refined starchy carbs with acne. They can dehydrate, make your skin puffy and cause allergic reactions. So go for whole grain bread and avoid cakes and cookies for dessert!

photos by mike mccune, tangerine

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Part of my journey to becoming greener is getting rid of the toxic beauty products in my house and replacing them with natural ones.

Like a lot of people, I was plagued with adult acne and left with red marks on my face.  Of course it didn’t help that I was fair skinned, as this made the marks even more noticeable.  I was instructed by a girl I met at a vegan potluck to put rose hip oil on my face. She said it regenerates the skin and makes it heal faster.

No word of a lie, this is the best thing I have ever tried on my face.  After only one day, I could already see a reduction in the redness of my acne scars.  Please note, I would not suggest that you use it if you currently have acne, as this could make it worse. However, once it is gone, I recommend wearing it everyday for the rest of your life.

After seeing the results, I started reading about rose hip oil and it turns out it is actually one of the best skin moisturizers available. Moreover, because it contains just one ingredient, you don’t have to worry about toxins you could be directly putting onto your skin like parabens, petrolatum or propylene glycol.  The best feature about rose hip oil is its ability to treat and prevent a myriad of skin conditions.

Skin cures:
•    Flattens scars including acne, stretch marks and post-operative scars (C-sections)
•    Restores normal skin color (removes redness)
•    Reduces puffy under eyes due to its anti-inflammatory properties
•    Treats eczema
•    Treats psoriasis
•    Repairs skin burns, including sunburns
•    Repairs damaged skin cells of all sorts
•    Reduces wrinkles
•    Benefits dry, mature, or aging skin

Preventative benefits:
•    Rehydrates dry skin
•    Nourishes your skin
•    Prevents skin damage
•    Prevents wrinkles

Rose hip oil is also a miracle anti-aging product and because it contains Vitamin C, an excellent natural anti-oxidant, it rids the skin of harmful free radicals which contribute to wrinkles.

Rose hip oil can be found in health food stores for around $10-$15.

Have you also benefited from the use of rose hip oil? We’d love to hear about your experience!

Hear more from the Urban Green Girl at her blog.

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