Beauty is More Than What’s on the Outside
When it comes to beauty, we’re overwhelmed with so many product options glossed over with marketing claims that it’s hard to know what works and what just… doesn’t. Beauty has quickly become one of the most fast paced, saturated markets in the world. Skin and hair care has become totally customizable and subscribable through personalized quizzes and high-rate subscriptions. Amazon and other wholesale markets carry just about every product you can imagine, purchasable with one click. It leaves the buyer with an overwhelming amount of choices, even just for sunscreen. We’re left to rely on the words of our favorite influencers and endless mixed buyer reviews. Each product is trying to beat others of the same category, resulting in more too-good-to-be-true false claims. So, how do we know what’s real and what’s not without breaking the bank?
Many of us feel bombarded with the next product that we *need* to add to our skincare regimen to achieve flawless skin, but ta crucial message is missing from the narrative: beauty comes from the inside. I don’t mean your awesome personality, I’m referring to the what you eat and drink that make you glow. Internal beauty regimens are at least equal, if not more important than external ones. If your diet is all starches and little water, your moisturizer won’t make up for the lack of nutrients in your diet and proper hydration. By considering your diet and water intake just as important as your cleansing and moisturizing routine, you may strike a balance that helps your skin look its best.
One of the biggest beauty marketing gimmicks is claiming that a product is “packed with collagen.” Creams, serums, and makeup advertise that they are full of collagen for its anti-aging properties. However, it’s scientifically proven that collagen cannot penetrate the skin as the molecule is too large and sits on the surface. Certified dermatologist Dendy Engleman, M.D. says that “When applied topically, it is not possible for collagen to penetrate, which is why we use other actives to stimulate collagen production,” and confirms that products claiming to deliver the benefits of collagen are simply a marketing tactic.
There are plenty of other formulas that actually are effective when applied topically. Hyaluronic acid (which gives your skin a similar youthful plumping effect as collagen), Benzoyl Peroxide, and retinol are a few popular topicals for healthier, more youthful skin. However, you’ll reap the most skin (and hair) benefits by treating your body like a temple. If skincare is your main concern, there are many tried and true ingredients that will helo you tackle dullness and keep that glow going.
1. Ingest Collagen.
Collagen this, collagen that - but what is collagen? For starters, it’s the most abundant protein in the body. It’s in charge of providing structure to your skin, amongst other important roles like helping your blood clot. It’s a building block for skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen production and quality slows as you age, resulting in reduced skin firmness and suppleness (hence why beauty brands brag about containing collagen). It’s crucial to include nutrients that increase collagen production in your diet, and not for your skin (but it doesn’t hurt). Try eating a diet high in Vitamin C, glycine, and copper. Avoid excessive sugar and refined carbs, as it damages collagen. There are also plenty of ways to get your collagen intake without a scientific grocery list: collagen drinks, powders, and supplements. You can ingest collagen in the form of powder mixed with water, pills, or pre-mixed collagen shots like Bailout’s Beauty Shot (tip: these actually taste incredible and don’t leave weird strings floating around in your water like most of the powders).
2. Eat healthy fats.
Healthy fats are the #1 source for your skin’s glow. A deficit of these fats can cause wrinkly, dry skin. There are a number of foods that contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. Nuts, seeds, and avocados are a great source of these healthy fats, but possibly the best source of these fats is fish like salmon, mackerel, and herring. Fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat that isn’t produced in your body but is necessary to build cell walls. Not only do they help keep your skin moisturized and firm, these acids block a chemical that lets skin cancer grow and spread. If fish aren’t part of your diet, supplements like Omega-3 fish oil pills can help fill in those gaps in your diet and help you maintain a healthy glow.
3. Stay hydrated with plenty of water and green tea.
Drinking green tea can reduce inflammation and promoting elasticity, and can help protect your skin from harmful sun damage because it’s packed by antioxidants. Like collagen, green tea also contains agents that can promote certain DNA repair that helps fight skin cancer. Adding a splash of grapefruit or orange juice to your cup of tea helps keep the antioxidants in your body longer. Drinking plenty of water helps maintain a hydrated and plump complexion. If you’re dehydrated, your skin shows it. As simple as it sounds, not drinking enough water can result in dry, flaky skin that can accelerate the development of wrinkles and dullness. For similar reasons, keep an eye on alcohol intake as it deprives the skin of moisture and nutrients (but everyone slips up, and Morning Rescue is here for when you do).
4. Minimize dairy and refined sugar.
Everyone’s skin reacts differently, but the sugar and hormones in dairy products can trigger zits in acne-prone skin. If you go dairy free, be sure to include supplements like calcium and vitamin D or upping your intake of fortified orange juice which contains large amounts of Vitamins C, D, and calcium.
Bottom Line
Caring for your skin may seem like another thing on your to do list, but by making these low-effort lifestyle and diet changes you can help your complexion’s health and appearance to thrive. Here’s our tips: don’t forget to wear sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors even when the sun isn’t out, moisturize religiously, do your best to load up on fruits, veggies, and nuts, and ingest collagen frequently.