Restore Skin’s Glow This Winter with Edible Skincare

Now that the New Year is off to a running start, give your skin the ultimate refresh with an edible beauty routine that nourishes skin at the source. Take your skincare inside out with nutrients and antioxidants that shape how your skin looks, feels and ages, especially during winter.

Skin really takes a hit this time of year when winter's triple threat: sugar overconsumption, dry weather and stress impact skin's ability to rebound in distinct but destructive ways:

Winter's Triple Threat to Your Skin

Excess Sugar is an Aging Accelerant

From bake shops to cookie swaps, temptation has been inescapable for week! Holidays feel like a free pass to overindulge and we're not too shy to admit it: a poll of 2,000 American adults commissioned by a candy company revealed that 76% of respondents are likely to give into cravings for holiday sweets.

But high sugar intake can age you. Glycation is the natural process of excess sugar in the bloodstream binding to skin's collagen and elastin proteins, as well as fats, which forms harmful AGEs (short for advanced glycation end products). Not only do AGEs erode skin's scaffolding, leading to wrinkles and sagging, they deplete moisture, making skin appear dry and dull.

Dry Air Means Chapped Skin

Cold months do a lot of damage to skin's protective barrier. Cold air holds very little moisture, so it pulls it from wherever it can get it. With little to no humidity, cold conditions strip the natural oils designed to seal and hydrate skin. And with indoor heating drawing moisture away, the 1-2 punch can leave skin dry, cracked and irritated.

Cold, blustery days are even worse, because wind speeds up the evaporation, an effect called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). A weakened skin barrier is more prone to cracks that allow even more moisture to escape.

Cold Weather Leads to Cortisol Spikes

Seasons affect skin health, and while summer gets a bad rap for its harsh UV rays, cold winter climates can be just as brutal. Keeping warm in the winter (thermoregulation) demands more energy from your body and activates your natural stress response. In winter, cortisol output increases to the highest levels of any season.*

Cortisol is mostly known as the stress and anxiety hormone, but it also plays a role in managing energy, metabolism and the sleep-wake cycle. It's beneficial in low-level doses. But if winter stress levels pop and cortisol reaches chronically high levels, skin pays the price. Oil production and inflammation increase, which can lead to breakouts, redness and skin condition flare-ups.

Thankfully, winter doesn't last all year. In the meantime, take a nourishing approach to help keep your skin from getting caught up in this perfect storm.

Restore Your Glow with Edible Skincare

What you put inside your body is equally as important as serums and creams that boost your glow from the outside.

For a cold weather diet that perks up skin come springtime, choose foods that are rich in specific skin-soothing nutrients that support elasticity, hydration and barrier strength from the cellular level up.

Make it well-rounded by loading up on seasonal foods from 3 categories: healthy fats, lean protein and red-orange antioxidants.

Healthy Fats: The Secret to Supple, Dewy Skin

Healthy fats are essential for reinforcing the skin barrier, replenishing lost moisture and fighting inflammation and oxidation. Essential fatty acids help to counter water loss while plumping skin for a youthful, vibrant glow.

Avocados, extra virgin olive oil, fatty fish like salmon, and seeds such as flax and chia are rich in omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids that help skin stay supple and comfortable in dry winter conditions.

Collagen-Boosting Protein: Nature's Wrinkle-Smoother

The protein you consume is broken down into amino acids, the building blocks of collagen, elastin, and the body's other structural proteins. Daily servings of eggs, legumes, poultry, fish and lean means help restore firmness and elasticity by repairing fibers in the collagen matrix.

Protein sources also contain skin-supportive minerals. Zinc, found in pumpkin seeds and chickpeas, helps with skin renewal, while selenium from Brazil nuts supports anti-wrinkle defenses. Copper, present in nuts and seeds, contributes to collagen and elastin integrity.

Colorful Antioxidants: The Key to Younger-Looking Skin

The bioactive phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables are powerful forces against accelerated skin aging, especially UV damage. Plant antioxidants neutralize unstable molecules that attack and erode collagen and elastin. Potent free-radical fighters include polyphenols (pomegranates and turmeric), carotenoids (carrots and sweet potatoes) and vitamins (A, C and E).

Citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens and winter squash provide vitamins A and C, polyphenols and carotenoids that support skin renewal and protect against environmental stressors made worse by cold weather. Vitamin C is especially important in winter, helping support collagen and brighter-looking skin before dullness can set in.

DIY Your Skincare

Edible skincare is not only about what you eat. Food ingredients make deliciously effective homemade skincare without the chemicals and preservatives of mass-produced formulas. Here are a few ideas:

• Sweet exfoliation – Fine brown sugar granules make a great body scrub. Mix with coconut oil for easy application and a dose of hydration. As with all scrubs, limit use to 1-2 times per week to avoid irritation from over-exfoliation.
• Mask mash – Don't let an overripe avocado go to waste. Make a simple facial or hair mask out of the pureed flesh. The healthy fat and vitamin D leave behind a silky soft texture. And add an egg yolk for vitamins A (beta-carotene), B and E.
• Nature's moisturizer – Olive oil is full of nutrients such as squalene and vitamins A and D. Apply a thin layer directly onto dry to instantly hydrate and seal skin's protective barrier. It's also an effective non-drying makeup remover.

Beautifully ageless skin starts in your kitchen. Youthful Beauty Advanced make it quick, easy and convenient to feed your radiance and winterize your skin. It features high-absorption collagen plus hyaluronic acid for hydration and resveratrol to fight free radicals.