Lifestyle & Wellness
You’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat.” While eating a donut won’t literally turn you into one, your diet does affect how your skin looks. Foods rich in vitamins and minerals—like fresh fruits and vegetables—help give your skin a healthy glow, while too many processed foods can leave it looking dull and tired. From salty chips to sugary sodas, here are three habits to break now for clearer, brighter skin later.
1. Too Many Soft Drinks, Not Enough Water
An ice-cold soda might feel refreshing, but it doesn’t give your body the hydration and nutrients your skin needs. A study at the University of California found that drinking lots of sugary soda can speed up aging, raise the risk of health problems, and even shorten lifespan. Sugar contributes to a process called glycation, which creates free radicals that damage collagen and elastin—the fibers that keep skin firm and elastic. Over time, this can lead to dull, uneven skin and more wrinkles.
How to Fight Glycation
The fix is straightforward: drink more water, cut back on sugary sodas, and use products that help protect against glycation. For example, our Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil contains oil-based vitamin C to help reduce visible signs of aging, smooth fine lines, and fight free-radical damage.
2. Too Many Salty Snacks
Waking up with puffy eyes? It might not just be sleep—you could be eating too much salt. High sodium in snacks like popcorn and potato chips causes inflammation and makes your body hold onto water, which shows up as swelling and puffiness.
How to Reduce Sodium-Related Puffiness
Sweat it out with exercise and drink plenty of water to help flush extra sodium. Read labels so you don’t unknowingly overdo it—The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend keeping sodium under 2,300 mg per day. You can still enjoy salty foods—just in moderation. If your eyes are puffy, try our Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream to refresh the area. Our Calm Skin line (Calm Skin Exfoliating Peel, Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser, Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer, Calm Skin Arnica Masque, and Calm Skin Arnica Booster-Serum) can also help calm and soothe inflamed skin.
3. Too Much Dairy
Research is mixed, but some evidence suggests that drinking a lot of cow’s milk may affect your skin. Milk can contain hormone-related components that might stimulate oil production, which can contribute to acne.
How to Limit Dairy’s Impact on Skin
Try cutting back on dairy and choosing organic, hormone-free milk when possible. If you suspect a dairy intolerance, see your doctor for testing. If dairy doesn’t agree with you, there are many tasty alternatives like almond, coconut, rice, and soy milk. If you get a dairy-related breakout, treat spots with our Clear Skin Targeted Treatment, which uses tea tree oil and salicylic acid (from willow bark) to target blemishes.
What foods do you avoid to keep your skin looking its best? Tell us in the comments.