Being as skin-obsessed as I am, I slather on all the products I can fit in my medicine cabinet daily. But I know full well I could be doing more as every Hollywood star with seemingly perfect skin takes an inside-out approach to beauty—i.e. it's not simply what you put on your skin, but also what you nourish your body with.
Since I already learned what super foods I should be eating for a youthful-looking complexion, I decided it was high time to study up on how I could drink my way to better skin. And as lovely and convenient as a magical all-in-one concoction would be, I knew it would be a commitment along the lines of an all day, everyday regimen.
For guidance, I consulted my skin savior, dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D. at Schweiger Dermatology Group, to help me come up with a 24-hour drink menu that was rich enough to have a drastic effect on my glow, but would only require a *reasonable* amount of bathroom breaks.
Now, ladies, while it's not quite as fun as a wine list, the following menu is the liquid diet your skin has been craving. You can learn precisely why in Nazarian's breakdown, below:
Dr. Nazarian's Liquid Essential Breakdown:
Water: "Nothing makes skin look plumper and fresher. It helps skin turgor and keeps the elasticity at optimum levels to give skin a good 'bounce,' creating a healthy look."
Green Juice With Kale: "Kale is an amazing multi-vitamin for skin. It has Vitamin A (also found in anti-aging creams such as retinol) and helps promote cell growth and healthy cell turnover, getting rid of the older dull skin. Then there's Vitamin C and copper, which are the foundation of collage, and keep skin strong and able to heal itself properly and efficiently."
Soy Milk: "The isoflavones in soy help protect collagen, something that keeps skin youthful, and studies have even shown that it can help defend against the formation of wrinkles due to sunlight. As a bonus, the minerals and proteins in soy milk can reduce the darkening and discoloration of skin."
Green Tea: "It's packed with antioxidants called catechins and polyphenols, which help protect skin from UV radiation by decreasing the chances of sunburn. And like other anti-oxidants, they help decrease redness and inflammation."
Pomegranate Juice: "A super-juice of sorts, it contains a huge amount of anti-oxidants and polyphenols—over twice as much as green tea—and is fantastic for nurturing fibroblasts in the skin, which are the collagen-making-factories. That means more collagen, less wrinkles and fine-lines. The density of antioxidants found in pomegranate juice also improves the tone of skin."
Cucumber-Infused Water: "Since they're 90% water-based, cucumbers help hydrate skin and are also filled with minerals, like magnesium and potassium, that help with keeping the alkaline pH of skin and decrease inflammation."
You should also check out:
The 8 Worst Things You Can Do to Your Skin
Forget a Facialist: All You Need for Flawless Skin Are These 8 Foods
10 Ways to Wake Up Prettier Than You Went to Sleep