Your Inner Glow

Nourishing Your Skin from the Inside Out

Creams, serums, and oils: Oh my! A proven skincare regimen is designed to defend your skin against the signs of aging. But we all know that the best defense is a good offense. And the best offense? It isn’t even found in the skin care aisle.

Here’s the thing: You probably know that hydration and diet are key to your best skin ever. After all, any solid skincare article will encourage you to drink up for a more youthful glow. But nourishing your skin from the inside out is about more than just good old H20. Understanding how your skin changes with age and exposure will give you a better grasp on how to give it the ingredients it craves.

What’s Going on with My Skin?

If you’re dedicated to nourishing your skin from the inside out, it might be because you’ve noticed some changes over the years. Maybe those fine lines around your eyes don’t seem to go away after a bad night’s sleep or you feel like your once-bright complexion seems duller after a long commute. The good news? It’s all a normal part of the aging process. Maybe you can relate to some of the following scenarios:

• Your skin feels dry and dull, especially with poor sleep or after being in the sun for long periods of time.
• Your skin feels like it’s lost its elasticity and bounce.
• Your skin is more sensitive and reactive to things like diet and new skincare products.
• You’ve noticed that fine lines seem to crop up overnight.

If you’re nodding your head, you’re experiencing the natural breaking down of your skin barrier that occurs with age. And, while it happens to the best of us, you can support your skin’s structure so it’s less susceptible to things like free radicals, age, and a late night (or two).

Skin-Friendly Ingredients

Products you apply topically to the skin are a vital part of your routine. Think of them as a healthy defense: You use them in response to known issues. Nourishing your skin from the inside out, however, is more like your offense: A proactive way to prevent the things that take a toll on your skin. The right ingredients tackle aging issues right from the source. Here are some of our favorite skin-healthy ingredients for a glow that’s more than skin deep.

Ceramides

According to a 2021 study, ceramides should make up about 50% of a healthy skin barrier. They’re lipids that act as a glue in the structure of your skin, holding onto moisture and fortifying your skin’s strength and resiliency. They also protect against free radical damage from things like pollution and allergens; the stronger your skin barrier, the less susceptible it is to damage.

Ceramides can be found in foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is always a great place to start, so order the salmon Caesar salad the next time you see it on the menu. Other sources of fatty acids and ceramides are dairy, eggs, and spinach.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid? It’s kind of a big deal. It’s responsible for attracting and keeping water in skin cells. As we age, our body’s natural production of hyaluronic acid slows considerably, which is why your once plump and hydrated skin starts to feel dry. Skincare products containing hyaluronic acid make for a great defense, but go on the offense by making sure you encourage your body’s production of this skin essential. Eating foods like leafy greens, collagen-rich broth, and soy can all help support hyaluronic acid, which can help skin elasticity and hydration in the long run.

Foods to Avoid

While you’re working to give your skin the nourishment it needs for that lit-from-within glow, remember that some foods can actively work against you. We love the idea of keeping a skin/diet journal, where you detail your food intake for a week or two to see how it affects your skin. Some ingredients and food that can aggravate your skin and damage its delicate barrier include:

• Alcohol
• Processed foods high in salt content
• Saturated fats
• Refined sugar

Not everyone will be affected in the same way, so be mindful about what is right for you.

Supplementation

No one has the perfect healthy-skin diet. Whether it’s indulging in something that aggravates your skin or skipping a sip from your water bottle for that much-needed diet soda, you can help make up the difference by supplementing to give your skin the nourishment it needs. Glow Sticks are a super convenient way to increase the benefits of your water intake. They add ceramides to improve the look of wrinkles and elasticity while restoring your skin’s protective moisture barrier. They include electrolytes for better hydration. And they contain hyaluronic acid to boost skin hydration and reduce fine lines.*

To support your skin with collagen peptides, zinc, and biotin, Skin Brilliance helps fill the gaps in your diet for a healthy offense against visible signs of aging like wrinkles and sun damage.*^†

If you want to get serious about your skin care, start thinking beyond defending against the signs of aging. Help prevent them with the right diet, ingredients, and hydration for a proactive approach that supports your skin from the inside out.

†Product is not intended to replace sunscreen.