Skincare is a balancing act, and don’t we know it. A small slip (or extra piece of pie) can throw the skin’s pH levels out of balance, causing irritation, inflammation, and even acne. We took a deep dive into the Thanksgiving dinner table to share with you some skin food secrets that can help boost and balance your skin’s complexion – guilt free.
Turkey – Did you know that over 292 million Americans gather for Thanksgiving? That’s a lot of turkey! Have no fear turkey lovers, turkey is an excellent source of protein that aids in collagen and elastin formation. Collagen and elastin improve skin texture and overall skin tone, giving skin a youthful appearance and bright glow.
Cranberry – Cranberries are not only delicious, they are very high in polyphenols and
Vitamins C & E, which are potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals and protect against advanced aging from sun, stress, pollution and so much more.
Carrots – Both eye health and skin health wins with this nutrient-rich vegetable. Carrots contain beta carotene that is clinically proven to give skin a natural, healthy glow. Other nutrient rich foods that contain beta carotene on your dinner table might be sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and winter squash.
Kale – We can see why kale is king in the leafy green world of nutrients. It is such a superfood! Whether it’s sauteed, served as a salad, or put into a morning smoothie, this vegetable perfectly pairs three vitamins (C, E & K) that will protect against and correct many skin conditions. Whether you are looking to ward off premature aging or combat visible signs of aging such as dull, dry skin, fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture, kale helps skin look younger and feel healthier – because it is!
Asparagus – Like kale, asparagus offers a vitamin trilogy that protects skin against the visible signs of aging and helps prevent the breakdown of collagen, which is responsible for maintaining skin volume and overall youthful appearance. Vitamin C helps to treat and prevent sun spots and other hyperpigmentation. Vitamin E nourishes skin to help calm skin irritation, reduce redness and minimize any puffiness or skin swelling.
Sweet Potatoes – We know. It’s hard to make the switch from the real Thanksgiving super star (mashed potatoes), but we think once you try how amazing sweet potatoes taste and how good they are for you, you might see that the real MVPs are sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes include potent antioxidants vitamin C & vitamin E which help fight free radicals and protect skin against oxidative stress that naturally occurs within our living space. Keep skin calm, bright & tight with a serving of this power potato.
Here is Deb’s tasty twist on sweet potato pie with brown sugar and toasted pecans on top.
Deb’s Sweet Potato Pie:
- 3 Cups mashed sweet potatoes (I use mashed fresh Jewel Yams or 2 large cans of yams in a pinch)
- 1 Cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 Cup melted butter
- 1/3 Cup Evaporated milk
Mix ingredients well and pour into buttered dish (approx. 9 x 13)
Topping:
- 1 Cup brown sugar
- 1/3 Cup flour
- 1 Cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts or pecans)
- 1/3 Cup butter, NOT melted, just softened
Mix topping ingredients until crumbly. Distribute over sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Best when served shortly after coming out of the oven. You can put it in the oven right when the turkey comes out.
Pumpkin – Pumpkin everything! When you hear about the beautiful benefits of pumpkin you will see that pumpkins are anything but basic. Pumpkin has natural fruit enzymes that gently exfoliate dead skin cells while refreshing skin and giving a healthy glow to natural skin tones. Pumpkins contain antioxidant vitamins A, C & E, which help shed expired skin while calming irritation and redness and protecting from sun damage, free radicals and oxidative stress. Pumpkins also help to moisturize the skin to keep it pretty and plump.
Apple Pie – We wish! Warm apple pie is definitely one of our favorite holiday traditions, but it’s the apples that pack the powerful antioxidants that we know and love. Apples are a great source of vitamin C, K and B which help to protect the skin, keeping it cool, calm and collected allowing for more healthy and proactive cellular regeneration.
Now you can feel good about that second serving this Thanksgiving. We know you’re doing it for the nutrients!
We’re thankful for all of our wonderful patients this holiday season, as well as our family and our amazing friends. We look forward to another prosperous and glowing year with you.
A Few “Skin Food” Products
If you’d like your skin food without the calories this year. Here are our picks from our favorite medical grade skin food, Skinceuticals.
C E FERULIC®
C E Ferulic features a synergistic antioxidant combination of 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% ferulic acid to enhance protection against environmental damage caused by free radicals that can contribute to atmospheric aging. C E Ferulic is now proven to reduce combined oxidative damage generated by UVA/UVB rays, ozone pollution, and diesel engine exhaust by up to 41%. In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, C E Ferulic improves signs of aging and photodamage, the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and the loss of firmness, while brightening skin’s complexion.
RETINOL 0.3, 0.5, 1.0
Retinol aka vitamin A promotes cell turnover, improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, pores, and blemishes and is formulated to minimize irritation commonly associated with the use of retinol night creams
HYDRATING B5 GEL
Hydrating B5 Gel replenishes nutrients the skin needs to feel smooth and appear younger. This oil free moisturizer combines vitamin B5 with hyaluronic acid, the body’s natural hydrator, to help bind moisture to the skin.
HYALURONIC ACID INTENSIFIER (H.A.)
Amplifies skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by 30% which reduces the look of crow’s feet, nasolabial folds (parenthesis around the mouth or laugh lines), and marionette lines (lines from the corners of the mouth down to chin) for smoother, firmer skin and delivering long lasting hydration to visibly improve skin’s texture.
Use code SKINFOOD for 15% off your next order on www.skinceuticals.com!
