What to eat for better skin
  • Lifestyle

What to eat for better skin

Glowing skin begins within. Support your skin health daily as we reveal what to eat for healthy skin.

By Hannah Mepham

19 Minute read

Could making small changes to your diet help you to manage your skin concerns better?

Discover the best foods for your skin type as we share expert tips on what to eat for healthy skin and recommend our favourite organic skin care products to support your lifestyle changes.

What to eat for clearer skin

Is your skin oily and prone to breaking out? Are you wondering what to eat to help clear your skin?

It’s no secret that a high-sugar diet can lead to spots and other signs of imbalanced skin, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the occasional sweet treat. With oily skin, balance is key, as Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, explains:

Charlotte says:

“If you’re consuming a lot of greasy food full of hydrogenated fats, breakouts could soon follow.

Keeping your pores clear and your microbiome balanced is key to preventing spots from forming. For this, you need a spot-controlling cleansing routine and a balanced diet that features Probiotics.

Food for your skin’s good bacteria, probiotics strengthen skin defences to keep harmful bacteria, such as acne, at bay. They can be consumed orally, via food or a supplement, or applied directly to the skin via Probiotic skin care.

A deficiency of B2 is also known to cause oily skin, so eat plenty of leafy green vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts. These are all great sources of B2.”

CHOOSE

CURB

Whole grains

Fried food

Nuts

Soft drinks

Omega fatty-3 acids

Alcohols

Leafy green vegetables

Sugar

Fresh fruit

Chocolate

Water

Junk food

Probiotic supplements

Support dietary change with our recommended routine for oily and spot-prone skin: Spot Control Bundle.

What to eat for dry skin

Dry skin can be caused by many factors, with the overuse of harsh skin care being the leading cause. It can also be easily damaged and compromised by irritants.

However, a skin barrier-boosting skin care routine coupled with healthy dietary choices will repair the damage and encourage stronger, healthier skin that’s better equipped to hold onto hydration.

In her book Naturally Gorgeous, Charlotte Vøhtz explains that dry skin can be a sign of a deficiency in fatty acids, vitamin A and vitamin B.

She also explains that diuretics, such as coffee and alcohol, can dehydrate the skin, leading to dryness.

Advising on what to eat for dry skin, Charlotte says:

“Dry skin lacks hydration, so drink plenty of water and swap caffeinated drinks for non-diuretic herbal teas. Limit your alcohol intake and increase your intake of oily fish, whole grains and B5-rich leafy vegetables like broccoli.

Zinc (found in oysters and nuts) and vitamins C and E are essential for skin repair. Snack on nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and orange/yellow fruits rich in Vitamin C”.

CHOOSE

CURB

Water and herbal tea

Alcohol

 

Whole grains

Caffeine

 

Nuts and seeds

Fried food

 

Oily fish and Oysters

Hydrogenated vegetable oils

 

Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables

Junk food

 

As well as changing your diet for dry skin, you can boost your skin’s hydration levels with gentle, natural skin care. We recommend our Radiance Skin Essentials Set, containing 3 of our bestsellers.

What to eat for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin needs extra care, so choose gentle, hypoallergenic skin creams that are clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin. Fragrance is a common trigger for sensitivity, so it is best to stick to scent-free skin care for now.

On the topic of what to eat for sensitive skin, Charlotte says:

“Like dry skin, sensitive skin needs plenty of water, Omega-3 and Vitamin C. Avoid skin-drying alcohol and curb your consumption of very spicy food.

If you have rosacea-prone skin, follow NHS guidance and avoid alcohol, spicy food and hot drinks, especially during flare-ups. Dairy foods such as chocolate, cheese and yoghurt are also known to trigger rosacea and should be consumed in moderation.

Food allergies, such as gluten intolerance and peanut allergies, are known to unsettle the skin. Dairy allergies are linked to childhood eczema. If you believe that a food allergy may be causing your skin irritation, it is best to book an allergy test through your GP.”

CHOOSE

CURB

Water

Spicy foods

 

Dairy alternatives

Alcohol

 

Probiotic food supplements

Food colourings

 

 

Common allergens, such as

nuts, dairy and gluten

 

So that everyone can enjoy our skin care safely, we do not use gluten in our products.

We also independently submit our products for clinical testing and mark when they have been dermatologically tested and declared kind to sensitive skin.

Our favourite skin care match for sensitive skin is our scent-free Calming Skin Essentials Set.

What to eat for sun-damaged skin

Do you spend a lot of time in the sun? If you have sunburn or you have a high level of sun exposure over an extended period, the last thing you need is to irritate your skin further through your food choices.

Charlotte says:

“Soothe the discomfort with cooling Aloe Vera after the sun and then avoid consuming anything that could trigger inflammation in the skin, such as spicy food.

Sun-damaged skin is vulnerable to dehydration, so swap that cocktail for a fresh fruit mocktail and drink plenty of water to keep skin soft and prevent peeling.

Antioxidants can help neutralise ageing free radical activity, which can be triggered by sun exposure so eating plenty of antioxidant fruits and vegetables is also a good idea.”

Make sure to protect your skin from future sun damage with a good sun cream and use an antioxidant-rich after sun to cool and soothe. Our Organic Sun Essentials Set is great for getting started with natural sun care.

You can also help to prepare your skin for sun exposure by taking an astaxanthin supplement daily.  

An antioxidant 500 times more potent than Vitamin E and 10 times stronger than beta-carotene, Astaxanthin is the natural way to help shield your skin cells from environmental stress. It is found in our Age Defy+ Green Beauty Supplement alongside 6 superfoods, including tissue-repairing Spirulina, Wheatgrass and Barley.

We hope you have found this guide on what to eat for better skin helpful! Why not support lifestyle changes with natural and organic skin care that is packed full of plant-powered goodness for your skin?

If you have any questions about our products, you can contact our friendly UK customer care team on 01403 740350 or on social @GreenPeopleUK.

 

The information in this post is intended as guidance only and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant, diabetic or taking any medication, always consult your GP before making any major changes to your diet.

Reviewed by:

This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals

If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "What to eat for better skin." Please do not use an affiliate link.

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What to eat for better skin
Lifestyle

What to eat for better skin

Glowing skin begins within. Support your skin health daily as we reveal what to eat for healthy skin.

By Hannah Mepham

02/01/2025

19 Minute read

READ NOW
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