Why opt for surgery, painful fillers or shell out for expensive face creams when you can achieve similar effects of an instant facelift from the comfort of your home? It’s no secret that you are what you eat. Just as the saying goes, true beauty starts from the inside out. In saying that, check out five foods to brighten, tighten and over time lighten dark spots.
Avocados
Bump what ya heard about this delicious fruit. While it’s true that avocados sometimes get a bad rap due to their fat content, they can do wonders for your skin.
Packed with “good fats” like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, avocados guard the skin from sun damage, protecting against symptoms like sensitivity and inflammation.
They also boost collagen production, resulting in a soft, supple appearance, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University states.
Garlic
While it might not be the best for your breath, garlic is a natural antibiotic with properties that both cleanse the blood and boost the immune system.
Garlic also works as an antibacterial, which when eaten raw or crushed in your favorite dishes, is shown to soothe breakouts and reduce the swelling and inflammation associated with acne.In fact, popular beauty bloggers like Farah Dhukai swear by its ability to “flatten your pimple and get rid of it overnight, if not instantly!” she wrote in a viral video posted to social media, putting a spotlight on a pimple on her chin, which by the next day, appeared nonexistent.
Oyster
This well-known aphrodisiac works as a skin brightener thanks to its high level of vitamin B12 and iron.
Tomatoes
Research says the secret to youthful skin could lurk in your vegetable drawer.Packed with an age-defying nutrient called lycopene (which gives the fruit its bright red color) tomatoes can reduce damage from ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
In a clinical study, which monitored the skin of 20 women, after being exposed to UV rays at the beginning and end of the trial, researchers discovered a significant improvement in the skin’s ability to protect itself against sun damage among those who ate the tomato paste.
Spinach
Like many other dark leafy greens, Popeye’s go-to grub is rich in lutein, an antioxidant known for its eye-boosting properties. However, per research, spinach does so much more, including, preventing wrinkles.
Also, packed with nutrients like vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, indoles, and glutathione.
This veggie aids in retaining the dermis’ moisture and elasticity, as well as preventing damage caused by free radicals.
But it doesn’t stop there! Its high levels of vitamins C and K help reduce unsightly dark circles under the eyes, onset by exhaustion or poor circulation, among other things.
Credit: blackdoctor.com
