I've been looking at myself in the mirror more now that the Long Dark is coming to an end and the promise of sunshine's return is around the corner. Winter turns me, without fail, into my most self-neglected persona. I get the seasonal bummers super hard, and by February I can barely recognize myself. This is my annual mental health struggle, and it kicks my ass.
A touch of sunshine, the first blossoming plum trees, and I start to feel sharper, more human, more aware of my role as an ambassador of joy and warmth and love to all I meet. My skin, however...yikes. It's dull and dry and fighting a new mini breakout every day. So as I shake off the dust and try to remember how to take care of myself from the inside out, I invite you to come along and take care of yourself too. Let's buddy-system this!
I know little to nothing about cosmetics, creams, lotions and all that good stuff. While I'm in awe of the myriad external applications available to us in the realm of skincare, the one area I do feel confident talking to you about is internal.
On that note, let's look at some of my internal skin care bffs by category!
1. Vitamin C
- Rose hip (as in Happy Place)
- Citrus peel (as in Mistress Grey)
- Hibiscus (as in Spring Tea)
- Berries (as in Strawberry Snap)
- Guava (as in Sweaters & Stars)
- TEA! (yes, as in pure tea leaves)
2. Iron
If you've ever struggled with anemia, you know how important blood iron is for your energy. Turns out, iron is vital for blood oxygen delivery. When your blood oxygen distribution is low, your energy suffers, but so do your skin, hair, and nails. Dark under eye circles become more pronounced, skin becomes dull and dry, and cellular regeneration struggles big-time.
One of the most important things to consider when looking at iron supplementation is bio-availability, and really only one plant has all the necessary accompanying vitamins to boost absorption of non-heme iron, ready to be absorbed easily by the body:
- Nettle (as in Baby Steps or Caged Heart)
Note that you can also pair your non-heme iron from other plant sources with vitamin C to triple the absorption rate, so don't count out other sources! Pair wisely and enjoy the benefits!
3. Silica
Like vitamin C, silica is key in supporting skin elasticity and repair. It's a wizard at helping cells retain hydration, keeping your skin plump and bouncy. Silica is also responsible for the growth of hair and nails, as well as cellular regeneration to replace shed skin with fresh skin.
My personal go-to plant sources for silica are:
- Shavegrass (aka horsetail, as in Shield Maiden)
- Barley (as in Mugicha)
- Leafy greens (as in Moon Magic)
4. Zinc
This mineral is the boss of cellular division, helping our skin, hair and nails repair damage and grow strong. Not only do many nuts and legumes carry high amounts of zinc, you can also find it in some of the tastiest fruits!
My favorite zinc bombs:
- Black currant (as in Carson's Cuppa)
- Strawberry (as in Inflammation Rescue)
- Blackberries (as in Found Family)
- Banana (as in Family Tree)
- Citrus peel (as in Olympus)
5. Biotin
This is a contentious one, I'll admit. Biotin is hugely popular on the "this supplement will help your hair and nails grow long and strong" market, and in theory biotin can help boost keratin production, lengthening and strengthening nail and hair growth, but lab studies haven't been able to prove it. Biotin's benefit has been observed, but no strong ties have been definitively, replicably lab-demonstrated.
Personally, I'm a believer. Here are my fave plant sources:
- Mushrooms (as in Druid's Dreams)
- Almonds (as in French Cookie)
- Raspberries (as in Proof of Life)
- Dandelion Root (as in Taurus)
What CAN'T tea do, amiright? Cheers, teaheart. I'm raising a cup of my fave featuring all of the above, Hair, Skin & Nail Support, to you, to me, and to our shared glowy fabulousness.
Did you see some surprises on this list? Some of your personal faves?
What's your go-to skin care snack or sip? Lay some knowledge on us in the comments!
xoxo, Friday
References:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-silica
https://www.chitocare.co.uk/blogs/news-press/silica-the-building-block-of-healthy-skin-benefits
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540969/
https://plantura.garden/uk/green-living/nutrition/fruits-and-vegetables-with-zinc
https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/hair-loss/biotin-for-hair-and-nails-a-waste-of-your-time
https://vegamour.com/blogs/blog/foods-with-biotin
