Hey! Who said you can keep skin healthy only through moisturizers and serums? Skin, like any other organ of our body, needs nourishment from WITHIN .
We have all studied in school about skin being the largest organ of our body — and how it protects us from bacteria, and harmful chemicals . So why be lazy when it comes to taking care of our skin?
Trust me , eating right is the key to getting that glowing, smooth and hydrated skin, apart from the usual skin care routine.
There are various skin types and each requires some special foods to keep them healthy. Today we are going to talk about foods for dry skin.
Content index
- Do you have dry skin ?
- Foods for preventing dry skin
- Skin care products for dry skin
If you asked yourself, “Do I even have dry skin?”
Then read on…
Firstly , flaky rough texture
Those white flakes you see on your face which, no matter how hard you try to get rid off, always come back magically.
Secondly, itchiness
That irresistible itch your skin gives you right in the middle of an important meeting. So embarrassing right? All due to lack of moisture.
Thirdly, cracks in the skin
The skin shrinks as it dries out, causing those thin cracks on our skin — especially our feet.
So now that you have confirmed you have dry skin , let's look at how to treat them using a diet for dry skin.
As much as skincare products are important for taking care of our dry skin, a proper diet for dry skin is definitely the icing on the cake!
What type of food does dry skin need ?
Remember this, a dry skin lacks certain essential vitamins including
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
Any food that has these ingredients can easily quench the hunger of our dry skin!
Now, let's dive into those magical foods for preventing dry skin.
Amruth foods for dry skin
Nuts
Badams do not stop at just giving sharp memory power, but also goes a step further to provide a hydrated skin. We may not be fans of nuts, but honestly it is the best source of vitamins , antioxidants and minerals . The almonds we tend to skip are the powerhouse of Vitamin E and zinc that reduces skin inflammation, and curbs skin dryness. Walnuts, on the other hand , are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin B that locks the moisture in our skin.
Nuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats essential to the oxidative stress on our skin, making them a good source of diet for dry skin.
Avocado
What's the buzz about avocado anyways? Apparently, it's packed with antioxidants, essential fatty acids and minerals . So it is good after all!
It nourishes the skin with antioxidants and also provides those VIP vitamins — A, D and E — to hydrate your skin. An avocado toast for breakfast , as yummy as it is, is a good ingredient to eliminate dry skin.
Sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are definitely underrated. While plain potatoes hog the limelight for tasty foods, sweet potatoes are actually no less. Packed with a good source of Vitamin A , sweet potatoes it helps hydrate skin and also increases the iron content in our blood . Isn't that amazing !
A sweet potato curry, or parata (my mother makes it) is truly scrumptious, along with helping to moisturize dry skin.
Coconut oil
One of the main ingredients in our kitchen, it also happens to be the best food for dry skin. Applying or consuming coconut oil works as a natural moisturizer. It reduces inflammation and keeps our skin healthy. No wonder our ancestors stressed on including coconut oil in our daily meals like kootu, and for cooking vegetables. But beware! Too much coconut oil is also unhealthy!
Oat milk
Milk has become a debatable food for the wellbeing of our body and skin. Putting aside cow’s milk, other forms of plant-based milk are relatively safe . Oat milk is a good alternative for cow’s milk — trust me, you will see a huge difference in your skin.
Oat milk has Vitamin D that is anti-inflammatory. If you are looking for foods that help dry skin , this one is a must.
Eggs
Eggs are tasty in any form and they moisturize our skin, since they are a good source of protein. Plus, they contain sulfur and luthin that preserve skin elasticity !
And for those of you who are vegans or vegetarians, soy milk is a good alternate source of protein .
Turmeric
Turmeric milk has been the age-old treatment for any illness in our houses. Do you know the reason for this?Turmeric boosts our immunity, apart from providing anti-inflammatory properties to our body. The same applies for our skin . Its curcumin content treats dry skin from the root cause. By just adding a pinch of turmeric powder to your sambar, rasam and any other food, you can make your skin glow and stay away from dryness.
Citrus fruits
C for Vitamin C , C for Citrus fruits !
Citrus fruits are one of the best foods for dry skin. Oranges, lemons, mosambi and even guavas are packed with Vitamin C, an important ingredient to curb dry skin. If you don't like consuming them raw, make juices from them( just like I do) . They are also a source of rehydration for our skin.
Carrot
Carrots are known for its Vitamin A content, and are also the best source of beta carotene . Both these vitamins help in evening out the skin tone and are important for dry skin nutrition.
Many actresses have glowing skin since they drink carrot juice everyday!
Leafy vegetables
They say anything healthy is not very tasty.Leafy vegetables are no exception. But even if we dislike them , they are very helpful in managing antioxidant levels, due to their abundance of Vitamin A.
Saag, methi, palak…the list goes on. And the best part is that they are very low in calories, so hurry up and eat them!
Oh, and of course, water. How could we forget that!
Water
I cannot stress the importance of water! It is the easiest source to hydrate our skin, apart from providing so many benefits for our body.
Do not forget to consume sufficient quantities of water, especially if you have dry skin .
The minimum intake of water is 3-4 liters per day, but how many of us actually drink this much ? Have water when it's available and even set a reminder on your phone to not forget.
Before you even start on your diet for dry skin, start with water! It stops dehydration and rejuvenates the skin.
Having talked about foods, it is just as important to take care of our skin externally.
Here, our skin care products come into the picture . Let's look at the skintelligent way to deal with dryness.
Deep Hydration Serum For Dry Skin With Licorice Root & Turmeric
This serum is a must have for dry skin care routine. Embellished with rich licorice root extract and turmeric, it soothes the skin and provides protection against external irritants.
Treats
- Lactic Acid helps your skin to stay elastic, smooth and more flexible
- Sodium hyaluronate has the magical duality to moisturize skin and reduce inflammation.
Prevents
- Squalene present in the serum prevents fine lines.
- Turmeric acts as a powerful antioxidant to reduce inflammation.
Deep-hydrating Face Cleanser
Packed with the duo ingredients, Lactic acid and Alpha Arbutin, this face cleanser is proven to fight dry skin.
Treats
- Lactic acid is a natural AHA which helps skin elasticity and lightens dark spots
- Sodium hyaluronate has the magical duality to moisturize skin and reduce inflammation
Prevents
Alpha Arbutin brightens the skin tone and keeps it hydrated for at least 8 hours — and won't clog your pores!
Deep-hydrating Body Lotion with Almond oil and Wheat Germ
This 100 %natural body lotion locks in moisture and never leaves your skin dry. It also reduces itchiness and dry skin .
Treats
- Kojic acid treats skin conditions such as sun damage, scars, and age spots
- Almond oil preserves the skin’s natural moisture
Prevents
Wheat germ builds collagen and honey corrects the uneven skin tone.
All in all , keeping our skin healthy is not as complicated as it sounds. Just some simple skin care routine, plus most importantly, eating the right foods (dry skin nutrition) can take us a long way.
Here’s wishing you a happy skin!