Slather on your SUPERFOODS
They’re the hottest new trend in skincare
YOU probably know all about superfoods when it comes to diet — ingredients that pack a powerful punch with their nutritional and healthgiving properties. But what you might not know is that those same ingredients could also supercharge your skincare. Here’s a rundown of the fruit and veg that should be finding their way on to your face — and not just your plate …
AVOCADO
MUCH ridiculed for being a 1970s clichéd starter and the millennial’s brunch toasttopper of choice, the avocado is a dietary star because as well as being packed with hearthealthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, it also contains fibre and magnesium, essential for regulating blood pressure and blood sugar.
‘Avocado has high levels of vitamins A and E,’ says Emma Coleman, a dermatology and aesthetic nurse who has her own range of skincare ( emmacolemanskin. ‘That makes it highly protective against free radicals [unstable molecules associated with skin ageing] and sunlight damage, and also encourages cell renewal.’
You might be tempted by a DIY mask, but as avocado pulp is only about 60 per cent avocado oil, you might be better trying it in a properly formulated product. FIND IT IN: Organic Avocado Botanical Oil, £11.80, uk.typology. (pictured above) a cold- pressed 100 per cent organic, multi-purpose oil that can remove make-up, soften and nourish skin and condition hair.
BLUEBERRIES
LOW calorie, high-fibre and packed full of antioxidants, blueberries are — from a nutritional perspective — berry royalty, thanks to the anthocyanin pigments that they contain.
These are responsible for their colour, but are also potent antioxidants that have been associated with a lower risk of some diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
These antioxidants also make them a good skincare ingredient; combating free radicals, but, says Emma, they’re also ‘ high in essential fatty acids and phytonutrients, making them effective for moisturising and reducing inflammation.’ FIND IT IN: Evolve Raw Cacao & Blueberry Radiant Glow Mask, £24 (above), hollandandbarrett. com. It’s not their antioxidant benefits that are being capitalised on here, but their seeds. This eco-friendly mask uses them as a natural exfoliant to gently buff away skin cells. If you want their antioxidant power, find them in Lush’s Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask (£9, uk.lush.com) designed to soothe and protect sensitive skins.
QUINOA
QUINOA is seen as a wonder-grain because as well as being high in fibre, it’s also very high in protein (it has twice as much as rice or barley).
‘ From a skincare point of view, quinoa helps to refine and smooth the look of uneven skin texture with its potent levels of vitamin E,’ comments Emma. FIND IT IN: Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate, £ 42.50, kiehls. co. uk, (above) or the less expensive Revolution Skincare Quinoa Night Peel, £8, revolutionbeauty. co.uk. Both use an extract from the seed which is rich in essential fatty acids that help to restore the skin’s barrier function, keeping it hydrated.
BROCCOLI
ONE of the family of cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is the dietitian’s favourite because it’s associated with lowering the risk of cancers, and also improving heart health, thanks to its combination of fibre, antioxidants and vitamin C. Broccoli in skincare tends not to be florets, instead formulators use broccoli seed oil. ‘It has high levels of erucic acid (omega-9) which leaves skin supple and hydrated as well as encouraging collagen production,’ says Emma. FIND IT IN: Elemis Superfood Facial Oil, £ 45, elemis. com. Among the nine antioxidant-rich superfoods it contains is broccoli seed oil. Packed with essential fatty acids and vitamin C, it’s a lightweight oil that works alongside several others — including flaxseed oil and rosehip oil — to help nourish and plump skin.
KALE
LIKE its leafy-green plate mate, spinach, kale gets its health credentials from the antioxidants that give it its colour, but also because it contains loads of vitamins, and gram for gram, when cooked, contains more iron than a steak.
‘Kale also has high concentrations of Vitamins A, B, C, and K, as well as antioxidants and phytonutrients,’ says Emma. ‘These help to reduce dark circles, promoting collagen production, increasing cell turnover.’ FIND IT IN: Sweet Chef Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot, £18.50, cultbeauty. co. uk. Made in Korea, this serum is described as a ‘ superfood smoothie to plump and replenish while shielding your face from aggressors’. The kale extract, rich in vitamins and antioxidants, is combined with vitamin B and aloe vera.