The saying “Beauty is skin deep” has been around for a long, long time. And indeed, that proverb holds much truth; we should never judge someone’s character by what we see on the outside. When it comes to skin health, though, what we see on the surface is influenced by what we use externally on our bodies and what we choose to consume internally. So, in this article, we share some of the superfoods for skin health that we feature in our body scrubs, body butters, and other spa and body care products. And you’ll also find recipe recommendations for incorporating the ingredients into your healthy eating routine.

9 Best Foods for Healthy Skin

Many foods have skin-boosting benefits. Among our favorites are those that we incorporate into our spa and body care products.

1. Black Tea

Studies have shown that drinking black tea has numerous health benefits. They’ve indicated black tea helps to improve blood pressure, reduce cancer risk, and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disorders, such as stroke. 

Its antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties benefit the skin by helping to reduce puffiness, fight skin infections and blemishes, delay signs of aging, and offer some protection against skin cancer.

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Black Tea

Chai to Resist Body Scrub

Healthy Recipe Recommendations Featuring Black Tea

• Black Tea Hot Toddy
• Thai Iced Tea

2. Cacao (a.k.a, Chocolate)

Who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s a tasty treat, and dark chocolate is good for you. It’s rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and minerals — such as iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, potassium, and zinc. Potential health benefits include improved cardiovascular health, immune function, and metabolism. 

For skin, chocolate in cocoa powder form has been shown to help reduce scarring, improve skin elasticity, and remove toxins. Cocoa butter, the oil from raw cacao seeds, contains fatty acids, vitamin E, and polyphenols that offer anti-aging benefits, promote healing, restore skin’s moisture, and protect against damage from the sun’s ultra-violet rays.

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Chocolate

• Chocolate Decadence Body Scrub
• Chocolate Decadence Body Butter
• Chocolate Decadence Lip Balm

Healthy Dark Chocolate Recipe Recommendations

• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie
• Mint Chocolate Protein Bars [No bake, vegan] – P.S. This features hemp protein powder, one of our FAVORITES!)

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon contains various compounds that offer wellness benefits. For example, cinnamaldehyde (a terpene) has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. And the phenol eugenol in cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and pain-relieving properties. 

Studies have indicated cinnamon can help reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It helps skin health by reducing puffiness and redness due to inflammatory skin conditions, facilitating the healing of blemishes, and offering some protection against skin cancer.

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Cinnamon

• Pumpkin Sorbet Body Scrub
• Pumpkin Mousse Body Butter
• Spiced Orange Cider Body Scrub
• Spiced Orange Cider Body Butter

Healthy Cinnamon Recipe Recommendations

• Cinnamon Energy Balls
• Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bake

4. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits contain various beneficial elements — such as phenols, vitamins, minerals, and other compounds — that give them health-boosting characteristics.  Lime, lemon, grapefruit, and orange have become known for their antiviral, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. They may help protect against cancers, control blood glucose levels, control cholesterol, improve mood, and reduce allergies. 

What can skin gain from citrus ingredients? The fruits’ vitamin C helps maintain skin elasticity, boost collagen production, and promote cell turnover — all of which help diminish the signs of aging. Citrus also naturally exfoliates skin with alpha hydroxyl, revealing a brighter, more even skin tone. 

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Citrus

• Coco Mojito Body Scrub
• Coco Mojito Body Butter
• Citrus Grove Body Scrub
• Citrus Grove Body Butter
• Burly Buff
• Burly Balm
• Burly Beard & Hair Oil

Healthy Citrus Recipe Recommendations

• Lemon – Lemony Scallops with Angel Hair Pasta
• Lime – Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls
• Orange – Navel Orange Salad with Avocado
• Pink Grapefruit – Ginger Grapefruit Salmon

5. Cranberries

Cranberries, rich in vitamins and antioxidants, have become well-known for treating urinary tract infections and supporting bladder health. Studies have also indicated they can help some people manage their risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering systolic blood pressure and BMI (body mass index) and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL). 

While research on the skin benefits of cranberry is limited, the fruit contains compounds known to improve skin health. For example, vitamin C helps reduce hyperpigmentation and improves skin tone. Also, cranberries are packed with plant phenols which help maintain collagen and elastin, thus supporting firmer skin.

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Cranberries

• Cranberry & Soy Body Scrub
• Cranberry Spice Body Butter

Healthy Cranberry Recipe Recommendations

• Roasted Salmon with Spicy Cranberry Relish
• Vegan Cranberry Bread Made with Oat Flour

6. Peppermint

Since ancient times in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, peppermint’s soothing effects on digestion have made it a popular remedy for stomach and intestinal issues, including gas, diarrhea, and nausea. Research has found that it helps alleviate itchy skin when applied topically.  Also, peppermint contains menthol — with cooling, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties — and can help relieve muscle pain and soreness.

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Peppermint

• Peppermint Swirl Body Scrub
• Peppermint Swirl Body Butter

Healthy Peppermint Recipe Recommendations

• Vegan Peppermint Mocha
• 3 Ingredient Paleo Vegan Peppermint Patties (Keto, Sugar-free)

7. Oatmeal

Rich in soluble fiber, oats have become synonymous with heart health for their effects in helping to lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. Research has also indicated that oats can help people lower their BMI by making them feel full after eating, reducing hunger, and preventing overeating. Oat fiber also helps aid digestion and decrease constipation. 

The antioxidants in oats have anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties. When applied topically to the skin, oatmeal can help alleviate dryness and soothe the discomfort of various skin conditions, such as eczema and atopic dermatitis. 

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Oatmeal

• Soothing Bath Infusion

Healthy Oatmeal Recipe Recommendations

• No-Cook Blueberry-Almond Oatmeal
• Ginger Cinnamon Baked Pear Oatmeal

8. Rosemary

The herb rosemary has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-depressant, and neuroprotective properties that have positive clinical effects on mood, pain level, anxiety, and sleep quality. 

Research has indicated rosemary is a bacteria-fighting, antifungal agent that helps maintain skin homeostasis (balance). 

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Rosemary

• Clarify Body Scrub
• Clarify Body Butter
• Invigorate Body Scrub
• Invigorate Body Butter

Healthy Rosemary Recipe Recommendations

• Slow-Cooked Cherry Tomatoes with Coriander and Rosemary
• Rosemary Butternut Squash Lasagna

9. Strawberries

Besides their mouth-watering appeal, strawberries have been termed a “functional food,” meaning they deliver health advantages above and beyond basic nutritional benefits. Strawberries contain micronutrients and phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive properties. Studies indicate they can help protect against cancer and heart disease — and even potentially reverse age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Research has shown that skincare formulations with strawberries may help protect skin against Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation damage (which counts for 95 percent of the sun’s UV rays that reach us here on Earth). Rich in vitamin C, strawberries can help diminish fine lines and wrinkles, brighten skin and lighten dark spots, and improve elasticity and firmness.

Featured Makes Scents Natural Spa Line Products with Strawberries

• Strawberry Fields Body Scrub
• Strawberry Fields Body Butter

Healthy Strawberry Recipe Recommendations

• Perfect Strawberry Smoothie
• Sunflower Strawberry Salad

“Food” for Thought

By carefully thinking about what you eat and the skincare products you use, you can be your own wellness advocate. The superfoods that we mentioned here are examples of how good nutrition can potentially enhance health — inside and out. 

Your turn! Which superfoods do you love best? Which superfood-rich Makes Scents Natural Spa Line products are your favorites?

Sources:

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González-Minero, F. J., Bravo-Díaz, L., & Ayala-Gómez, A. (2020). Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary): An Ancient Plant with Uses in Personal Healthcare and Cosmetics. Cosmetics, 7(4), 77. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics7040077 

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