Feed Your Skin

FEED YOUR

Skin

Matcha powders and goji berries are still seriously #trending, claiming to provide a range of health benefits, and have you feeling and looking good for longer. But how well do those benefits translate to skin products? STRONG Australia Beauty Editor Kristina Ioannou investigates whether proclaimed ‘superfoods’ are as good for you on the outside as they are on the inside.

Super trend Superfoods are familiar to anyone who inspects labels, hovers around shelves at their local health food shop or thumbs through their favourite fitness magazine.

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, “a food is promoted to superfood status when it offers high levels of desirable nutrients, is linked to the prevention of a disease, or is believed to offer several simultaneous health benefits beyond its nutritional value”.

The trend is so rampant that in 2018, Mordor Intelligence reported that the global superfood market is predicted to register an increased revenue of US $22.97 billion by 2024, as consumers become more inclined towards natural and wholesome ingredients. It is, after all, an appealing idea – that some foods are healthy, some unhealthy and some superhealthy. Why change your habits, when you can correct them by adding goji berries? But it’s worth noting that there’s no scientifically based or regulated definition for superfoods despite their high nutritional value.

This doesn’t seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of the beauty industry. Salad and smoothie staples – kale, acai, chia seeds, spirulina – are now making cameos in the world of skincare about as quickly as you can say ‘avocado oil’. Superfood serums, creams, masks and even nail polishes are popping up like juice bars on every corner.

But what exactly is so super about these trendy ingredients and how can they improve the quality of your skin?

Food not only fuels our bodies, but also feeds our cells and influences our microbiome – the ecosystem of microorganisms that populate the gut.

“In order to cultivate a healthy microbiome and experience all of the associated benefits – glowing skin, increased energy and improved wellbeing – it’s important to nourish your body with pure, unadulterated wholefoods, including superfoods,” explains wellness expert and Founder of The Beauty Chef, Carla Oates (thebeautychef.com).

Unsurprisingly, consuming a diet high in processed foods, as opposed to a diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants, can negatively influence the number and species of microbes in the gut.

Nutritionist Monica Caligiuri (realrawwild. com.au) agrees that the food we eat today creates the blueprint that determines the quality of our skin tomorrow, which is why superfoods can be an appealing choice when it comes to diet and health.

“Superfoods are nutrient dense and give our skin the nutrition it needs to glow while helping immune health, hormone health and gut health, which in turn can improve the quality and appearance of skin,” says Caligiuri.

“As superfoods offer the highest source of nutrients, they can be of immense benefit to the skin when applied topically.”

Similar to organic and natural beauty products, some superfood-infused skin care focus on using effective, natural ingredients as opposed to irritating nasties.

And with names that sound like a green juice concoction you found on Pinterest or a healthy brew from your local tea room, these products sound positively good enough to eat (remember: they’re not) and even better to slap on the skin.

“That’s because the skin is the body’s largest organ and primarily acts as a protective barrier with its own living microorganisms that work to block out pathogens and absorb nutrients,” says Caligiuri.

But even though some health experts acknowledge that certain superfood ingredients may improve overall skin condition, these so-called treasure troves of nutrition aren’t necessarily effective if their efficacy has been compromised.

“Certified organic is always preferable where possible, as this way we can ensure that the ingredient – whatever it may be – hasn’t come into contact with any potentially harmful chemicals, including pesticides, that could affect our gut health and therefore our skin health,” says Naturopath and skin health expert Emily Bathgate (thepuristcollection. com.au). Beauty on the inside You can consume all the smoothie bowls, bone broth and turmeric shots in the world and slather yourself top to toe in a kale-enriched moisturiser, but you still might be lacking the nutrients

needed for boosting beautification. It’s what the makers of the new breed of nutritional supplements are betting on, blending obscure superfoods and powerful nutrients into easily poppable pills and tasty drinks that promise to deliver youthful, radiant and resilient skin and even lusher locks.

Although there are few large-scale clinical trials that have been conducted to back up these appealing claims, if you’re willing to give them a go, many of these oral ingestibles boast a plethora of superfoods that may make up for some nutritional shortfalls in your diet impacting skin, hair and nail health.

OUR TOP 5 Imbibe Beauty Renewal This delicious bio-fermented multi-strain probiotic concentrate unleashes a wave of skin hydrating properties to promote elasticity and improve your gut health, which is a major plus for beautiful, dewy skin. $44, imbibeliving.com

INGESTIBLES 1

3 4 The Beauty Chef Hydration Inner Beauty Boost A medley of organic coconutinfused, bio-fermented, probiotic goodness helps support your gut health and enhances skin radiance by boosting hydration and restoring electrolyte balance to naturally hydrate from the inside-out. $42, thebeautychef.com Welleco Super Elixir Greens A daily supplement bursting with naturally derived superfoods, wholefoods, herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals and probiotics to support the appearance of luminous skin and stronger hair and nails. $145, welleco.com.au

Bear Nourish Essential Daily Superpowder With essential minerals including magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin E and phosphorus. This will help support a healthy digestive system, immune system and nervous system to promote healthy, radiant skin. $45, bearltd.com.au 2

5Kora Noni Glow Superfood Supplement The brainchild of Miranda Kerr, this potent, nutrient-dense superfood supplement is a one-two punch for your daily beauty and wellness benefits, inside and out. $19.95 (seven pack), koraorganics.com

SUPERHEROES Ingredient

ANTIOXIDANTRICH ACAI Acai, though a tough one to pronounce correctly (A-sah-hee or A-sigh?!), is famed for its high antioxidant content. Rich in essential fatty acids, this tiny berry provides hydrating and conditioning skincare benefits, and fights damaging free radicals caused by environmental stress.

Acai Body Power Cream, $69 mecca.com.au

MIGHTY MATCHA Most commonly found in a fancy Insta-worthy latte, matcha boasts remarkable properties to keep your complexion fresh and healthy and support skin structure. Not only does this green machine reduce inflammation and banish blemishes, it can also help shield skin from impurities and chemicals that could clog pores.

Salt by Hendrix Matcha Face Mask, $19.95 saltbyhendrix.com.au

The Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Powder, $65 thebeautychef.com

MAGICAL MICROALGAE At this point in the wellness game, you’ve probably heard of spirulina and chlorella. But there’s one type of microalgae that trumps them both: Dunaliella salina. “Rich in nutrients and naturally high in antioxidants, it contains more than double the mineral content and at least three times the beta-carotene of spirulina – the antioxidant that converts into vitamin A, which is necessary for hair growth and can help improve acne and the appearance of pigmentation,” says Oates.

GORGEOUS GOJI BERRY No surprises here – goji berries are the stars of the edible skincare world. Full of vitamin A, vitamin C and iron, they can deliver nutrients to the epidermis much faster than most foods, and allegedly help slow down signs of ageing, most likely thanks to antioxidants called anthocyanins, which are linked to some pretty impressive skin-protective outcomes, such as increasing elastin and rejuvenating tired-looking skin.

Glamglow Berryglow Probiotic Recovery Mask, $71 mecca.com.au

Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil, $110 mecca.com.au

BRILLIANT BROCCOLI This superfood is loaded with fibre, antioxidants and vitamin C to aid in iron absorption, and contains lutein, which helps protect your skin from wrinkleinducing oxidative damage. It’s also a rich source of vitamin A, which is good for cell renewal and healthy skin function.

SUBLIME SEEDS These little power parcels are full to the brim with skin-loving goodness such as vitamins B and E as well as zinc. Chia seeds, in particular, contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that are known to minimise pores and nourish the skin. Put them in your salad, grind them into a paste and use them to exfoliate, or reach for serums that contain chia seeds for some added wrinkle-fighting properties.

Votary Super Seed Facial Oil, $140

sephora.com.au

POWERFUL POMEGRANATE Brimming with skin-loving antioxidants, pomegranates are a fabulous source of fibre, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium. With incredible anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties, they’re a winner when it comes to encouraging radiant skin and vibrant health.

Happy Skincare Raindrops on Roses Hydrating Tonic, $29.70 happyskincare.com.au Essano Superfoods Kale Regenerating Night Creme, $24.99 essano.com.au

KNOCKOUT KALE Queen of the superfoods, kale boasts one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants and goes miles in keeping your skin looking fresh and youthful. An excellent source of nutrition, it offers up bucket loads of vitamins to naturally hydrate and calm your skin, repair sun damage, rebuild skin cells, and improve skin elasticity. Not too shabby for a leafy green, no?

QUENCHING QUINOA The ancient grain you know and love, quinoa is basically OG superfood status. Due to its nutritional prowess and with one of the highest concentrations of protein than any other grain, quinoa is fabulous at strengthening and moisturising the hair and skin. “Our liver needs plenty of protein in order to be able to function healthily – and as our detoxification organ, responsible for processing what the body does need, and effectively eliminate what it does not – the liver is incredibly important to skin health,” says Bathgate. Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Quinoa Co-Wash, $52 sephora.com.au

KICK-ASS KAKADU PLUM Perhaps one of the more exotic strands of superfoods, Kakadu Plum is hailed as the world’s richest source of Vitamin C and just so happens to be a native Australian superstar, considered a gift of the Dreamtime. “Vitamin C assists in collagen synthesis for healthy skin, as well as in reducing inflammation and preventing oxidative damage in the body,” explains Bathgate.

Mere Resilience 8 Bio-Illuminating Face Oil, $72 mereskincare.com

AMAZING AVOCADO Lovers of smashed avo, rejoice! Avocado is loaded with antioxidants including B-carotene, lecithin and linoleic acid that help moisturise skin. Because avocado is naturally rich in omega fatty acids, it quickly sinks deep to deliver essential nutrients and hydration, replenishing dull, lacklustre skin and helping it stay strong, smooth and supple.

Elemis Superfood Vital Veggie Mask, $54 mecca.com.au

GLOW-GIVING GREEN TEA Not only a great health beverage, green tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients to boost beauty. One of the antioxidants that makes it so fabulous is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which helps protect skin and hair from environmental stressors such as pollution and UV rays. Time to pop the kettle on. S