Using Food for Beauty

You don't need expensive skin creams to bring out your skin's natural beauty, and many commercial products contain additives or chemicals that can cause skin to break out. Consider reaching for these whole ingredients to get glowing without hurting your wallet.

1. Avocado. If you are prone to dry skin, the healthy fats found in avocado can help nourish your skin. Mix half an avocado with a bit of honey and plain yogurt, and spread on your skin. Leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing. You can also use mashed avocado as a deep conditioner for your hair.
2. Banana. Got brown, speckled bananas? Don't throw them away. Mash an overripe banana and use it instead of shaving cream. Bananas also act as a natural exfoliator for your face —without the grittiness associated with store-bought brands.
3. Coconut oil. This rich oil, which is solid when at a temperature lower than 76 degrees Fahrenheit, is used for cooking and baking, but it is gentle enough to be used on dry skin on your body. It's noncomedogenic, so you don't have to worry about clogged pores if you use it on your face. You can also smooth coconut oil onto hair for an intense and tropical-smelling hair treatment.
4. Oatmeal. Oats can help slough off dead skin cells while hydrating. To make a gentle exfoliator, mix plain oats, honey, lemon juice and water into a paste. Simply rub the mixture into skin and then rinse clean.

Having glowing, healthy skin can be as easy as filling your plate or glass.

• Drink plenty of water. Sipping water throughout the day can help boost skin cell production and clear out toxins.
• Have healthy fats in your diet. While some fats are bad for your overall health, many of the same fats that are good for you — such as the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and walnuts — can also help plump up your skin.
• Make time for tea! Green tea contains less caffeine than black, making it a great source of skin hydration. Antioxidants in this light tea may also protect skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
• Snack on celery or other crunchy greens. These veggies naturally contain water as well as the nutrient silica, which can promote elasticity in aging skin.

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