We all want to look our best during the holidays, what with all of the parties and family photos.  In order to do this, our skin needs to look radiant and glowing, but the hustle and bustle of the season can make this difficult to achieve.  The answer to glowing skin might not be in that expensive jar of lotion, but right there in your refrigerator!  Keep reading to learn more about what foods you should eat and what foods you should avoid in order to achieve gorgeous holiday skin.

Tips on Foods to Eat and Avoid This Holiday Season

Besides recommending the usual restful night’s sleep and daily exercise we would like to take a different approach to preventing and eliminating skin irritation which can often lead to other skincare concerns.

For Breakouts

What to eat

Bright red and orange fruits and vegetables have beta carotene which your body converts to oil reducing Vitamin A. Green leafy vegetables contain Vitamin B6 which minimizes swelling, so pimples are reduced.

What to avoid

Iodine rich salt, shrimp and seaweed stimulate oil glands, inducing irritation of pores.

For Stress-Induced Wrinkles

What to eat

Fruits rich in color (such as berries) have Vitamin C which help to promote anti-aging, skin firming collagen and antioxidants. Orange seafood like salmon and lobster contain Astaxanthin, another potent antioxidant stronger than Vitamin C and E.

What to avoid

Excess sugar!  We must balance sugar intake because too much sugar can affect the skin, binding to collagen and elastin fibers, breaking down elasticity, resulting in sagging skin.

Dry Skin

What to eat

Drink lots of water and eats foods with good fats (which will help to keep cell walls strong and prevent water loss) like avocado and olive oil as well as citrus and kiwi (the potassium they contain regulates the body’s water levels). Cabbage has sulfur which can help to prevent dry, irritated skin.

What to avoid

Drinks like coffee and black tea dehydrate your internal tissues and skin. Most fried foods contain trans fats and hydrogenated oils which can often deplete levels of good fats and can lead to dry skin.

Rosacea

What to eat

A symptom of inflammation in the body, chronic rosacea often controlled by topical medication can also be managed by eating calming foods such as fish, cucumbers and licorice.  Turmeric seasoning, which gives curried dishes their marigold hue, is high in Curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

What to avoid

Hot foods (in temperature and spiciness) and alcohol and caffeine make blood vessels swell so skin appears redder. Niacin rich peanuts can also increase flushing.