No longer reserved for health food shops, superfood ingredients from kale to algae and moringa to chia seeds are appearing as much in our beauty products as they are in our smoothies, or sprinkled on our granola. For a while now there’s been a growing interest in wellbeing which coincides with natural and organic beauty. There’s a rise in curiosity among women of all ages about what exactly goes into our beauty products as we all search for cleaner, greener options. No wonder Pantone named ‘greenery’ the color of the year!

Discover some of the ingredients you should be looking for you when you shop beauty.

Avocado

I once saw the avocado described as the passionate love-child of a vegetable and a stick of butter: creamy, fatty, healthy and delicious. Can I get an amen? It’s a superfood alright, but so rich in beautifying ingredients that you should be eating avocados as well as applying them topically.

The oil of an avocado is very similar to the oil found in your skin, but boasts vitamin E, potassium and lecithin which work as a nutritious ‘drink’ for your skin and help generate strong new cells. These nutrients, along with amino acids and proteins in avocados, are ideal for hydrating your hair too. Together, these work to improve both the appearance and structure of existing hair while promoting healthier, faster growth of new strands and improving the overall condition of your scalp.

Chia

Chia is one of the richest botanical sources of Omega 3 fatty acids found in nature and chia seed oil is loaded with unusually high levels of phyto-nutrients and anti-oxidants.

Chia is a powerful source of alpha lipoic acid: a powerful antioxidant that helps to minimize fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores, while encouraging healthy cellular function and increasing radiance. Also, chia seed oil is clinically proven to significantly increase skin hydration, reduce trans-epidermal water loss and increase skin barrier function in even the driest skin.

Goji berries

In the Ningxia Hui region of Northern China ,where goji berries are grown and eaten on a daily basis, there are reportedly 16(!) times as many people over the age of 100 as in the rest of the country.

Goji berries are little antioxidant powerhouses and serious sources of vitamin C, minerals, amino acids, carotenoids, and polysaccharides—all the great things that do everything from supporting collagen production to protecting your skin’s elasticity.

Discover your most radiant visage yet.

Quinoa

The nutrients found in quinoa, the ones that also make it a great addition to your superfood salad, that your skin and hair will love.

Quinoa extract can help brighten your complexion, slow down the aging process and smooth out those fine lines. It also gets in the way of bad guys matrix metalloproteinases, which cause collagen breakdown, and the enzyme and melain granules needed to produce hyperpigmentation. Quinoa is a great antioxidant too.

The protein content found in quinoa is higher than in any other grain or seed. Hair needs protein, which nourishes your scalp and hair from deep within to encourage the growth of healthy strands. Because it’s so rich in minerals, like calcium, iron and phosphorus, quinoa helps to retain moisture in your scalp and prevent dryness and flakiness. Because quinoa is packed with vitamin E, it can also minimize hair loss.

Spirulina

Spirulina contains vitamin E, selenium and tyrosine, which essentially say “NO!” to aging. The antioxidants present in tyrosine for example, eliminate free radicals and slow down the aging process. Spirulina is also a wonderful source of chlorophyll, which has cleansing properties, and it helps your skin retain moisture – important for maintaining the appearance of smoother, hydrated skin.

barettom

Writer and expert

Beauty Discoveries: Superfood Beauty

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