MORE: 10 Smoothies For Pretty Skin Amaranth: The radiance boosterKnown for its cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering nutrients, this ancient grain is in facial oils like the Echium & Amaranth Age Confidence Facial Oil ($90; paiskincare.com). It fights DNA-damaging free radicals with the antioxidant vitamin E and helps keep skin hydrated with the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6—the same type of fats that make up healthy skin cell membranes. “They’re critical for helping the skin retain water and look more radiant,” says Ariel Ostad, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. Chia seeds: The ultra hydrator Photo by marilyna/Getty Images The seemingly endless variations of chia (from pods to butter to chips to bars) are rich in fiber and protein. The oil the seeds harbor, however, is full of omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it a no-brainer ingredient for hydrating creams and serums like Perricone MD Chia Serum ($75; perriconemd.com), says Mary Helen Leonard, a product developer at Natural Sourcing LLC, an organic ingredient and product supplier. Bonus: research suggests that omegas have an anti-inflammatory effect when applied topically, says Wendy Bazilian, RD, a longtime spa and beauty industry nutrition consultant. Prickly pear: The pore minimizerThis up-and-comer (which, research suggests, could help control high cholesterol) is about to break onto the superfoods scene. Prickly pears contain antioxidants such as tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, as well as your skin’s most loyal ally: essential fatty acids. In addition to keeping dry skin at bay, they can prevent your pores from becoming so big they can be seen from space. Omega-3s and omega-6s keep the layer of collagen beneath your skin hydrated, healthy, and intact, which in turn keeps pores tight, says Ostad. You can find the fruit’s oil in Abgur Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil Cream ($64; abgurcosmetics.com). Açaí berry: The free radical fighter Photo by Lew Robertson/Getty Images We’ll admit that part of the reason we love this berry so much is that it tastes pretty great in smoothies and juices. But its high levels of anthocyanins are what’s giving it buzz in the beauty industry. In addition to açaí berries’ link to improved heart health, these antioxidants prevent free radical damage to skin in products like NUDE Skincare Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash ($42; nudeskincare.com). “It’s also good for eczema, psoriasis, and can even be beneficial for acne because it can help reduce swelling and inflammation,” Leonard says. Avocado: The all-over body moisturizer Photo by Cultura/Danielle Wood/Getty Images You already put avocado, a goldmine of healthy fats, on everything, so why not smear it on your skin? In addition to its hydrating fatty acids, it has vitamins E and D, which can help keep inflammatory reactions in sensitive skin to a minimum, according to research from the University of Western Australia. Its consistency is a little too heavy and occlusive for the delicate skin on your face, but it’s perfect in moisturizing body products like Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil ($45; moroccanoil.com). Pumpkin: The collagen stimulator True, a certain fall latte may have really cemented pumpkin’s stardom, but it’s also rich in disease-preventing carotenoids, vitamin E, and omega-3s. The oil in the seeds, however, has one particularly attention-worthy ingredient: zinc. “Zinc is an enzyme important in collagen synthesis, and applying it topically can potentially increase your collagen levels,” Ostad says. Try it in Acure Organics Calming Body Lotion ($10; acureorganics.com) to see firming benefits all over your body. Pomegranate: The UV-exposure shieldTurns out pomegranate seeds (high in antioxidants and cholesterol-lowering compounds) and your skin might be an even better pairing than pomegranate and chocolate (a bold claim, we know). Extract from the fruit’s jewel-like seeds, found in Kahina Giving Beauty Antioxidant Mask ($62; kahina-givingbeauty.com), contain ellagic acid, a polyphenol compound that can help prevent collagen breakdown and inflammation caused by UVB rays, according to a study published in Experimental Dermatology. MORE: 9 Genius Ways To Use Sea Salt For Prettier Skin And Hair
