We all want beautiful, glowing skin. Many of us have bathrooms and vanities jam packed full of lotions and potions to get that ever-desired glow. But remember that age-old saying “you are what you eat”? Smoothies are an amazing way to give ourselves a glow up from the inside out. Not only do they hydrate you, but they also provide an opportunity to combine antioxidants and other wonderful ingredients that will help to keep your skin healthy and gorgeous. Cheers to that! Our Favourite Recipes for Glowing Skin We are big lovers of smoothies at Total Body Concept. They are a great meal to start your day, a good option post a workout, or a great snack to take on the run. Here are five of our favourites…. Glowing Green Smoothie We all know green smoothies are good for us. In this recipe by Kimberley Snyder, mineral-rich greens are combined with vitamin-packed fruit and detoxifying lemon. All this goodness works together to make you look and feel your best. Ingredients: 2 cups cold water 1 chopped small head of romaine lettuce 1 medium bunch chopped spinach 1 medium apple, core removed and coarsely chopped 1 medium pear, core removed and coarsely chopped 1 medium banana ½ a lemon, peeled and seeded ½ a cup coriander ½ a cup fresh parsley Method: Combine ingredients and blend. Enjoy. Raspberry Smoothie This smoothie by Simple Vegan Blog makes use of one of the greatest sources of antioxidants – raspberries. Ingredients: 2 cups water 1 tablespoon flax seeds 2 cups frozen raspberries 6 dates Method: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Tropical Smoothie Designed by a top dermatologist, this smoothie is full of vitamins C and E, which protect against skin damage, reduce inflammation, help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and play a significant role in the body’s natural production of collagen. Ingredients: 2 peeled, sliced and frozen bananas 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder 1 cup coconut milk ½ cup chopped pineapple 1 cup frozen spinach or kale Method: Combine ingredients and blend until smooth. Add toppings to suit your taste such as flax seeds, fresh berries, chia seeds and almond flakes. Glowing Skin Smoothie This delicious smoothie from The Cookie Rookie harnesses plant power to help encourage healthy and hydrated skin. Carrots are known for their anti-ageing properties, while avocados are rich in healthy fatty acids, coconut water hydrates, and mangoes and strawberries offer vitamin, helping our bodies to produce collagen. Ingredients: 1 ½ cup coconut water 1 avocado peeled and chopped 1 cup baby carrots 1 cup frozen strawberries 1 cup frozen mango Method: Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. If it is too thick add a little more coconut water. Chocolate Collagen Smoothie Collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It keeps our skin from sagging and gives a plump, youthful look. Collagen supplements can help to slow the ageing of your skin by improving hydration and elasticity. Here’s our favourite chocolate-y and nutty smoothie that’s a great base for adding a collagen powder. Ingredients: 2 cups coconut milk or alternative milk 1 frozen banana 2 teaspoons almond butter ¼ cup raw cacao powder 2 scoops collagen powder Method: Combine and blend. Smoothie Ingredients for Glowing Skin For skin that glows, put down the fake tan and step away from the bronzer. The key to glowing skin is just as much about what you put in your body, than what you put on it (although a daily skincare routine is still a must!). Leafy greens, Vitamin C rich fruits, nuts and seeds can all help contribute to a radiant glow, and smoothies are just one way to consume all the goodness from these nutrient-rich foods in one sitting. Consider adding these top ingredients to your next smoothie to help you achieve healthy skin from the inside out. Kale Kale is a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that absorb and neutralise the free radicals created by UV light. Plus, one cup a day gives you 134% of your daily value for skin-firming vitamin C. Kiwifruit Although not quite as high as kale, kiwifruit contains nearly 120% of your daily vitamin C needs in one medium sized fruit. Vitamin C stimulates collagen, which keeps skin firm and helps to smooth fine lines. It also adds a delicious burst of flavour to any smoothie. Sunflower Seeds In one serving, sunflower seeds provide 37% of your daily vitamin E requirement, which helps to keep skin free from acne. Vitamin E is also thought to enhance your immune system; helping your body to fight off inflammation that could lead to acne. Coconut Water Water is essential for organs to function properly, and as skin is our largest organ, hydration is crucial. Standard water is the preferred option, but coconut water can be just as hydrating and can give your smoothie a flavour boost. Cooconut Greek Yoghurt Coconut Greek yogurt contains lactobacillus acidophilus, a bacteria that helps reduce inflammation in skin, kills bacteria, lessens the severity of acne breakouts, and nourishes skin cells from the inside out. In addition, greek yoghurt also contains lactic acid which helps boost collagen and elastin production within the deeper layers of skin. Photo credit: Kelly Leveque
