Feed Your Face: Pomegranates

By Rachel Grumman
From Health magazine

“Pomegranates are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits,” says Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, founding director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Research shows this fruit’s juice has more inflammation-fighting antioxidants than red wine or green tea.

Eat some fresh pomegranate (in season now through January). Or, use it in
the age-fighting scrub recipe below; apply once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells, suggests Cleo Londono, aesthetician and owner of Metamorphosis Day Spa in New York City.

Scrub it on: Pomegranate Exfoliating Scrub
Cut off pomegranate crown, and score rind in sections, without cutting all the way through. Place in a bowl of water for 5–10 minutes. Break rind away from seeds, which will sink; strain seeds. In a food processor, combine 2 tablespoons seeds and 1 cup uncooked oatmeal. Transfer to bowl; stir in 2 tablespoons honey (an antiseptic) and 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Apply to face for a few minutes, then rinse. For rough patches (like elbows), add 3⁄4 cup turbinado sugar.

Eat it: Enjoy remaining pomegranate seeds (from recipe below) au naturel or with your favorite cheese.

Last Updated: March 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Beauty and Style

Feed Your Face: Green Tea

By Rachel Grumman
From Health magazine

Curling up to a cup of green tea does a lot more than relax you. Green tea is filled with inflammation-fighting antioxidants, Perricone says. What’s more, research from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that drinking green tea may reduce your risk of skin cancer. (And when you add a generous squeeze of citrus juice—like lemon, lime, or orange—the tea’s antioxidants get a boost of staying power, so they remain in and benefit the body longer, rather than being digested quickly and having much of the goodness go down the drain, according to Purdue University researchers.)

Press it on: Easy Green Tea Eye Treatment
Chill damp tea bags in the fridge and put on eyes for 10–15 minutes. Green tea contains tannins, which act as an astringent when applied to skin and can help reduce puffiness, Perricone notes.

Drink it: Sip at least three big mugs of green tea every day for an antioxidant boost, Fernstrom says.

Last Updated: March 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Beauty and Style

Feed Your Face: Olive Oil

By Rachel Grumman
From Health magazine

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil don’t just benefit you on the inside—they soften your skin, too. “Ancient Romans massaged olive oil into their skin,” Perricone says. “When used topically, olive oil results in smoother, more radiant skin.” Plus, consuming olive oil, a staple in the healthy Mediterranean diet, provides antioxidants to disarm free radicals and reduce inflammation. “Remember, inflammation is not just linked to disease—it’s a major cause of wrinkling and sagging in the skin,” Perricone explains. In addition to working olive oil into your daily diet, apply as a lip gloss and skin soother, as needed. If you have dry skin, you’ll particularly benefit from topical application.

Smooth it on: Olive Oil Quencher
Dab a pea-size amount of extra-virgin olive oil on lips to hydrate a parched pucker; or use it on rough patches (think elbows and heels), as needed.

Eat it:
At dinner, drizzle a few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil into a small bowl, and dip whole-grain bread in it to improve your skin from the inside out.
PHOTO BY AMY NEUNSINGER

Last Updated: March 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Beauty and Style

Feed Your Face: Beauty in a Jar

From Health magazine 

Don’t have time to whip up a skin-improving recipe? Try our product picks that feature antioxidants from our star foods for your face.

Strawberries: Although strawberries and other berries are excellent sources of antiaging vitamin C, the most potent version of the vitamin is in topical serum form, such as the new SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF (0). To prevent premature aging and repair sun-damaged skin, apply a few drops right after washing your face and before applying moisturizer or sunblock.

Pomegranate: To harness pomegranate’s skin-brightening power and honey’s hydrating, soothing properties, try Aqua Dessa Spa Therapy Honey Pomegranate Facial Cleansing Foam (), which removes dirt and makeup and is mild enough to use daily.

Pumpkin: Zia Natural Skincare’s Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask (.95) contains puréed pumpkin and pineapple juice to purify skin, unclog pores, and cleanse away dead skin cells. It also packs in vitamins A and E. Apply to a clean, damp face, leave on for 5 to 15 minutes, and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Green tea: Glotherapeutics gloEye Restore () contains antioxidant-rich green tea extract as well as peptides and willowherb, a natural skin smoother, to battle puffiness. Or opt for green tea’s powerful age-defying cousin, white tea, found in Wei East Golden Root Renewal All-in-One Eye Serum (; www.weieast.com). Dab a small amount around the eye area in the a.m. and before bed.

Olive oil: Soothe parched lips by applying PerriconeMD Moist Lips () made from olive-fruit extract as well as vitamin E. Or try On10 Green Glam Gloss (), made from organic extra-virgin olive oil and packaged in an eco-friendly paper pot—it protects your lips and the planet.

Last Updated: March 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Beauty and Style

Repair Your Summer Skin

By Jolene Edgar
From Health magazine 

No matter how hard you try to protect your skin with sky-high SPFs and floppy hats, UV rays still manage to make their mark during the summer months. “The sun strips away moisture and revs up pigment-making cells, leaving skin dull, dehydrated, and uneven,” says Kenneth Howe, MD, clinical instructor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. And when skin is dry, fine lines are more noticeable.

The good news? Sun damage can be easily remedied—so easily, you can do it in your sleep. It’s best to repair damage at night rather than during the day, Dr. Howe says, “because the most potent pigment- and wrinkle-fighting formulas rely on ingredients that make skin more vulnerable to sunlight.” Just follow these simple steps before bed.

Cleanse and exfoliate
A glycolic acid–based wash works to diminish spots and lines while you cleanse. Try Glytone Mild Cream Wash (). “Glycolic acid sloughs away dead skin cells gently, without upsetting sensitive skin. But it can react to UV rays, so it’s best to use it at night to prevent sunburns,” Dr. Howe says.

Fight wrinkles and dullness
Exfoliating vitamin-A creams stimulate collagen production and speed cell turnover, making skin plumper and more radiant. Prescription retinoids—like Retin-A, Renova, and Differin—are better for long-term results, but they can be quite irritating to some, causing redness and flaking. If you have sensitive skin, try a less potent, over-the-counter retinol like RoC Multi-Correxion Night Treatment (.99). A weekly at-home peel will also swiftly and safely sweep away dead cells, giving skin a glow and helping anti-aging ingredients penetrate better. Look for glycolic acid formulas that contain built-in soothers. Here’s one to try: L’Oréal Paris Advanced Revitalift Glycolic Peel Kit (.99).

Last Updated: February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Skincare

Feed Your Face: Healthier Skin Starts With These Five Foods

By Rachel Grumman
From Health magazine 

Here’s a beautiful reason to stop by the supermarket today: Certain foods have powerhouse ingredients that keep skin supple and smooth and help fight age-related damage, says Nicholas Perricone, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Ageless Face, Ageless Mind. Wondering what to eat and what to smooth on? Click the links below to find out: These skin-saving foods help both ways. (Be sure to do a skin-patch test first, and wait 24 hours to see if you have an allergic reaction.)

Last Updated: March 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Beauty and Style

Eat for Gorgeous Skin

A delicious edamame appetizer followed by a grilled-tuna dinner might help cure crow’s-feet.

Researchers in Korea recently discovered a naturally occurring fat (phosphatidylserine) in foods like edamame (green soybeans), as well as tuna and mackerel, that can fight wrinkles caused by sun damage and natural aging.

This fat actually stimulated the production of new collagen; that’s good news because collagen, a protein, keeps skin strong and supple. The catch? The study involved applying a solution made with phosphatidylserine to skin—not eating it.

Plus, the solution isn’t yet available to consumers, and it’s not clear how much of these foods you would need to eat to fight wrinkles. Still, while researchers figure that out, there’s no reason to skimp: Fish can protect against heart disease, and edamame has a lot of fiber and vitamin C.

Last Updated: February 11, 2009
Filed Under: Nutrition and Eating Well