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: 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