Glowiing Summer Skin starts with Antioxidants

Glowing Summer Skin
By Jacqueline Gomes, RD, MBA

A daily skincare regimen should be part your routine all year long not just during the summer. For a glowing youthful look, focus on sun safety, hydration from the inside and a facial moisturizer on the outside to keep skin looking illuminated. Don't forget the good nutrition - I've included a delicious skin boosting smoothie recipe!

Exfoliate
The first step to glowing skin is exfoliation – you must get rid of the dead skin cells your skin sheds daily. Otherwise, these dry cells will sit on your skin making it look dull, dry and uneven. Be gentle with an exfoliator, scrubbing too hard or too often can damage the newer layer of skin cells which are forming beneath. Two to three times a week is appropriate.

Protect your skin from the sun
Apply a generous amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 15 to 30 plus) 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after sweating or going for a swim. Excessive sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots, rough, dry skin and more serious condition – skin cancer.

Moisturize
According to esthetician Virginia Speranza of Ultima Hair Designers Salon and Spa, NJ – getting that summer glow starts with hydration, “moisturize day and night to keep your skin hydrated, as high temperatures, sun rays, humidity, loss of water are some of the enemies of your skin.”

Sunless Tanners
Remember, there is no such thing as a safe tan – unless it comes in a bottle! There are a variety of sunless tanners on the market to choose from and most build color gradually giving you the healthy glow you crave.

Eat a healthy diet of course!
Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants needed to protect the skin from damaging elements such as ultra violet light, pollution and other toxins. Vitamin C is needed for the production of Collagen – a protein that “holds skin together” and is responsible for our skins elasticity. Get your “C” from red, green and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, mangoes, oranges, pineapple, snow peas, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelon!

Spicy Goddess Bullet Smoothie

Ingredients

•1 cup cubed frozen pineapple
•½ Sliced banana, frozen
•1 cup Kale, leaves torn, stems removed – local
•1 cup baby spinach – local
•1(6-oz) cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
•Dash Cayenne Pepper
•½ cup water

Directions

•Puree ingredients in blender until smooth
•Add more water if thinner smoothie desired

Nutrition Bonus
•Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, is known for anti-inflammatory properties and aids in digestion.
•There are more than a dozen flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents.
•Kale is a superfood! Its’ a spectacular source of vitamin K and a key nutrient for helping regulate our body's inflammatory process.
•Capsaicin in Cayenne pepper can help boost your metabolism.

Nutrition Info

•176 calories
•0 g fat
•0 g saturated Fat
•0 mg cholesterol
•55 mg sodium
•36 g carbohydrates
•4 g fiber
•11 g protein