The rise of superfood skincare

The next time you’re sipping on a smoothie think about this: the same ingredients are popping up in your beauty products. Why? Dermatologists now realise that superfoods are chock-full of benefits that go beyond your belly.

Think of kale; you’ve steamed it, thrown it into salads and even whizzed it up in a juicer because of its high vitamin, mineral and amino acid content to keep your body functioning at its optimum. But did you know that applied topically, this leafy green can also help protect skin against the effects of pollution – the second biggest skin-ager after UV rays?

We wouldn’t advise eschewing superfoods in edible form just yet, though. “It’s the combination of eating them and using them in skincare products that will keep you looking younger for longer,” says Dr Howard Murad, American dermatologist and founder of Murad skincare products. “Topical skincare only addresses the 20 per cent of your skin on the surface; the other 80 per cent of your skin is affected by what you eat and drink.”

If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably already jumped on the kale bandwagon. But what you may not know – and should – is that this dark, leafy green is supercharged with the highest levels of vitamins K and A, making it particularly effective in your eye cream. Vitamin K is shown to strengthen tiny blood vessels in the skin to help prevent dark circles while vitamin A is proven to smooth the look of crow’s feet. “Moreover, kale has been found to contain high levels of plant nutrients known as isothiocyanates, which help defend against urban pollution before it has the chance to cause wrinkles,” says Dr Pauline Hili, founder of British organic skincare brand Nourish.

Try Nourish Kale Biomimetic Anti-Ageing Eye Cream, (Dh163, www.naturisimo.com). High concentrations of vitamin-rich kale extract help to erase dark circles and fortify the delicate skin against damage from environmental aggressors.

Consider these small Brazilian gems your new BFF. They’re jam-packed with more of the antioxidant anthocyanin than any other fruit found to date, making them powerful skin defenders. Antioxidants basically turn free radicals – molecules that form in the body when you’re exposed to UV rays or pollution –into benign compounds, stopping them from causing collagen loss. “Your body produces antioxidants naturally,” says Dr Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist and author of The New York Times bestseller The Wrinkle Cure. “The trouble is, your free radical-to-antioxidant ratio is unbalanced, with free radicals usually coming out victorious. So it’s important to seek outside sources of antioxidants to keep free radicals in check.”

So apply a product rich in acai berry concentrate daily to help prevent wrinkles.

Try 3LAB Perfect C Treatment Serum (Dh534, Nordstrom.com). Just sweep this make-up remover and cleanser over your skin with a cotton pad. Since you don’t rinse a micellar acai berry extract is able to infuse the skin leading to better results.

Some nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet, it should be to add blueberries. Nutritionally dense, these North American berries have also found their way into your pot of moisturiser with dermatologists waxing lyrical about their multitasking powers.

For one thing, they’re vascular constrictors, which means they can help to reduce redness for those who suffer from sensitive skin conditions such as rosacea.

In addition, “Blueberries contain plant nutrients known as polyphenols, which help fend off free radicals, a key cause of wrinkles, and they help the body to make collagen to keep skin supple,” says Dr Murad.

“This juicy red fruit is rich in ellagic acid, a powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant that helps protect the DNA in cells from sun damage,” says Dr Murad. Unsurprisingly then, pomegranate extract is now cropping up in sunscreens, the idea being any rays that do get past your SPF can be neutralised by the ellagic acid to prevent wrinkles, sagging and dark spots. “I first conducted clinical trials that showed a 25 per cent improvement in the skin’s natural SPF when pomegranate was added to the testers’ diets,” explains Dr Murad. “More recently I’ve discovered that if your sunscreen also contains pomegranate extract it bolsters the cream’s SPF by up to 20 per cent.”

Try Dr Murad Oil-Free Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF30 (Dh165, www.murad-uae.com). This creates a matte finish, ideal for humid climates, and turbo-charges your sun protection by combining an SPF with antioxidant pomegranate extract.

The oil from these tiny Mexican seeds is one of the richest vegetable-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Not only do essential fatty acids make your cell membranes stronger – which prevents pollutants and allergens from being absorbed – but they also stop moisture from getting out.

According to New York-based dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner, “Healthy membranes allow cells to hold as much water in as possible, which makes the skin look plumper and younger.”

“This tart red fruit, which is native to the Himalayas, has been touted for its medicinal powers for centuries,” says Dr Perricone. And with good reason. “Goji berries contain 500 times more vitamin C per gram than an orange.” Even better, vitamin C is thought to be more easily absorbed when applied to the skin than digested by the stomach. An experiment by Duke University in the US revealed that skin had 20 times more vitamin C in its surface layers after using a vitamin C face cream only. Given that vitamin C helps brighten uneven skin tone and build collagen, that packs a mighty complexion punch.

Try Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (Dh98, Boots). Like moisturiser, foundation sits on your skin all day so shop wisely for anti-ageing ingredients in the formula. Jam-packed with goji berry and pomegranate extracts, this radiance-boosting foundation is the beauty equivalent of an espresso for dull, tired skin.

The beauty guru, cosmetic boss and juicing fan shares her radiance-boosting recipe. After all, the best skin – one that’s strong, supple and clear – is also fed from the inside out.

For one serving, you’ll need

2 large apples, or 200ml of fresh apple juice

A generous handful of seedless black grapes, about 30

A generous handful of blueberries, blackberries or pitted dark cherries, about 30

1/2 tbsp cold-pressed flaxseed/rapeseed/walnut/olive oil

1 Juice the apples.

2 Transfer to a blender with the grapes and your choice of blueberries, blackberries or cherries. Blitz until smooth.

3 Stir in your chosen plant oil before serving for added skin-hydrating essential fatty acids.