10 Foods to Promote Healthy Skin

While we all feel the same dread of looking in the mirror on an important day to see a red pimple glaring at you, there is a difference between the people who know how to fix this problem and those who just let it slide. The secret fix is adjusting your diet.

When you see a blemish pop up or a rash-like patch of pimples, it's usually a sign that you've indulged in too much coffee, sodas, or aging foods. So you may be asking yourself a logical, but overlooked, question: If what we eat shows up on our face, then which best foods for skin will help us look 10 years younger or solve pimple problems faster than others.

Incorporating these foods into your diet can help you skip the photo filter and bring out your natural beauty. Add these foods to your grocery list to immediately improve your complexion and skin durability.

1. Salmon

Salmon is rich in antioxidants that calm inflammation. The free fatty acids serve as building blocks for healthy skin since our bodies don't have the ability to produce the fatty acids. Eating salmon helps reinforce your skin's barrier, and keeps moisture in and irritants out as well as provides an optimal dose of omega-3s.

2. Watermelon

Though it may sound counter-intuitive, the high concentration of water in watermelon can actually reduce the water retention that leads to puffiness around the eyes because watermelon is low in sugar—well, compared to many other fruits—you don't have to worry about glycation, the chemical reaction that compromises collagen and leads to lines and wrinkles."

3. Green Tea

Since green tea contains polyphenols, making it an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory, it can be used as a great toner to treat acne. It's great for healing blemishes and scars, flushes out toxins, and also keeps skin supple. The vitamin K in green tea helps lighten dark circles under the eyes, too. So, put used green tea bags in the fridge for a great 15-minute under-eye treatment."

4. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant to protect skin from UV damage. In fact, a study found participants who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste daily showed 33 percent more protection against sunburn than a control group.

5. Carrots

This vegetable contains high levels of beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. This vitamin has been found to decrease the skin's oil production, and there's also some evidence that it can improve psoriasis.

6. Avocados

There's a reason why avocados are a popular ingredient for face masks. Avocados penetrate cells at the deepest level, which is virtually a tasty way to get a basal layer skin dose of vitamins A, D, and E, good fats, and phytonutrients.

7. Olive Oil

About 75 percent of the fat in olive oil is monounsaturated fatty acids, which may play a role in the youth boost. The antioxidant polyphenols in olive oil could also quench damaging free radicals."

8. Walnuts

Walnuts boost up collagen production because they are also high in omega-3 fatty acids. Collagen is a protein that helps improve the skin's elasticity, preventing sagging and ultimately leaving your skin plump and youthful. Walnut's rich omega-3 content also helps reduce stress and diminish the risk of heart disease.

9. Oranges

Recent research showed that people who eat foods rich in vitamin C have fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who don't. Strawberries, red peppers, and grapefruit are all other great vitamin C sources, just to name a few!

10. Almonds

Almonds are rich in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent signs of aging caused by free radicals and may even bolster your skin's defense against skin cancer. Studies also suggest that vitamin E consumed orally can increase its levels on the skin's surface, which is good news for those with dry skin.