I spent years and a considerable amount of money on skincare products before I fully accepted that the most significant factor in the quality of my skin was not what I was putting on it but what I was putting in my body.
This is not a novel idea. Every dermatologist knows it. Most beauty editors know it. But the skincare industry is built on selling you topical solutions and so the conversation stays focused on products rather than plate.
Inflammation
Most common skin concerns, acne, redness, uneven texture, accelerated ageing, are inflammatory in nature. The gut and the skin share an immune connection that is increasingly well-documented.
A diet high in ultra-processed food, refined sugar, and seed oils produces systemic inflammation. That inflammation shows up in the gut first and then on the skin. Conversely, a diet high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fermented foods reduces inflammation systemically and the skin reflects that reduction.
What I eat that specifically affects my skin
Green juice every morning. The chlorophyll, the vitamins, the anti-inflammatory compounds. My skin is visibly different when I am consistent with this and visibly different when I am not.
Fatty fish two to three times per week. Salmon specifically. The omega-3s feed the skin barrier from the inside in a way that no topical moisturiser can fully replicate.
Collagen-supporting foods. Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis. I eat a lot of citrus, bell peppers, and leafy greens.
What damages it
Sugar. The process of glycation, where sugar molecules attach to collagen fibres and damage them, is one of the primary mechanisms of skin ageing. Not the only one. But a significant one.
Alcohol. The dehydrating effect on skin is visible the morning after even moderate drinking. Consistent drinking ages skin in ways that no serum fully counteracts.
Your skin is a reflection of your internal environment. Feed it from the inside first.
