Summer is an easy, breezy season, but this season is all about putting a little effort into your daily habits without any real effort. If you’re already switching from hot breakfasts to cold smoothies, you’re probably supporting your summer skin with antioxidant-rich berries and fruits. They protect your skin from all the fun in the sun. Even if you don’t have naturally dry skin, your skin needs extra hydration support this season, as well as protection from UV rays.
“When it’s hot outside, especially during the summer, sweat and body fluids ooze through your skin,” says Jennifer Nicole Bianchini, a functional nutritionist and founder of Body to Soul Health. MS, RD, and IFNCP. “Staying hydrated from within helps support fluid balance, keeps your skin healthy, and supports its natural glow,” she added, noting that skin health comes from within and starts with hydration.
How to moisturize your skin with summer smoothie ingredients
Drinking enough water is one way to keep your skin hydrated in the summer, but Bianchini says water alone may not actually be enough to keep your skin well-nourished and looking supple. “When you sweat a lot, as is often the case during hot, humid summer months, you not only lose water, but you also lose minerals,” she explains. Therefore, hydration is more than just staying hydrated. It’s also about replenishing essential minerals.
“Some of my favorite skin-moisturizing ingredients to add to my morning smoothie include watermelon, cucumber, ginger, and coconut water,” she explains. “Not only is it refreshing and hydrating, but it also contains antioxidants, electrolytes, and minerals that maintain fluid balance and support healthy, glowing skin.”
Watermelon: In addition to its hydrating properties, Bianchini points out that watermelon also contains lycopene, a bright red pigment considered a carotenoid and a powerful antioxidant. “Lycopene supports the skin against oxidative stress,” she explains. This protection is essential in the summer when we spend more time in the sun.
Cucumber: Adding cucumber to your smoothie is a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables without changing much of the flavor. Additionally, cucumbers are approximately 96% water. Bianchini says its cooling sensation is another reason to add this hydrating fruit to smoothie recipes.
Ginger: When it’s hot, our bodies are more prone to inflammation. So adding calming ingredients like ginger to your smoothie can help you feel calmer while giving you a nice wake-up kick in the morning. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger supports digestion and leads to more hydrated, glowing skin. “A healthy gut equals healthy skin,” says Bianchini.
Coconut Water: Electrolytes can actually draw water into your cells, so getting enough electrolytes is key to staying hydrated. According to Bianchini, coconut water is a great source of natural electrolytes, is more generally hydrating, and adds a touch of sweetness to smoothies. This summer, replace your regular water with coconut water and enjoy its benefits.
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In addition to boosting your hydration with smoothies, taking skin-healthy supplements can help keep your skin firm throughout the summer. HUM Nutrition’s Red Carpet® Skin Hydration is formulated with blackcurrant seed oil and vitamin E to promote nourishment from the inside out. Turn Back Time is another summer skin supplement that targets the season’s biggest skin concerns, including UV damage.
