Skincare isn’t just about what products you use to treat your skin externally. When you treat your skin from the inside, you give your skin long-lasting benefits. With that in mind, here are seven researched-backed tips to keep your skin healthy from the inside.

Consume antioxidants

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body. Free radical damage—caused by pollution, sun, stress, or food—is the leading cause of premature aging, dark spots, dullness, and elasticity loss. Berries, dark greens, nuts, and carrots are examples of antioxidant-rich food.

Avoid inflammation triggers

Inflammation wreaks havoc on the skin—resulting in premature aging and skin conditions like acne and eczema. While everyone’s triggers are going to vary, there are a few common culprits like alcohol, foods with a high-glycemic index, sugars, and dairy. 

Support your gut microbiome

There’s a gut-skin axis that plays an important role in our overall skin health. It all boils down to the permeability of the lining of your gut. When your microflora isn’t balanced, it can cause what functional medicine doctors often call leaky gut, which allows particles to “leak” out and stimulate the immune system to produce an inflammatory response in the skin of predisposed individuals. 

Add adaptogens

Adaptogens are medicinal herbs that help support your body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-endocrine axis, which is the delicate connection between your brain and hormone system. For example, the popular herb Rhodiola is shown to slow oxidative damage that can lead to accelerated aging.

Take nr+ for smooth skin

Nicotinamide riboside is clinically proven to increase levels of NAD+.* NAD+ is a molecule that drives cellular metabolism and helps our cells function at their best, but its levels decline with age. 

Keep hydrated

This might not be so shocking, but drinking water is one of the best ways to keep your skin hydrated.

Consume healthy fats

The right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is essential for skin health. Avocados, extra virgin olive oil, and salmon are all high-fat health foods.