FOOD & NUTRITION

The Skinny on Fats & Skincare

an jar of olive oil surrounded by foods with healthy fats like salmon and avocados

While you might be cutting out fats from your diet in an effort to trim down, your skin won’t be totally happy about it. Bodies need healthy fats, and healthy skin needs fatty acids. A natural skincare diet needs omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids to build cell membranes. 

It’s these fats that create skin’s natural oil barrier which is responsible for plumper and younger looking skin. Ironically, if you’re not getting enough of these oils you could be prone to whiteheads and blackheads along with dryness and inflamed skin.

But wait, hadn’t we always been told that fat was bad?

Well, yes, some fats are worse for you than others, and some even help to promote good health. Knowing the difference can help you determine which are the fats to avoid and which to eat in moderation.

Two types of fats — saturated fat and trans fat — have been identified as potentially harmful to your health. Short for “trans fatty acids,” trans fats are the worst for you and appear in foods that contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

You might find trans fat in fried foods (french fries, donuts, deep-fried fast foods), margarine (stick and tub), vegetable shortening, baked goods (cookies, cakes, pastries), and, of course, processed snack foods (crackers, microwave popcorn).

I know… some fun stuff there – at least they’re fun for a little bit!

But these smart fats below can actually boost your body and skin’s health and radiance (more fun for a much longer time!):

  • Salmon
  • Mackerel
  • Flax Seed
  • Olive Oil
  • Grapeseed Oil
  • Safflower Oil
  • Sunflower Oil
  • Walnuts
  • Avocados
  • Coconut

Topical fatty acids can deliver remarkable benefits, from eliminating dehydrated skin and regulating oil production to soothing and smoothing skin’s surface.

 

Here are some of the healthy “Super Face Fats” contained in IN YOUR FACE CREAM:

  • Olive Oil
  • Shea butter
  • Jojoba
  • Ylang Ylang
  • Grapeseed
  • Vitamin E
  • Coconut
  • Infused oils with Green Tea, Horsetail, Lavandin Grosso and Geranium
Some oils work better than others at specific issues. Olive oil is one of those high-performing plant oils praised for its emollient and nourishing properties.

Spotlight: Olive Oil

My absolute favorite go-to oil, Olive oil is a cooking staple in any Italian kitchen and, growing up, my kitchen was no different.

As a young girl I watched my grandmother and great-grandmother use this elixir in numerous ways, from salad dressings and sauces to makeup/mascara remover and callous softeners. My grandfather was a barber and he even used it to lubricate his electric razors!

Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, it fights free radical damage upon application, and protects against premature aging. Its vitamin content is off the charts, containing Vit A, D, E and K.

The ancient Greeks and Romans used olive oil topically as well. With all the plants in the Mediterranean, olive oil was the most popular. According to research, even Cleopatra used it on her skin…smart woman!

So next time you find yourself at the all-you-can-eat buffet or your next party, keep in mind to gravitate toward the helpful fats above and stay away from the trans fats.

And when you get home, treat your skin to the wondrous topical nourishment in our IN YOUR FACE CREAM!