As you age and your estrogen levels begin to decline, keeping your skin hydrated can become a full-time job. Your skin naturally becomes thinner, which means it retains less moisture. With hot flashes and night sweats, you could be losing hydration at a much faster rate than ever before.
Fortunately, there are ways to reclaim supple, soft skin—without investing in a time machine. Integrating a daily supplement is a good start: Kindra’s core capsule is an all-around winner, with super antioxidant Pycnogenol to promote skin suppleness in addition to a whole host of other benefits for menopausal woes.
The Core Supplement
You can tackle dryness topically, too, with body lotion to keep skin smooth and Kindra’s daily vaginal lotion for down-there comfort.
The Daily Vaginal Lotion
But your skin’s hydration can also be largely dependent on the food you eat. Here, we’ve rounded up four foods to improve dry skin for any diet, whether you’re looking for plant-based options or seeking the latest bone broth recipe.
1. Wild-Caught Salmon
Yes, we’ve long expounded on the benefits of certain kinds of seafood for getting better sleep and busting brain fog. But sustainably sourced salmon and other cold-water fish can offer beauty benefits, too. The secret lies in Omega-3 fatty acids, which fortify and protect your skin cells, and high levels of antioxidents like astaxanthin, which offers anti-inflammatory benefits and can even guard your skin from UV rays.
Some of our go-to recipes include this honey mustard-herbed salmon from VeryWellFit—the honey offers just a touch of sweetness while packing in a few antioxidant benefits—and this easy oven-baked number from the Food Network, Food 52, which adds complexity with capers and sliced almonds.
2. Cucumbers
Cukes are a no-brainer when it comes to hydrating your skin and body—after all, these easy-to-find veggies are made up of 95% water. But the benefits don’t stop there: Studies have shown that cucumbers can reduce puffiness and swelling, soothe irritation, and even fight aging with their antioxident qualities.
Try whipping up a simple cucumber salad, like this straightforward version from Food & Wine, and adding it a side to your lunches during the week. Or consider using them in a classic cucumber dill tzatziki dip. You might even try drinking them: Cucumbers taste great blended up into a slushie or even added to plain ice water for their refreshing essence.
3. Bell Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, and Squash
Bright, colorful ingredients don’t just add beauty to your plate—they can enrich your skin, too. High levels of beta carotene, a nutrient that offers antioxidant benefits to help protect your skin from damage can be found in vibrant, crunchy veggies like red and yellow bell peppers. For a refreshing snack, try slicing them up for a crudite plate: We’re partial to this avocado-yogurt mousse as a tasty dip.
Sweet potatoes, another eye-catching ingredient, also hold array of vitamins and minerals that can keep your skin healthy and supple. Try roasting them and topping it off with a miso-tahini sauce, or tossing them into a skillet for a breakfast hash. Don’t forget other root veggies, either. Butternut squash contains massive amounts of potassium, offering your body a boost in beating inflammation and aging. Puree it into a tasty soup for the perfect meal on a cold fall day.
4. Collagen
Collagen is known as the secret ingredient to strong hair, skin, joints, and muscles. It’s a kind of protein that aids in elasticity, keeping your skin looking youthful and fresh. As we age, our natural collagen production decreases—but fortunately, you can still seek out the miracle protein in your food. Bone broth is one of its best-known sources: It contains gelatin that can aid in digestion in addition to offering a kind of collagen your body can readily absorb. Check the frozen foods aisle for organic, readymade broths you can easily add to your daily routine—or gather the materials to make your own.
Citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, and tomatoes can all be sources of collagen, too. You can also add collagen to smoothies, teas, or even your morning coffee. Check out wellness brands such as Vital Proteins, which offers a wide variety of collagen products, for easy and versatile ways to get collagen on the go.
Need an extra boost of hydration and an indulgent experience? Give Kindra's Soothe Bath Soak a try. Transform your bathtub into a soothing retreat and support your skin’s health (all over!) with gentle, effective, and lasting hydration. Soothe's formula features patent-pending technology with the Nourish-3 Complex containing a gentle yet effective clinically-studied peptide shown to provide comfort to sensitive skin, sleep-supporting chamomile to help calm the skin and mind, and omega-rich, restorative oat kernel extract for skin healing support and hydration. Add Soothe to your next bath experience for a serious upgrade!
Great article
— Carol Stephens