Can fruits help you get glowing skin? Definitely yes, but, unfortunately, we live in an age where we are becoming more and more removed from nature. And this is especially noticeable when we visit the local skincare store. There are rows upon rows of shiny packaged products, gleaming in all the colors of the rainbow, boasting of formulas, of this or that arcane chemical. And so far, so good. That’s what science is supposed to do, right?
But then you come across all the synthetic skincare and beauty products, shampoos and hair conditioners that brag about containing a small percentage of nature. Rich in this fruit, based on that vegetable. Containing this flower’s aroma, or that herb’s oil...
And then you stop and ask yourself, why? The real thing, all the fruits, plants, and herbs are just down the alley. The sweet, fruity aromas tempt you every time you pass by the grocer. And here's the best part - they're absolutely chock full of intense antioxidants that can do wonders for your skin. So here’s an idea, why not change it up a little? Let’s try to do it the natural way and give fruits a chance. Here’s our list of the best fruits for glowing skin.
Being rich in Vitamin C, lemons have become the staple of a healthy diet. Humans have used lemons for centuries as a means to boost their immune systems and fight against colds. However, lemons can do wonders for the skin too. A little known fact is that lemons are astringent - which is a scientific term for “squeezing things together.”
If you put lemon juice on your skin, it will squeeze it together, helping your pores expel all the skin oil, dead skin cells, and just general dirt. If your pores aren’t kept clean, they can become clogged, and transform into whiteheads or blackheads, which can lead to acne. A word of caution however - lemon juice can irritate your skin due to its pH levels. Be sure to do a patch test before applying fresh lemon juice to your skin, or consult our article on the skin’s pH levels.
By tightening your skin, and “bleaching” it, lemon juice can help your skin become clearer looking. Additionally, Vitamin C, being a powerful antioxidant, protects the skin from toxins and free radicals. Of course, you can either consume lemon, or apply it topically in a variety of ways. But in short - all of this makes lemons one of the best fruits for glowing skin.
Ah, the super popular hipster fruit. Of course, that’s far from doing this amazing fruit justice, because avocados are awesome and their popularity is well deserved. Being rich in Vitamins, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B6, as well as niacin, folate acid, pantothenic acid and a bunch of healthy fats, avocados are basically a health bomb. Eating avocados can slow down aging and delay wrinkles, because it is rich in zeaxanthin and lutein, two ingredients that act as shields against the sun’s UV radiation.
In addition, avocados can tackle acne, and its healthy fats (especially when concentrated, such as in avocado oil for example) can help your skin maintain its elasticity, fight inflammation and quicken the closing of wounds. This means that avocado won’t just make you look younger, but it can also help you avoid ending up with acne scars.
Besides containing powerfully antioxidant Vitamins C, B, and A, papayas also contain pantothenic acid, folates, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and copper. All of those ingredients play a crucial role in maintaining good health, and with it, helping the body delay aging and fight oxidative stress. This is where papaya comes in as especially useful, since it contains antioxidant enzymes like chymopapain and papain, ingredients that clean the body of harmful free radicals. The less free radicals roaming around our bodies, the less damage our cells receive, and the more youthful we look.
Furthermore, these ingredients possess antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, making papaya suitable for topical applications as well. All of this makes papaya both a good fruit to be consumed, as well as a precious ingredient for homemade remedies for glowing skin.
The intense orange color in oranges comes from variants of Vitamin A, called retinoids. Retinoids are one of the main ingredients in many powerful skincare creams that use Retin A, as well as in the most potent severe acne medication known as Accutane (also known as Roaccutane and Isotretinoin). So, needless to say, oranges pack quite the punch when it comes to skincare.
Additionally, like lemons, oranges are super rich in Vitamin C as well. As we mentioned before, Vitamin C is an antioxidant, playing a crucial role in the prevention of DNA damage, reducing oxidative stress, and reducing inflammation. Finally, Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen production - one of the key proteins when it comes to keeping your skin soft and elastic. Needless to say, all of this makes oranges great fruits for glowing skin. So, what are you waiting for? That fresh orange juice won’t drink itself. (I already made mine!)
Confused? You thought that cucumbers are vegetables? Well, think again! These green and seemingly ordinary fruits are in fact one of the most widely used plants by beauty professionals.
The fresh, watery scent of a cucumber can make you feel alive all on its own, let alone slicing it in small circles and putting it over your eyes. Cucumbers are super rich in water, which makes them useful in reducing wrinkles, sunburns and the bags under your eyes. The plant is very capable of whisking away any heat from your skin while moisturizing it at the same time, making it a staple of home remedies and DIY face masks.
But aside from all of that, cucumbers are also rich in Vitamins C and K, as well as fiber. So, they’re great for consuming as well, and I hear they make a great ingredient in salads. So, boost your immune system and refresh yourself at the same time by serving yourself some fresh, cool cucumber. It’s one of the most beneficial veget… I mean fruits for glowing skin. (I know, I know, I got my mind blown as well!)
Watermelon is the best fruit in existence, admit it! Watery, sweet, red or pink, aromatic and refreshing at the same time - you just can’t get enough of it. The scent and overall feel of watermelons is so popular that basically, every perfume brand out there has at least one “summery” perfume based on the aroma of the watermelon. However, watermelons are not just aesthetically pleasing - they’re pretty great for our skin too. Containing more than 90% water, the watermelon is also rich in Vitamins B1, B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A (which is crucial for healthy skin).
But wait, there’s more. Watermelons contain antioxidants such as lycopene, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Of these, lycopene is the most powerful, as it hunts down the free radicals across the body, protecting your skin cells from DNA Damage and oxidative stress. Finally, because watermelons are so rich in water and contain no fats and oils at all, they make a suitable home remedy for people with oily skin or skin prone to acne. The watermelon slices will whisk away any excess oil clogging your pores, and moisturize your face at the same time. So, still want that glowing skin? Better nab a juicy watermelon from that local grocer.
While some fruits are professionals at cleaning your pores, and other fruits make excellent moisturizers, when it comes to mango, it does wonders for regenerating your skin. Mangoes are rich in an array of antioxidants like beta-carotenes, flavonoids, polyphenolics, and Vitamins A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin K. All of these combined make mango a formidable enemy of toxins and free radicals, which, if left unchecked, can cause your body excessive oxidative stress and damage your DNA. And oxidative stress and damaged DNA is just science lingo for aging.
So, if you’re looking for a fruit that will make for a perfect face mask for reducing wrinkles, mango is your friend. Additionally, mangoes possess medicinal properties and can help our body heal its wounds. So mangoes aren’t just good for your skin, they’re quite handy when dealing with acne as well. If you’re suffering from acne and worry about ending up with pimple scars, consider including mango in your skincare routines. And you can eat some while at it.
Doesn’t everyone have banana for breakfast nowadays or is it just me? Well, in any case, they aren’t just one of the best sources of potassium. Bananas are pretty good for rejuvenating your skin too. You might have heard that many people have tried using banana peel to treat acne scars, and most of them report good results as well. But that’s not for nothing - bananas are exceptionally rich in dietary fibers and minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium.
What’s more, bananas contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K and folates.
All of these ingredients in conjunction create a sort of natural “banana” formula that moisturizes our skin as well as providing it with all the resources necessary for healing itself. Finally, bananas contain ingredients that make them have antimicrobial properties. And keeping your skin germ-free is one of the key steps in achieving glowing skin. All of these amazing properties make bananas not just practical, but also medicinal fruits to use in your skincare routine.
With summer fast approaching, we will all feel the sun’s unbearable heat very soon. But that shouldn’t be a problem if you have pomegranates lying around. Why? Well, that white, icky bitter membrane that holds the seeds of the pomegranate is brimming with an ingredient called ellagic acid. Ellagic acid, among other antioxidants found in pomegranates, is, in fact, a very powerful reflector of the sun’s harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation. Which sort of makes it a a sort of natural, internal sunscreen.
But that’s far from all - pomegranates are also rich in folates, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and minerals like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. And as if that wasn’t enough, guess what? There are studies where scientists tried using pomegranate to regenerate the surface layers of the human skin - and they succeeded. So, eat it, drink it, or slice it up and let it rest on your skin. Whatever you do with pomegranates, you can’t go wrong.
The apple is one of the most symbolic fruits in human history. From being associated with the original sin and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, then being the nickname of New York and ending up as one of the most recognizable logos on the planet, apples are special. And they’re special because they are one of the most abundant fruits that has sustained us for thousands of years. In short, apples rock, and they rock for a good reason. Both the peel of the apple and its sweet, crunchy inside are swimming in antioxidants that help keep our skin healthy and young looking.
Additionally, apples are rich in dietary fiber, Vitamins A and C, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Next time, make sure you eat your apples without peeling them because the peel basically contains half of all those precious ingredients. It will help you achieve glowing, younger looking skin, and honestly - I kinda get why Eve wanted to take a bite out of that juicy goodness. Who wouldn’t!
Not all of you are reading this because you are interested in maintaining your already smooth skin. Some of you are reading this because you have a persistent acne problem (raises hand) and would like to know if there are any fruits out there that might help you with that. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Strawberries, whether eaten or applied as a face mask are a great ally when it comes to keeping your skin both clear and acne-free.
But why is that? Well, besides being considered as one of the best sources of Vitamin C, strawberries are also overflowing in something called alpha-hydroxy acid, also known as… Salicylic acid. If reading that word rang a bell in your mind, it’s because you’ve probably seen it around as the main ingredient in naturally based skincare products.
As we explained in our guide on salicylic acid, it’s one of the best and safest natural ingredients for cleaning your skin’s pores. And having clean pores is a necessary precondition for preventing acne. That being said, strawberries are a natural source of salicylic acid, which makes them the perfect fruits for glowing skin. Additionally, strawberries contain ellagic acid as well, which protects the skin from the sun’s UV rays, keeping your precious collagen intact. If you suddenly feel a craving for some strawberries… I can’t blame you.
Kiwis are basically lemons, just packed a different way and not so sour. Like lemons, kiwis contain a great amount of Vitamin C, which acts as a sort of a natural cleaner of our bodies. By sweeping out bodies clean of free radicals, Vitamin C has powerful antioxidant properties that protect our cells from DNA damage and premature aging.
Furthermore, kiwis contain precious ingredients that help our bodies produce elastin and collagen, the two proteins that ensure our skin remains elastic and fresh. Besides throwing a kiwi or two in your blender for a tasty smoothie, you can also slice it in thin circles and make yourself a DIY kiwi mask. It will leave your skin feeling fresh, fruity and moisturized, putting kiwis among some of the best fruits for glowing skin.
They may look tiny and unassuming, but you’d be wrong to underestimate the sweet and juicy apricot. Besides being rich in folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C, apricots are also rich in dietary fibers which makes them great for digestion. And digestion is often times intimately connected to what your skin feels like, so please, give your skin some apricots.
What’s even more amazing is that scientists discovered that an antioxidant known as melanoid found in apricots can stop some skin cells from dying. Apricots can have mild bleaching effects too, helping you get that glowing skin. So, if you are concerned about that slight blemish, mash some apricots and apply them over the desired area. Of course, wash it after 10 minutes or so, and try not to lick your fingers.
Red grapes, green grapes, it doesn’t really matter. All grapes are amazing, mainly because they contain one of the most powerful antioxidants in existence called resveratrol. If you don’t believe me, ask your doctor. Or just head over to the nearest pharmacist and ask for the best antioxidant supplements they have in the store. Chances are the first one he’ll mention is actually produced from grapes and grape seed.
Scientists have studied the antioxidant properties found in grapes for a long time. Resveratrol doesn’t just act as a barrier against UV damage, but it can also protect our bodies from different types of cancer. Why do scientists and doctors so often recommend drinking a glass of red wine a day? Same reason. Additionally, grapes are also rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folate and contain potassium, calcium, phosphorus and more. All of these amazing properties make grapes some of the best fruits for glowing skin and for achieving perfect health as well.
Just thinking about cherries will make your mouth water. They’re plump, sweet, delicious, and just the right size to be plucked from a bowl and thrown in your mouth. While cherries are generally thought of as red in color, their yellow variants are no less tasty. But besides the pleasure of eating cherries, they’re also precious when it comes to supplying our bodies with the nutrients it needs. Cherries are rich in folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and additionally, they contain potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and other essential minerals.
Furthemore, cherries are rich in dietary fiber, making them perfect for regulating your digestion. But what makes cherries good for your skin is the fact that they contain powerful antioxidants and ingredients that possess anti-inflammatory properties. Cherries regenerate our skin, protect our skin cells, and overall, help us achieve a youthful look. If you want glowing skin, you won’t make a mistake if you serve yourself a bowl of cherries.
It’s tangy, sweet, and it’s super popular because it’s juicy and delicious. We can all agree that pineapple tastes great and that its popularity, especially when it comes to using it to prepare refreshing juices is well deserved. With that one, notable exception that sticks out like a sore thumb - the notorious pineapple on pizza. But whatever your personal tastes are, pineapple is one amazing fruit that can boost your health in many ways.
For example, pineapples are rich in Vitamin A, which is one of the crucial vitamins when it comes to processes that regulate our skin’s health. Additionally, pineapples contain Vitamin C, Vitamin K, dietary fibers and minerals like potassium, calcium, phosphorus and more. Last but not least, pineapples contain a particular enzyme called bromelain, which, besides combating inflammation, can also combat cancer and speed up wound healing. Some cultures have used pineapples in healing burns from fire, for example. All in all, this makes pineapples one of the best fruits for glowing skin. Time for a pineapple salad, right?
This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances, and its goal is to offer a general view of the subject. In case you are suffering from a severe case of acne, you should consult with a dermatologist or a certified medical professional.