An effective skin care regime is crucial if you want to take years off your appearance. However, according to two skin-savvy experts, it is also possible to improve the look of your skin with smart food choices.
GB News spoke to experts about the "best food choices" women can make for a more youthful complexion.
Medical esthetician and founder at LashLift Store Sara Millecam stated: "Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen, a protein responsible for maintaining firmness and elasticity in the skin.
"Some examples of food rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, peppers and broccoli. Including these in your diet will help reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture.
'Omega-3 fatty acids maintain a lipid barrier, making sure that your face looks plump like never before'
GETTY IMAGES"Collagen-rich foods are another essential. Collagen production decreases as we age, although our bodies produce it naturally. Consider bone broth which has high contents of collagen to supplement it.
"Fish such as salmon, which is also rich in omega 3 fatty acids, support healthy skin by reducing inflammation and locking moisture."
Beef bone broth, pork bone broth, skin-on chicken, sardines, berries and broccoli also provide sources of collagen.
The expert continued: "Healthy fats are also very important to consider. Foods like avocados, nuts and seeds contain the necessary fats to keep one's skin moisturised and supple. Specifically, omega-3 fatty acids maintain a lipid barrier, making sure that your face looks plump like never before."
According to Vibrant Skin Bar, a compromised lipid barrier is not a good look: "It can lead to various skin problems including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and eczema".
Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats and there are three types of them. These are ALA, found in plant oils including flaxseed; EPA, found in fish and other seafood; and DHA, found in fish and other seafood.
Eggs contain omega-3, as do green, leafy vegetables, nuts - especially walnuts - and seeds like pumpkin, chia, hemp and particularly flaxseed.
The health experts at Lloyds Pharmacy advised: "If you eat in a healthy, balanced way, there’s a good chance you’re already getting all the omega-3s you need. As a guide, the NHS and Heart UK recommend eating two 140g portions of fish a week, one of which is oily fish.
"If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you might need to start eating more seeds, nuts and green leafy vegetables."
Sara continued: "In addition, foods that hydrate are a game-changer. Cucumbers, watermelon and leafy greens contain a lot of water in them so they help to keep the skin hydrated from within.
"For skin to remain elastic and young-looking with less wrinkles, it should always be properly hydrated."
Excitingly, the expert revealed that a tasty dessert may also have skin-boosting properties. She advised stocking up on antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.
"Antioxidant-rich foods are excellent at combating free radicals that cause ageing signs on the surface of the skin," the expert explained.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
'Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen'
PA IMAGES
"Blueberries, dark chocolate and green tea top the list as some of them. These antioxidants help keep skin cells protected over time while improving their overall appearance."
Nutritional therapist Lucia Stansbie also weighed in on the best diet choices for younger-looking skin.
The expert highly recommended consuming foods rich in vitamin C. She explained that this skin-friendly vitamin is essential for collagen synthesis.
For "youthful, glowing skin", consider combining foods that are rich in vitamin C with foods that are rich in collagen.
She explained: "By pairing these two, you maximise your body’s ability to produce and maintain collagen, reducing wrinkles and promoting a smoother complexion."
Lucia advised cultivating "skin-boosting meals" by pairing vitamin C foods - like oranges, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli and peppers - with collagen-rich foods like bone broth, chicken and fish.
One of her favourite skin-supporting meals is a chicken or baked salmon paired with broccoli or peppers, finished off with a bowl of strawberries for dessert.
She said: "The vitamin C in the broccoli and the strawberries helps your body better utilise the collagen in the chicken."