We all know, of course, or at least have been told by well-meaning parents, relatives, Oprah, your best friend and countless others that real beauty comes from within. That being beautiful on the inside is what counts.
And it does.
But sometimes you maybe wouldn’t begrudge yourself for having more of a glowing Angelina Jolie-esque complexion. Or hair that would make Penelope Cruz maybe just a little bit jealous.
Just sometimes. And, if and when you do (like right now when we are smack dab in the middle of the red carpet cavalcade of the time known as “awards season”), you are not a bad person because of it. Sometimes, a good red lipstick can be only difference between whether you have a good day or a bad one.
Vanity guilt is a terrible, yet useful thing. There’s a fine line to be drawn in the war of what we see and what we’d like to see in the mirror. In other words, you don’t need to go all Heidi Montag on yourself, and even injecting a few harmless (are they?) syringes of toxin into your forehead seems status quo, but it needn’t be.
InStyle magazine has the Top 10 foods that help you eat your way to shinier hair, whiter teeth and glowing skin.
So ditch the teeth bleaching and high-dollar microdermabrasion. Maybe send the money you save this month on that expensive eye cream to help with Haiti relief efforts instead, or use it to get some of these prettifying foods that — double bonus — are actually health-inducing as well, into your grocery cart. Here are a list of a few of the noshes you might not have considered (or heard of, for that matter).
Lobster/Oysters/Clams
Shellfish contain a lot of zinc which has been useful in keeping acne at bay, and boosts your immune system.
Chia seeds
These Johnny-come-latelys are all the rage for their extraordinary amount of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are good for your hair, your skin, and your heart.
Quinoa
This ancient grain is a powerhouse of vitamin-B complex, which helps keep skin and hair replenished. It’s also gluten-free, which unlike a lot of other starches, means the chance of irritation (inside and out) from food allergies is less likely.
Kefir
The probiotics (good bacteria) in kefir insure that your digestive tract stays healthy. It’s been said that real beauty begins in the gut, so keep yours clean. Yogurt or probiotic supplements are good for this, too.
For the full list, click here. Happy noshing!
Photo courtesy of Heliosphan@Flickr