Clean beauty is all the rage these days. After all, there’s not much that makes us feel more wildly confident than having glorious, glowing skin. Don’t you agree? Of course we love stocking up on beautiful, clean beauty products, as it’s so much fun to experiment with different lotions and potions! But paying attention to what you put inside your body is just as essential as what you put outside.
Enter: minerals. You may be thinking about rocks and soil, but minerals are really essential chemical elements that your body must have to function as it should in everyday life. They aid in building strong teeth and bones, giving us shiny, lustrous hair and also in giving you the healthiest skin possible.
Beneficial ingredients abound (just check out our products!!), so it can be tricky to nail down which are the very best for specific purposes. That’s why we are here to help. We’re breaking down the natural minerals that we seek out when we want to boost our beauty from the inside out.
1. Turns out it’s not just good for rubbing on your nose to prevent a killer sunburn. Zinc is actually the second most abundant trace mineral in our bodies, following iron. It is great for supporting the immune system but also for its M.O. as a dermatological wonder. It’s been proven to heal wounds and minimise the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like rosacea and acne. It also manages sebum production and helps to synthesise collagen, cell production and DNA repair. What does all this mean? You’ll look healthier and younger thanks to this little wonder. Legumes, nuts and seeds are all wonderful plant-based sources of zinc, so order a Cauliflower, Quinoa & Lima Bean Soup to stock up!
2. Living in a city, particularly one that’s as cold for as much of the year as Amsterdam, will leave lots of people suffering with dry, flaky skin. Luckily, potassium is the perfect remedy for that, as a deficiency is often the cause of dry skin. Food like bananas, spinach, dates and white beans help plump up the skin with their high levels of potassium. Because it also helps regulate sebum production, it can reduce the appearance of blemishes.
3. After zinc, silica is the third most abundant trace mineral that appears in the body, and it’s actually known by many as the “beauty mineral.” It is the building block for collagen production, which is instrumental in maintaining healthy skin, nails and hair. You can definitely get some silica from foods like oatmeal, green beans and brown rice, but we actually recommend taking supplements, as much of the silica in food is not actually bioavailable.
4. It may sound like a staggering statistic, but the World Health Organisation has estimated that ¾ of the world’s population is actually deficient in magnesium. Crazy! This means, our skin is likely suffering. Magnesium is great for stabilising hormones in the body and lowering cortisol levels, both of which contribute to improved skin. You can find high levels of magnesium in dark chocolate, whole grains and avocados. There’s another reason to order a Mexican Burrito Salad!