Do you know the secret to youthful-looking, acne-free skin? Here’s a hint - it doesn't involve expensive skin products (many of which don't work at all or actually make your skin look worse). So what is it? It’s a healthy diet and optimal liver functioning. 

Your skin is a reflection of your internal health, and when your diet is lacking in nutrients and antioxidants your skin suffers. Likewise, if your diet is high in toxins, your liver becomes overwhelmed and your skin suffers big time because all those toxins get released through the skin. 

Below is a list of 10 foods to eat frequently, 3 foods to eliminate and 3 powerful nutraceuticals for enviably gorgeous skin. It may take a few weeks or a few months, but be patient because acne, eczema, premature aging, dry skin, oily skin, puffy eyes, and virtually every other skin problem can be reversed if you stick with it.

The 10 Best Foods For Radiant and Clear Skin:

1. Broccoli (and other cruciferous veggies) - Cruciferous vegetables contain a special compound called DIM (Diindolylmethane) which clears inflammatory, acne-causing androgens and estrogens from your body.
   
   
2. Berries - Loaded with antioxidants that help speed up the healing of acne and slow skin aging by fighting free radicals and preventing them from degrading collagen.
   
   
3. Lemons and Limes - Help balance pH levels and promote bowel regularity as well as a gentle release of toxins (especially when squeezed into a glass of warm water on an empty stomach). 
   
   
4. Beets - High in the super antioxidant glutathione, which helps support detoxification and liver health. Beets also boost nitric oxide, which enhances the flow of blood and nutrients to the skin.
   
   
5. Ground Flaxseeds - Support regular bowel movements which helps your skin because constipation causes toxins to be absorbed into your bloodstream and purged through the skin.
   
   
6. Avocados - Rich in essential fatty acids to keep your skin moist and plump; and in vitamin E which helps fight free radicals.
   
   
7. Pumpkin seeds - Rich in skin-nourishing vitamin E; and zinc, which is a mineral that helps clear acne by reducing inflammation and fighting bacteria.
   
   
8. Wasabi - A natural antibacterial agent with a high concentration of vitamin C and phytochemicals, which strengthens the body's antioxidant defenses.

3 Foods to Avoid:

1. Dairy: It’s highly allergenic and loaded with estrogens which trigger inflammation and acne. Try almond, cashew or coconut milk instead.
   
   
2. Fried Food and Oils: These foods clog your pores and clump-up your blood cells, which slows down the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your skin
   
   
3. Sugar: It increases inflammation and worsens acne, eczema, and other inflammatory skin disorders. It also causes free radical damage to your cells and breaks down collagen - leading to premature aging.

The 3 Best Nutraceuticals for Flawless Skin:

Did you know that only 11% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have been assessed for safety? Or that 20% of personal care products contain chemicals that are linked to cancer? Or how about the fact that the average woman will ingest a whopping 4 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime? 

The chemicals in many cosmetics aren't just hazardous to your health, they’re also hazardous to the health of our planet. The packaging of cosmetics can take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. And toxic chemicals in cosmetics get washed down drains and end up in oceans, damaging ecosystems and killing aquatic species. 

There are so many reasons to go green but thanks to sneaky marketing it can be tough to decipher the truly green products from the posers. Below are 10 guidelines to help you do just that.

Check the Company’s Moral Code

Before buying a new product visit a company's website and see how their values stack up. Do they test on animals? Are they committed to reducing the environmental impact of their products?

Have they signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics (a vow to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives)? Most companies with strict moral codes share these with their clients, so if a company’s website doesn't mention any of the above, move on. 

Make Sure it Really is Natural

Unfortunately, there is no regulatory body that monitors the use of the words “natural” and “all-natural.” Many companies slap these titles on because it’s good marketing, but their products are loaded with toxic synthetic chemicals.

Check the ingredients and choose the products that contain ingredients from nature and not from a lab. I also recommend you visit the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database site - it rates the toxicity of cosmetics and personal-care products on a scale of 0 to 10.

Buy Organic

Unlike “natural” the word “organic” is regulated and only products that meet the strict requirements of the USDA will have “USDA organic” on their labels. When you see this on the label you can be assured that the ingredients are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, genetic engineering, preservatives, sewage sludge and irradiation.

If you want to take things one step further and actually help the environment with your purchases, look for a “Demeter certified biodynamic” stamp of approval. This certification means the botanicals in your product we're grown using biodynamic farming methods that benefit the environment.

Always Buy Fragrance-Free Products

Companies aren’t required to declare chemicals used in a fragrance mixture and many fragrances contain dozens of hidden chemicals. An example of a commonly included toxic chemical that is hidden is phthalates; they are highly allergenic and linked to sex hormone imbalances, reproductive issues, cancer, and many other health issues.

Every chemical you apply to your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, so I advise you to check the label and if it contains a fragrance, don't buy it.

Choose Non-toxic Packaging

Avoid containers that have the letter “V” or recycling code #3 on it. These symbols refer to PVC which is extremely hazardous to the environment and your health. The safest container is glass but those can be hard to find. The next best options are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is labeled as recycling code #1, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is labeled as recycling code #2. Both are considered safe and are recyclable in most municipalities.

Get Beautiful Skin from the Inside-Out

Your skin is a reflection of your health and the best way to get gorgeous, glowing skin is to work from the inside-out. Eat a wholefoods based diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and moderate amounts of beans and legumes, nuts and seeds.

Eliminate or vastly reducing your intake of animal foods because they are inflammatory and loaded with toxic estrogens which can lead to inflammatory skin disorders such as acne. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to flush out toxins and keep your skin moisturized.

Finally, if you are serious about slowing down the signs of aging, take Stem Cell Strong. Stem Cell Strong is a complete body rejuvenation formula with over 30 superfoods and herbs that slow the aging process by helping the body create new, healthy cells.

Avoid Petrochemicals

Petrochemicals are a common ingredient in cosmetics, they are non-renewable and toxic to both the environment and your health. If you see the following petrochemicals on the label avoid the product: paraffin wax, mineral oil, petrolatum, toluene, benzene, polyethylene glycol (PEG), diethanolamine (DEA), ethanolamine (MEA), butanol and any ingredient with ‘butyl’ in its name. 

Simplify

Most creams, lotions, and potions make promises they could never keep - aging happens at a cellular level from within and no topical ingredient can stop it. Besides which, using too many products can aggravate the skin, dry it out and clog pores - making it look worse. Keep it simple with a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and mineral-based sunscreen. Also, check how many ingredients the product contains; often times the ones with the least ingredients are the most natural.

Make Your Own 

Making your own skincare products is the best way to know what is in it and to ensure it is completely non-toxic. Plus it saves you money and it reduces your environmental impact, especially if you reuse your containers. You can make a moisturizing, anti-aging face mask with honey and cocoa; a toner with green tea (keep it in the fridge) or diluted raw apple cider vinegar (6 to 1 ratio); and a moisturizer with coconut oil (so long as your skin is not acne-prone). 

Use Annihilate Acne Cream

Aging happens when cells and DNA become damaged and unable to repair themselves. This occurs either because of oxidative stress caused by free radicals or because of telomere shortening. Telomeres are the protective tips of DNA, and when they get too short, cells become unable to reproduce, which causes tissue to degenerate and eventually die. The most effective way to halt aging is thus to reduce oxidative stress and lengthen telomeres. 

Modeling isn't nearly as glamorous as it looks - it's full of jet lag, stressful shows, and pore-clogging make-up; all of which wear on the skin. Yet somehow, most models still have flawless, dewy, and enviably gorgeous skin, even when they are makeup-free. We did some digging and found out their secrets:

When it comes to fighting aging most essential oils work triple duty, moisturizing and protecting the skin from free radicals, while also improving skin elasticity and reducing fine lines.