10 Foods That Will Keep Your Skin Glowing All Winter Long

Winter winds and cold temperatures can be harsh on your skin; sometimes it seems that no amount of cream or lotion can keep you moisturized, much less glowing. While it may be tempting to turn to expensive beauty products or spa treatments to restore our skin's luminosity, the truth is that our diet can have a significant impact on our skin's overall health and appearance. Eating antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables and heart-healthy fats from fish, seeds, and nuts can keep your skin soft, smooth, and radiant.

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One of the main reasons that skin dries out in the winter is low humidity. According to the Harvard Medical School, the skin's outermost layer "tends to reflect the level of humidity around it," so when moisture in the air is low (as it is during colder months), so is the moisture in your skin. Eating and cooking with foods high in essential fatty acids (like omega-3 and omega-6-rich fish, seeds, and nuts) can help your skin's natural moisture barrier function properly.

Antioxidant-rich foods can help too. Bright, colorful fruits and vegetables contain the free-radical-fighting molecules your body needs to repair cell damage and fight wrinkles — foods high in vitamins A, C, and E can help keep your skin healthy and looking its best. We tend to forget about the sun's damaging rays during the winter; a common skincare mistake is to forgo sunscreen during cold weather. But sunscreen (and extra antioxidant protection) is a wintertime must, especially if you're around snow (whose reflective surface can increase exposure to UV rays).

If you're ready to stop paying for expensive (and sometimes ineffective) topical skincare solutions, head to your kitchen and fix the problem from the inside out. These foods and recipes will help keep your skin healthy and glowing all winter long.