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There are plenty of skincare products that are designed to fade dark spots and brighten the complexion, but none of those will work if you’re not eating the right foods. “Your skin is a mirror of your internal state, so if you’re healthy and clean on the inside, your skin cells will be more visibly nourished on the outside,” says Dr. Frank Lipman, Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician and founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center.
In fact, there are foods that dermatologists recommend having daily because of their clearing and brightening effects on the skin. A great way to incorporate them all into your diet is by blending them up in a smoothie, which we suggest having every day to get rid of those pesky dark spots. Dr. Lipman’s favorite anti-dark spots smoothie is this nutritious Kale, Mint and Coconut Smoothie. It calls for anti-inflammatory ingredients like mint and kale, which have been proven to improve the skin’s elasticity and hydration, too! The coconut, on the other hand, is needed because it’s “rich in antioxidants, which are nutrients that help remove free radicals caused by outside stressors that may damage your skin, such as sun and pollution,” according to Dr. Lipman.
Kale, Mint and Coconut Smoothie Recipe:
1 serving protein powder – preferably non-dairy (try Dr. Lipman’s Be Well Sustain)
1 cup shredded lacinato kale
1/4 cup fresh mint
Juice of one lime
1 small box coconut water (11 oz)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
4 ice cubes
Not a fan of these ingredients? Kimberly Snyder, celebrity nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox Foods, says that you can the same results with her go-to Rain Forest Açai Smoothie. Açai is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, and other important minerals and antioxidants, making it an excellent fruit for dark spots.
"The omega-3 fatty acids found in açai maintain the structure and fluidity of cell membranes, facilitating the inflow of nutrients and the outflow of waste products, promoting youthful, smooth and radiant skin by keeping skin cells hydrated and strong," Snyder tells StyleCaster.
Rain Forest Açai Smoothie Recipe
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 packet frozen açai
½ tablespoon raw cacao (optional)
Stevia to taste
½ avocado (optional to make thicker and more filling)
Directions: Using a good blender, blend the açai and almond milk at low speed until you’ve broken down the açai, then move to a higher speed.
Check out some of our favorite products that we swear by for getting rid of dark spots:
CLINIQUE Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer ($49.50)
KIEHL'S SINCE 1851 Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution ($50)
