5 surprising foods that you can eat to make your skin look years younger

When it comes to helping our skin fight the hands of time, what we put in our bodies is as important as the skincare products that you shell out money for.

But instead of collagen supplement smoothies, here are five foods that you may not know have anti-ageing benefits that are good for your skin. Keep reading to find out what they are!

These are the best anti-ageing food that you should incorporate into your diet

Dark chocolate

Great news, chocolate lovers – dark chocolate offers some serious anti-ageing benefits!

Cocoa beans, the main ingredient in dark chocolate, is packed with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation from UV exposure, increase circulation, and help your skin retain moisture better.

In other words, it’s a winning formula for glowing, healthy skin.

Additionally, dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium, another inflammation-fighting nutrient. It reduces stress and improves sleep duration and quality, which plays a role in skin ageing.

Just make sure you check the added sugars content of your favourite dark chocolate bar – too much sugar could do more harm for your skin than good.

That’s because research shows that sugar has a negative effect on collagen fibres and can cause the skin to appear stiffer and less elastic.

Walnuts

Walnuts have the most antioxidant power of any nut and are an excellent source of omega-3 fats.

This combination makes them an amazing inflammation-fighting snack for better skin – and health in general.

Walnuts are great for boosting your gut health too. The health of our microbiome is closely related to skin health, and proper gut health helps the skin stay in homeostasis for optimal protection, temperature regulation, and water retention.

Kale

This leafy green has already reached nutrition superstardom, but now you can add anti-ageing skin powers to its list of accolades.

Kale is brimming with lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that can boost your skin’s elasticity and hydration, as well as the fat under your skin, which acts as a “measure” of youthfulness.

Lutein specifically also appears to have the ability to shield your skin from blue light.

Not a fan of kale? Opt for avocados instead – they’re also full of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Grapes

Grapes contain resveratrol – yes, the antioxidant found in red wine – that is known to boost heart health.

On top of that, this antioxidant also protects collagen from free radicals and blood vessels. Collagen helps to protect the skin’s elasticity, so you can stay glowing and vibrant for years to come.

We’re definitely going to cheers to that!

Herbs and spices

Think of herbs and spices as an anti-ageing food group – their day job is to provide flavour, which is the number one factor driving food decisions, even before convenience and health.

By making other nutritious and anti-ageing foods taste delicious, they’re actually doing double-duty.

Basically, herbs and spices make healthy ingredients (like vegetables, fish, and plant-based protein sources) taste better – plus they help us reduce our salt and added sugar intake, which we need to limit and contribute to healthy ageing and reduced inflammation.

More and more important scientific studies are emerging on the phytochemical, anti-inflammatory, and other unique attributes of herbs and spices themselves, too.

They’re also another prominent part of the Mediterranean diet, which has the closest relationship with living long and living well.

A few of our favourites? Ginger (known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea effects), rosemary, cinnamon, turmeric (strong anti-inflammatory properties), and red pepper.

Is caviar an anti-ageing food?

Here’s another anti-ageing food that you may not know about: caviar. Not only is caviar a luxurious delicacy but it’s also a wonderful youth preserver for the skin.

You’d already know that these salty eggs extracted from certain kinds of fish, such as salmon, are considered as one of the most expensive and indulgent foods in the world but skincare lovers will likely also recognise its use in cosmetics.

Caviar’s number one skincare benefit? Its anti-ageing properties.

Caviar extract contains antioxidant properties to protect skin against dangerous UVA and UVB rays – this helps to prevent collagen and elastin breakdown while working wonders in lessening the appearance of wrinkles and unifying skin tone.

Caviar extract can also be quite moisturising and soothing to the skin. It contains hydrating elements such as the fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, which play an important role in the integrity and barrier function of the skin.

With long-term use, caviar-based skincare provides moisture and leaves behind a beautiful glow, making skin appear more radiant and youthful.

How to incorporate caviar-based skincare into your routine without spending too much

Treating your skin to caviar skincare doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet, though.

We’ve found a new serum that’s made specifically for Asian skin minus the hefty price tag: meet Lab Secret Age Defying Deep Sea Caviar Serum.

This anti-ageing serum is, of course, powered by caviar extract but we’re not just talking about any caviar here – Lab Secret uses only the finest quality Siberian sturgeon caviar from France that’s sustainably sourced and certified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES).

Thanks to its hero ingredient, Lab Secret’s Age Defying Deep Sea Caviar Serum primary function is to protect the skin’s building blocks, collagen and elastin, while providing antioxidant benefits.

But, the formula is also packed with other nutritive ingredients to reverse the hands of time on your skin.

Evening primrose extract is added into the formulation for its moisturising and soothing benefits, as well as its ability to enhance the texture and elasticity of the skin.

Meanwhile, apple stem cells help jumpstart your body’s own cell regeneration to produce healthy new skin cells which, in turn, tackles key markers of premature ageing such as fine lines.

The anti-ageing serum also contains fortifying thyme oil, which boosts skin immunity and blood circulation for improved skin rejuvenation, as well as anti-inflammatory jojoba oil to promote collagen synthesis.

Lightweight and non-greasy, the anti-ageing serum is suitable for all skin types and comes in a transparent texture with tiny caviar-like capsules suspended within the serum.

These little beads burst upon application onto the skin to deliver all the anti-ageing goodness packed within the formulation.

With regular uses, it helps reinforce the skin’s barrier and retain moisture deep within skin layers for plumper, more youthful-looking skin.

You’ll also be happy to know that the homegrown brand, which was started by a group of skincare enthusiasts, developed the Age Defying Deep Sea Caviar Serum in Japan.

That means you can count on the anti-ageing serum to be made in the best quality in accordance with the highest level of safety standards – without costing you an arm and a leg.

Lab Secret Age Defying Deep Sea Caviar Serum retails for S$128 on Lab Secret’s official e-store, Lazada, Shopee, and Qoo10. For a limited time only, you can purchase it at special introductory prices of S$78 for one bottle and S$136 for two bottles.

This article is brought to you by Lab Secret.