Summer is all about the easy and the breezy, and this season, we’re focused on making our daily habits work a little harder for us—sans the actual effort. If you’ve already made the switch from warm breakfasts to cooling smoothies, you’re likely already supporting your summer skin with antioxidant-rich berries and fruits, which can protect the skin from all of that fun in the sun. In addition to protection against UV rays, the skin also needs some extra hydration support this season, even if you don’t have naturally dry skin.
“Sweat and fluid seep out of the skin when it is hot outside, especially during the summer months,” says Jennifer Nicole Bianchini, MS, RD, IFNCP, a functional dietitian and founder of Body to Soul Health. “Keeping hydrated from within helps support fluid balance, keeps your skin healthy, and supports that natural glow,” she adds, noting that good skin health comes from the inside out and starts with hydration.
How to Hydrate Skin With Summer Smoothie Ingredients
Drinking enough water is one way to keep skin hydrated in the summer, but Bianchini says water alone might not be enough to actually keep the skin well nourished and supple-looking. “When we sweat a lot, like we tend to do in the hot and humid summer months, we not only lose fluid, we lose minerals, too,” she explains. Because of this, rehydration isn’t just about rehydrating with fluids; it’s also about replenishing those essential minerals.
“Some of my favorite skin-hydrating ingredients to add to my morning smoothie are watermelon, cucumber, ginger, and coconut water,” she explains. “Not only are they refreshing and filled with water, but they also contain antioxidants, electrolytes, and minerals that help maintain fluid balance and support healthy, glowing skin.”
Watermelon: In addition to its hydrating properties, Bianchini notes that watermelon also contains lycopene, a bright red pigment that is considered a carotenoid and a potent antioxidant. “Lycopene supports the skin against oxidative stress,” she explains. This protection is essential in summer when we spend more time under the sun’s rays.
Cucumber: Adding cucumber to a smoothie is great because it doesn’t really change the flavor while giving you an added dose of daily greens—plus, cucumber is about 96% water. According to Bianchini, its cooling properties are another reason to add this hydrating fruit to your smoothie recipe.
Ginger: When it’s hot out, our bodies can experience more inflammation, so adding calming ingredients such as ginger to our smoothies can help calm it down while adding a nice kick to wake us up in the morning. On top of its anti-inflammatory benefits, ginger supports digestion, which can lead to more hydrated and radiant-looking skin. “A healthy gut equals healthy skin,” Bianchini notes.
Coconut Water: Electrolytes can actually pull water to your cells, so getting enough of them is key for hydration. Bianchini says coconut water is a great source of natural electrolytes, plus it’s super hydrating in general and adds a nice touch of sweetness to your smoothie. Replace regular water with coconut water and reap the benefits this summer.
The Takeaway
In addition to hacking your smoothie for better hydration, taking skin-benefiting supplements can also ensure your complexion stays supple in the summer months. HUM Nutrition’s Red Carpet® Skin Hydration is formulated with black currant seed oil and vitamin E to promote nourishment from the inside out. Turn Back Time is another summer skin supplement that targets some of the season’s biggest skin concerns, including UV damage.