A Holistic Plastic Surgeon Says Eat More Of This Nutrient For Tighter Skin

Yes, you really can eat your way to glowing, bouncy skin. And, no, I'm not telling you to toss your retinol serum or peptide cream. True skin longevity requires a multipronged approach, and your diet totally plays a role—especially with age. 

"Good, healthy fats are anti-inflammatory," Youn says. Studies back him up, establishing that omega-3 fatty acids possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties1, helping the body to strike an important balance and combat oxidative stress.* (Oxidative stress, as you may know, can lead to accelerated skin aging.) 

Omega-3s can also help support your skin's natural lipid layer; natural lipids (like ceramides) and fatty acids live on the surface of your skin, which help seal in moisture and keep environmental aggressors out. As board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., once told mbg: "Natural fats maintain the integrity of the outer skin layer," and when you have a healthy lipid layer, your skin appears supple and dewy.*

These supplements have been specifically shown to support skin health too. For example, one comprehensive review of 38 studies found that omega-3 supplements help balance the skin's inflammatory response3.* The researchers consider omega-3 supplements especially useful for skin health, given their "high safety profile, low cost, and ease of supplementation."*

Another study4 found that participants who combined omega-3 supplements with topicals had improved overall skin health and appearance compared to those who only used topicals.*