It’s fine to read the studies and learn the nutritional theory but what do people at the coal-face say? Beauty professionals see hundreds of people each year. Let’s see what have they noticed…

Susan Devonshire is a cosmetic therapies specialist who works alongside dermatologists at Auckland Dermatology. I asked her whether, during her 16 years in the industry, she had observed any special food or diet that people with great skin ate.

“Every week the glossy magazines tell us the latest magic food to keep us young and beautiful. But no-one wants to hear the truth: that it’s all about moderation –moderation doesn’t sell. In my practice, the people with the best skin do three things: they keep their skin care regime simple, wearing SPF30+ sunscreen every day – summer and winter; they eat a healthy, balanced diet – a bit of wine, a bit of chocolate but no extremes; and they manage stress, often by having some strong spiritual grounding in their personal lives. Beauty on the inside really does shine out through your skin.

I am more likely to see skin problems in people who work out a lot at the gym and eat protein bars and supplements rather than real food.”

Mark Irving – senior hairdresser at Kent Hairdressing, Takapuna, Auckland said, “I have noticed that the people with great hair eat a balanced healthy diet with enough protein and plenty of water to keep the scalp hydrated. Of all my clients over the past 17 years the ones with the worst hair have been those on extreme, strict diets and some vegetarians.”

My related articles:

8 Foods for healthy skin, hair and nails – Part 1

8 Foods for healthy skin, hair and nails – Part 2