You’ve probably heard about superfoods, or seen them on the menu of your favorite cafe, but did you know that some superfoods can empower your skin and hair? For many of us, the term superfood likely conjures up images of avocados or exotic smoothies with unpronounceable ingredients. But there is so much behind the name that we don’t know about.

Below we explain what the term superfood means, as well as the benefits these types of foods deliver beyond just your diet.

What is a superfood?

While there isn’t (yet) a legal or standard definition of a superfood, the term is generally used to describe food that has a high level of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and delivers many nutritional benefits. It’s most commonly used to describe plant-based food, but it may also apply to fish and dairy, especially those products that are rich in healthy fats.

Common superfoods include:

• Fruits such as blueberries, pomegranate, and prickly pear
• Acai
• Avocado
• Kale
• Nuts such as almonds
• Fish such as salmon

Superfoods consumed in large enough quantities can be very beneficial for your health. They are thought to help prevent conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as ease digestive problems.

Benefits of superfoods for your skin & hair

Eating superfoods can potentially help boost health and ease certain conditions. But did you know that these foods can also be beneficial for your hair and skin?  That’s why hair and beauty products increasingly contain superfoods with restorative properties.

Take the avocado. Cold-pressed avocado oil is often used in cosmetic products because avocados are full of vitamins A, D, and E as well as omega 9 fatty acids. Fatty acids help prevent signs of aging, as well as protect the skin against the effects of pollution and exposure to UV light. Avocado oil is also rich in triglycerides of oleic acid and other acids, which help trap moisture on the surface of the skin.

Prickly pear –– a type of cactus –-  is another ingredient that is becoming increasingly popular in skin and hair products. It has high levels of vitamin C, vitamin E,  magnesium, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, niacin, iron, calcium, vitamin K and potassium. With help from these vitamins and minerals, the prickly pear offers many benefits. Not only does it help ensure a healthy digestive system, but it also softens skin, conditions hair, and restores shine.

Due to their high levels of linoleic, oleic, and palmitic fatty acids, prickly pears can help stop the formation of wrinkles. Prickly pear oil can also eliminate dullness, and supply the skin with the oils it lacks to help hydrate dry and dull skin.

The Prickly Pear Collection from Schwartz

Prickly pear is very versatile and has many beneficial properties, which makes it an ideal ingredient for skin and hair care products. Find out more about our brand new collection of prickly pear beauty products on our website. Interested in a prickly pear product for your cosmetic line? Reach out to a Schwartz expert for a free consultation.

This blog post is for educational purposes only.