In this post, I’ll go in-depth with the skin tightening foods that aren’t just proven by tons of research to increase the elasticity of your skin. But also shown personally to do wonders for my skin (today 40 years old).

The micronutrients called carotenoids in these fruits and veggies are most known for their ability to prevent sun damage and protect against free radicals. But newer research has also found them to actually be able to tighten the skin and reverse signs of aging.

I eat tons of these skin tightening fruits and vegetables every day now, and I have personally seen an amazing effect on my face when it comes to skin tightness, glow, and skin density.

It’s important to understand that we need certain basic anti aging lifestyles to keep our skin in good shape (this post explains the basics of how to delay aging). But with that in place, the right food will boost your skin to another level.

Since I am a nutritionist, food, and its power to either heal or damage your skin are my favorite subjects. And you will notice that by the length and depth of this article. I promise it will be worth reading all of it. And if you’re in a hurry, at least don’t skip the summary!

If you want to quickly jump to a certain part of the article, this is what I’ll cover:  

• What makes carotenoids skin tightening foods?
• The best skin tightening fruits and vegetables 
• Should I take supplements with carotenoids?
• 6 tips on eating skin tightening fruits and vegetables.
• Summary

What makes carotenoids skin tightening foods? 

Before I explain what to eat and how much. Let’s give a background of why these phytonutrients are considered skin tightening foods. You can skip this part if you’re not too interested in these meaty facts.

What are carotenoids?

Carotenoids are a large group of pigments that are produced by plants. And can be divided into two groups called xanthophylls and carotenes. Depending on their molecular structure.

The most studied so far are the carotenes Beta-carotene, and Lycopene. And the xanthophylls Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Astaxanthin, and Beta-cryptoxanthin.

And no you don’t have to memorize these names. But I will mention them a few times throughout the article.

In nature, these carotenoids play an important role in protecting tissues against sunlight. As well as being involved in photosynthesis since they have the ability to absorb UV-rays and blue light.

General health effects

When it comes to humans, some of these carotenoids are pro-vitamin A, which means they can convert to vitamin A in our body and are therefore a great source of this vitamin.

Besides that, a diet rich in carotenoids is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers as well as heart disease. And also a protective role against obesity and excess body fat.

On top of that, (what will be the focus of this article) they protect and heal our skin from the inside.

Also, some of the carotenoids are especially known for protecting our eyes against UV- radiation and blue light. And have more recently been shown to have the same protective effect on our skin. I’ll get back to that in a bit! 

Why we need antioxidants

So, just in case you’re not familiar with antioxidants. Let’s briefly mention that they protect us against so-called free radicals.

The unstable molecules injure our cells if they are too many (from sun exposure, pollution, bad food, and stress). Which damages our elastin and collagen protein (the proteins that make the skin elastic and firm).

Antioxidants are molecules that can prevent and neutralize damage from these free radicals. And there are many different types. Some are produced in our own bodies (and the younger we are the better production). And some we must ingest from our diet such as the carotenoids. 

Carotenoids in our skin

When we eat the carotenoids, they transport and deposit in different tissues in our bodies, including our skin. 

Many studies have examined how carotenoids correlate with skin health and guess the results? The number of carotenoids in our skin does not just reflect our diet habits. But it also reflects our degree of skin aging. And individuals with high levels of carotenoids in their skin have fewer sign of aging than those with low levels.

These studies also show that stress factors like sunlight, pollution, smoke, and disease (even just a cold) drastically decrease the carotenoid levels in our skin. Showing again their protective role against free radicals. The more stress, the larger depletion of carotenoids. And the greater need for consuming more. 

So the carotenoids have a strong antioxidant effect, protecting our skin cells from all the bad extrinsic aging factors (tip! Learn more about the different aging mechanisms in this blog post).

But besides that, carotenoids have recently been found to modulate gene expressions. Which is super exciting when it comes to altering our aging process. More of that below.

Sun-protecting properties

The largest factor regarding skin aging is exposure to sunlight. UVA is the main culprit. But blue light and near-infrared have been shown to have a negative effect as well.

Carotenoids are fantastic antioxidants protecting us from these aging sun-rays. But what’s even more exciting is that they also seem to boost our own production of antioxidants so we get an even greater defend capacity.

As I mentioned earlier, this production is declining as we age. But with carotenoids, we can reverse that.

In addition to being antioxidants, carotenoids also have the ability to absorb radiation. And therefore protect our skin even more from the damaging sunlight.

Are some carotenoids better than others when it comes to sun-protection?

This is the nerdiest part of this post. But for you who are interested, I have dug deeper into them all.

For example, many studies show that Beta-carotene and Lycopene are highly effective in preventing damage from UVA and UVB. And that Lycopene might be even more protective against UV-damage.

One study found that participants who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste every day showed 33 percent more protection against sunburn than a control group. Now five tablespoons are not huge amounts of tomato paste, and still, it gave such pronounced protection. 

Another study showed that Beta carotene is highly protective against blue light and infrared light in addition to the UV-rays. 

Other studies are showing that Lutein and Zeaxanthin seem to be even better at blocking out blue light and other harmful rays such as Infrared radiation.

When it comes to astaxanthin, I mentioned earlier that this algae carotenoid is getting more attention in studies. It is very similar to lutein and zeaxanthin in its structure. And also in its mechanism to protect from UVA and other harmful rays.

There are also some indications that Astaxanthin might be an even more powerful antioxidant when it comes to UVA-damage. So I find it worth including in this post.

Talking about sun-damage, never forget that sunscreen needs to be used every day of the year for anti aging. This post explains why.

Tightening and rejuvenating

I mentioned above that carotenoids have the ability to alter different gene expressions. One of them is to upregulate our own internal antioxidant system. So besides being antioxidants themselves, carotenoids boost our defense system to an even higher extent.

And this is not all. They have also been shown to regulate other gene expressions that lead to a more youthful appearance.

When it comes to these age-reversing-effects, most studies seem to have been done on the xanthophylls Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Astaxanthin. And the outcome is quite amazing.   

For example, Lutein and Zeaxanthin can alter the gene expressions that increase hyaluronic acid within our skin.

Hyaluronic acid is important for skin hydration and elasticity. And it declines as we age. So, by increasing hyaluronic acid by eating carotenoids, we will increase moister in our skin, increase elasticity, and reduce wrinkle depth. (This post will give even more tips on how to increase your natural hyaluronic acid).

Other studies have also found the two xanthophylls to increase levels of skin lipids, as well as a decrease of lipid peroxidation. Which will improve elasticity even more and tighten our skin.

It has also been shown that overall skin tone and luminance of the skin are improved with an increased amount of Lutein and Zeaxanthin.

What about the carotenes then? Well, they do probably play a big role as well. And for example, Lycopene has been shown to have a direct effect on our collagen production. Which will give us a more youthful skin-structure.

Now if this is not enough reason for you to increase your intake of fruits and veggies, then I don’t know what is 🙂 

I also want to mention Astaxanthin again. Since many studies have been done about this xanthophyll. And with the same outcome as with Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Skin elasticity is improved by taking supplements with astaxanthin. Even in studies where the test groups were given quite a small amount.

The best skin tightening fruits and vegetables 

So now you know the proven reasons why carotenoids are good for anti-aging and skin tightening. And that persons with high carotenoid levels in their skin look younger and have fewer wrinkles in their faces than those with low levels.

But what are the best fruits and veggies to eat if we want to increase our intake of these skin-tightening carotenoids? 

Well, carotenoids are especially found in yellow-orange and reddish-colored fruits and vegetables, and in dark green leafy vegetables. But they can also be found in fruits and veggies with all different kinds of colors. I will, of course, give you more specific advice in this section.

After reading all these studies about the carotenoids I am aiming myself to get a mix of them daily. It is proven that a combination of them all, and in high amounts, is the best strategy thanks to the synergy effect. 

The skin tightening foods I recommend every day

In the image below I will list the four carotenoids that I recommend you to eat every single day, for younger skin. And examples of where to find them.

I focused on these 4 since they have been most studied regarding skin health and aging. And they are also most easily found in the stores.

Now that does not mean that other carotenoids aren’t great for your skin. It’s just that these ones are the most proven ones to have an effect on making your face and skin younger.

Once you have the routine to eat them daily, you can for sure start to mix in other carotenoids as well. I will list a few examples further down in this post.

Remember that a combination of carotenoids will always give a stronger antioxidant effect than from each of them alone. And fruits and veggies will always give you a natural mix of antioxidants in every bite.

By combining from these four different groups you will make sure you get the highest amount of all these important carotenoids per day.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin work especially great as a couple. And to get that combination you need to plan a bit. Because it seems like most vegetables are extra rich in Lutein but not so much in Zeaxanthin.

Some exceptions are orange, mango, orange-pepper, goji berries, and honeydew melon. As you can see in my chart. So try to include some of these foods every day. Egg yolk and corn are also two good sources of both lutein and zeaxanthin. 

Other carotenoids to consider

So the four carotenoids above are the most studied regarding skin health. But others are probably a good idea to include as well whenever you can.

For example, Beta-cryptoxanthin is a xanthophyll that also deposits in our skin with protective abilities. It is found in mandarins, persimmons, red peppers, pumpkin, and papaya. 

Capsanthin is a less common carotenoid that has not been studied a lot for skin health. But I did find one study showing it has a similar protective ability against UVB as lycopene.

If you like peppers and chili, those are the best source of that particular carotenoid.

And what about Astaxanthin that I have mentioned a few times now? Well, that one is found in marine algae and some seafood such as wild salmon (if it’s wild and naturally red in color).

Farmed salmon is always red in color but that fish is in most of the time fed with a synthetic form of Astaxanthin. This one is synthesized from petrochemicals and DOES NOT have the health benefits as natural astaxanthin. It is not even clear if it is safe or not and I would personally avoid it.

Should I take supplements with carotenoids?

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*Please note, this post contains affiliate links, and I may receive a small commission if you purchase through any of those links. It doesn’t cost you any extra and I only recommend products I truly love and use myself. You can read my full disclosure here.

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So, what about supplements? Can we take a shortcut to young healthy faces and buy some pills instead of eating these skin tightening foods?

My short answer is no. But as with everything else there are of course some exceptions. So if you are interested in supplements with carotenoids, this is the section for you.

The complexity to understand

Science is still scratching the surface when it comes to understanding the powerful health effects from the right kind of food. But some we do know.

For example, it is clear that we need a lot of different antioxidants for the best effect on our skin. And the power is in combining them since they interact with each other. Think of them as participants in a football team. 

By eating a whole fruit or veggie, you always get several antioxidants in every bite, as well as other important components in the plant. All of those will enhance each other’s work and give the maximum effect. 

For that reason, it is always best to eat the whole food rather than certain isolated antioxidants. And actually, some isolated antioxidants can have a potentially dangerous effect on our health. 

The carotenoid you should NOT take as supplements

Let’s give some examples of carotenoids you should not take as supplements.

The most known in the beauty industry is Beta-carotene. And you have probably heard of it or even tried it in supplements yourself.

It is sold in tablets for its sun-protective and skin beneficial properties. As well as its ability to make you more tanned. And yes, all is true but with one big exception.

The studies that have shown positive health results on Beta-carotene are mostly studies where individuals have got Beta-carotene rich food. Not supplements. Instead, supplements with beta-carotene have raised quite some safety concerns over the years.

Many studies on Beta-carotene have shown that this carotenoid can induce a pro-oxidant effect when taken as supplementation. And that is the opposite of the antioxidant effect it has when taken in its whole food source.

High doses with Beta-carotene supplements are therefore linked to several health risks. And I cannot recommend it.

Instead, I advise you to get your Beta-carotene from food. This carotenoid simply needs to be in the whole fruit/veggie together with the other carotenoids to work efficiently. 

And in case you wonder, no concerns have been raised about the safety of eating antioxidants from fruit and vegetables. On the opposite governments are urging people to eat more of these rich food sources.

So fill up with carrots and other Beta-carotene rich foods. But avoid isolated tablets/capsules. 

Lycopene is another carotenoid popular as a supplement. It has not shown any adverse effect in the form of supplements.

BUT, several studies show that lycopene’s protection against UV radiation is more effective if taken together with the other tomato compounds. Compared to just taking lycopene alone. Many studies also indicate that there are very few health benefits of taking lycopene alone as a supplement.

Again, we need the synergetic effect of all the different phytonutrients in the plant, to get the best result. 

Supplements that can be to consider

It does seem like the xanthophylls Lutein and Zeaxanthin can have great effects on your skin when taken as supplements.

It also seems like there are no safety concerns either. The same goes for the algae xanthophyll Astaxanthin. 

I would still recommend the whole fruits and veggies when it comes to Lutein and Zeaxanthin since you will get so many more nutrients by eating the whole food.

If you do want to add a supplement for an extra boost, I would suggest Astaxanthin. Not just for its amazing effect on skin health, especially for protecting against UVA damage. But also because unlike the other carotenoids, it is more difficult to get in your diet. Unless you eat algae or certain seafood on a regular basis. Which many people don’t.

Also, Astaxanthin has been shown to be safe as supplements as long as it is from a natural algae source. 

I have recently bought an astaxanthin supplement from the brand Sports Research. And I like the fact that it’s an easy way to boost my skin with carotenoids during very sunny days. Or when I catch a cold. As mentioned earlier, those are some of the situations where your skin depletes quickly of carotenoids.

I also find it handy if I am traveling or on certain days where I just don’t have the same control over my fruit and veggie intake.

So if you consider buying any carotenoid supplement, this one is a safe and much more effective choice than beta carotene. 

I order mine from Iherb because I found them to have the best price on this supplement. And they ship worldwide. You can check out the current price on this link, and get a 10 % off if you decide to purchase.

Other supplements to consider are powders where the whole fruits/veggies have been included. I love this one from “Amazing grass”, and take a scoop of it every day.

It has a great mix of all different kinds of plants as well as probiotics and some green tea. This link will also give you 10 % off (or 5 % for returning customers).

Tip: This green powder also contains chlorella, which is another very interesting anti-aging food. See my post about chlorella benefits for skin to learn more.

My final tip to consider when it comes to supplements is to buy goji berries. They are not a supplement at all since it’s the actual berries I am talking about. But it’s easy and convenient to buy a big bag of them and eat a handful every day. It’s a perfect anti-aging snack together with nuts (that will increase the uptake due to their fat content). 

What I love about goji berries is that they contain ALOT of Zeaxanthin. Which is not found as common as Lutein in most fruit and veggies.

On top of that goji berries contain Lycopene, Beta-carotene, and of course Lutein and many other carotenoids.  And they are super tasty as well.

The downside with goji berries is that they are quite expensive. Especially if you buy organic, which I truly recommend since the non-organic ones are heavily sprayed with pesticides.

I personally only buy organic ones, and you can find really great prices on Walmart. This affiliate link will take you there.

I also like to order from Iherb, since I order so many other things from them. You can see this link to my favorite one. They ship worldwide and if you follow the link you will also get a discount of 10 % (or 5 % if you are returning customer).

6 tips on eating skin tightening fruits and vegetables

So now you have all the facts about how great carotenoids are for your skin elasticity as well as antioxidant defense. You also have the guide to what food sources to find them. And what supplements to consider if you feel the need for some extra.

Lastly, I want to give you some meal tips and advice on how to maximize your intake of these skin tightening foods.

Now I know that many of you might find it overwhelming to eat the amounts of fruit and veggies I recommend. Because according to statistics, people, in general, eat far too little of it.  Which is a major health problem in the western world.

Only 14 % of the population in Europe eat the recommended intake of at least 5 fruits and veggies per day. And in the US, only 10 % eat their recommended amount of at least 1,5 cups of fruits and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day.  

I find it truly sad that so few people reach these low recommendations. And I hope this post can motivate you to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in general. And hopefully, eat a lot more than the lowest recommended level. 

With that said. If you want to get really serious about improving your skin’s texture and tightness, then follow these 6 steps:

1) Check my chart every day. And make sure you eat from every square EVERY DAY

I will include it here once more for your convenience. I recommend you to choose at least 2 portions of your favorite fruits/veggies out of each box per day.

2) Try to include some fat with your carotenoids

Fat will increase the uptake of carotenoids. So for example, grab a few nuts while eating your fruit. And include some avocado, seeds, or olives in your salad.

Personally, I love nuts and I eat them to almost everything. That way I get some healthy fats together with my carotenoids and make sure I get a great uptake.

The carotenoids in fruits seem to have better absorption than the ones in vegetables. So definitely make sure you have some fat included in your veggie-meals.

This does not mean you have to pour oil all over your food. A small amount is sufficient. For example 1/4 of an avocado, 8 almonds, or just 2-3 whole walnuts, will give you the fat needed for good carotenoid-absorption.

3) Eat your veggies a bit cooked

The uptake from vegetables is much better when cooked. You do not have to over-steam your carrots though. They can still be a bit crunchy. 

4) Bunker up with tomato paste

Tomato paste is one of the best sources of lycopene. And since it is made from heated tomatoes the uptake is superior.

Also, it is easy to find and easy to store so you can buy it in plenty. And in addition, it is very easy to include in many dishes. (Or you can do as I do, eat a few spoons of it as it is)

5) Bunker up with frozen fruit and vegetables

Frozen fruits and veggies are a great way to always have skin tightening foods available.

Go for frozen kale, spinach, broccoli, and mango. Easy to find and usually more priceworthy. Especially as organic. 

6) Avoid situations that will deplete your skin of carotenoids

I mentioned them earlier in the post. Cigarette smoke, a lot of sun, pollution, and illness. These are all situations that can drastically deplete you of carotenoids in your skin.

Remember it takes a number of days and even weeks to build those concentrations. While losing them can happen quickly. 

Now some of them are harder to avoid, but at least have in mind what it does to your skin. And fill up with some extra carotenoid-rich foods during the exposure.

Summary

We’re reaching the end of this article. It’s long as hell I know, but your skin will thank you for having the patience 🙂 Here comes a final summary.

The older we get the more our natural defense system declines. And that means it will be harder to defend us against the stress and damage that the sun brings on.

Of course, using sunscreen is a must. Don’t forget it, not even a single day. This blog post will explain why. But even by using sunscreen every day of the year, we will never get 100 percent protection and our skin will to some degree be affected in a negative way. This is where the carotenoids come in handy. 

The more carotenoids we eat the younger faces we get

• So studies have shown that people who have been measured with high amounts of carotenoids in their skin look have far younger-looking faces than those with low amounts.

• The carotenoids protect us from sun-rays, pollution, and stress. Plus alter our gene expressions to promote tighter skin.

• Therefore, eating skin tightening foods high in carotenoids is indeed a good strategy for younger-looking firmer skin. 

• Remember that you will lose carotenoids in the skin quickly during stress, illness, pollution, and even more during sun exposure. It takes a few hours to deplete you of it. While it takes several days to increase levels. So fill up as much as you can with the skin tightening fruits and vegetables during these circumstances!

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Hope you found this post helpful! And I hope you feel inspired to eat more of these skin tightening fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Your skin and face will thank you!

I have personally always been a fruit- and vegetable lover. And I think that has saved my skin a lot during the years. Even when I was not as good with sunscreen as I am today.

But now I am eating more strategically,  according to my chart. And that has stepped up the game for sure.

Here is a tip on how to start the day. 

Another carotenoids-great tip I have to share is to eat hummus as a snack or meal. Include different vegetables in the hummus itself and serve with carrot sticks.

I have always loved hummus, but eating it this way makes it even more fun!

Let me know in the comments what your favorite fruits and veggies are. And of course, if you have any questions!

Also, please remember that you need to eat a lot more than just fruits and vegetables if you want optimal skin. This post will give you the whole diet plan that is necessary for preserving youth.

And finally. If you are new to my blog I highly recommend you read my post about the 3 fundamental actions to prevent wrinkles. Just to make sure you start in the right direction if you’re serious about getting younger skin.

Until next time! 

Ann