Nourish to Glow

We're constantly being sold on the idea that a miracle serum can give us perfect skin when, in reality, it's about what's on our plates

- By Keydra Manns

We've all been there: getting ready in the morning when we spot a pimple or a dry patch that wasn't there yesterday. Our first instinct might be to Google products and scroll through beauty-influencer feeds, looking for a magic serum to fix the problem. But often, the solution isn't in a bottle. Instead, it starts with taking a deep breath, having a glass of water and looking at what we've eaten lately—because that late-night snack or fast-food dinner might be showing up on our skin.

"When it comes to skin health, we often think about what we can put on top," says Russender "Russ" Powell, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes-care specialist at Russ Powell Nutrition and Diabetes Care in Plano, Texas. "But good skin comes from within. I always say, skin care starts in the kitchen but is maintained in the bathroom."

The beauty industry keeps us buying items, from 12-step product-based skin routines to jade rollers and mechanical face cleansers. In 2023, Black consumers alone spent $9.4 billion on beauty products, according to NIQ, a global consumer-intelligence company that tracks consumer spending. Social media pushes endless serums and creams, but Powell emphasizes that the first step should be consulting a health care professional who can help identify the root cause of your skin issues. Often, that journey begins with your diet.