This iconic glowing green smoothie nourishes your skin from the inside out. Packed with beneficial ingredients, this smoothie will make your skin positively glow. Drink up a glass of this plant-based recipe every morning for radiant, rejuvenated skin.
What makes this supercharged smoothie so special? It has the perfect ratio of greens to fruit, so you’ll get all the benefits of nutrient-dense leafy greens with a touch of sweetness and soluble fiber from the fruit.
This energizing smoothie is the perfect way to get your morning started.
Table of Contents
Clear skin and a youthful glow? Count us in! You know I’m all aboard the clear skin diet train, so let’s add another great smoothie recipe that provides amazing health benefits and glowing skin.
Recipe Ingredients + Health Benefits
Kimberly Snyder is the original creator of this fun smoothie and I chose to make a version of hers. Let’s find out what’s in this smoothie and why:
- Romaine lettuce: This lettuce has a neutral taste, so it doesn’t overpower this smoothie. It’s a surprisingly good source of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that’s been found to protect against aging. Bonus: Romaine lettuce has a high water content for skin hydration!
- Spinach: Spinach is an iron powerhouse (and doesn’t alter the taste of this smoothie). It’s one of the richest sources of iron among leafy greens. Iron helps transport oxygen around the body and aids in energy production.
- Lemon: Lemons have a high vitamin C content. Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals that cause oxidative damage and skin aging. Vitamin C is also crucial for collagen production, as it’s necessary for growth and development of tissues. The alkalizing power of lemons also helps neutralize toxins, expedite the disposal of waste and stimulate digestion.
- Apples and pears: Apples and pears help to balance out the bitterness of the greens with some natural sweetness. They’re both high in fiber, which helps the body break down the food we eat.
- Banana: Add some natural sweetness with a banana, as well as make this smoothie super creamy.
- Coconut water: This liquid provides natural electrolytes and great hydration to this beverage. I like using this instead of juices since it doesn’t add any extra sugar to my smoothie.
Feel free to make this your own. Adding herbs like parsley or cilantro can give you a natural morning detox. Use plant-based protein powder to turn this smoothie into a meal replacement. Use a high-speed blender for the smoothest, chunk-free result.
Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie
Kimberly Snyder is a celebrity nutritionist (Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon are among her smoothie-drinking disciples) and author of The Beauty Detox Solution. I stumbled across this glowing green smoothie recipe on Reese’s Instagram account and loved her personal twist on it.
Reese has gorgeous skin and happens to star in one of my favorite movies: Sweet Home Alabama. I was excited to make her smoothie recipe that was inspired by Snyder’s.
According to Kimberly Snyder, “As it cleanses and detoxifies your system, the Glowing Green Smoothie (GGS) will give you sustained energy, glowing skin, and optimal digestion. It also fosters a focused, clear mind. The GGS is here to support us daily on our life’s journey and is an integral part of my morning practice.”
In addition, Snyder’s morning routine starts with a cleansing cup of hot water with lemon followed by her signature smoothie. I’ve got a similar routine, starting the day with this detox tea!
How To Make This Green Smoothie
Now, the great part of this recipe is that you don’t have to spend hours chopping and preparing. Here’s how I make mine:
- Cut all of the ingredients into large chunks.
- Add spinach, lettuce, lemon and coconut water to the blender and blend until no leafy chunks remain.
- Add pear, apple, banana and protein powder (if using) to blender and blend again until smooth.
Pro tips: You’ll want a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, to get a really smooth consistency. Add more coconut water or filtered water for a thinner smoothie.
Using these two-step blending instructions ensures that all the leafy pieces are actually broken down. No leafy chunks here!
I like adding in my homemade protein powder to bump up the protein by 10 grams as well as add more healthy fats and fiber. You can also add fiber and hydration by tossing in some celery (both the stalks and leaves!).
FAQs
It’s so easy! I roughly chop up the ingredients first, just to make them fit into my blender more easily. Then I blend the leafy greens and liquid. After there are no chunks left, I add in the remaining ingredients and blend a second time until smooth.
I think so! Starting my day with a green smoothie helps me wake up, kickstarts my metabolism, gives me a leg up by getting in those first servings of fruits and veggies right off the bat and keeps me regular (if you know what I mean).
They definitely don’t have to be, yet it depends on how you make them. Stick to whole foods only, with no weird additives or added sugar. Opt for lower-sugar fruits if you prefer and make sure every smoothie you blend contains leafy greens and healthy fats to help break down the natural fruit sugars. Add plant-based protein powder to give you extra protein.
More Hydrating Smoothies
Your skin will thank you for thinking of it beyond just the face washing, creams and serums. You can do a world of good through what you eat as well! If you loved this hydrating beverage, then here are a few more recipes to try out:
- Apple Celery Smoothie: This classic green smoothie uses fruits and veggies for the ultimate hydration.
- Bedtime Smoothie: Nourish your skin and sleep great with this unique nighttime smoothie.
- Alkaline Smoothie: Take it to the next level by adding alkaline water and veggies to your beverage.
- Clear Skin Diet Smoothie: A tropical-tasting, dreamy smoothie that is my go-to when I want to focus on my skin.
I can’t wait for you to take your first sips of this refreshing green smoothie and start glowing from the inside out. Will you rate + review this once you’ve tried it and let me know what you think?
Glowing Green Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup spinach
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
- 1 pear
- 1 apple
- 1 banana
- 1 lemon remove peel, but leave as much white pith as possible
- ½ cup coconut water
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Add spinach, lettuce, lemon and coconut water to blender. Blend until no leafy chunks. Add more water if needed to blend.
- Add pear, apple, banana and homemade protein powder. Blend again until smooth.
- Enjoy the green goodness!
Notes
- This recipe is inspired by Reese Witherspoon’s morning smoothie.
- Use at least 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cool smoothie.
- Swap in the leafy greens of your choice.
- Swap coconut water for regular water.
Seriously, 2 heads of romaine?? With all the other ingredients this smoothie is really suited to a “celebrity” budget.
Hi Kiki! This smoothie serves two, so you could always half it for one serving!
YUMMY!!!! I will definitely add this to my favorite smoothie. I think I’ll add half an avocado & a teaspoon of ground flaxseed though to add some more fat to it.
Those are great ways to get a little extra healthy fat into your smoothie!
Didn’t love this smoothie. The apple texture wasn’t yummy. It was too thick. I will try it again and adjust the ingredients. I love the greens in it! Love the pop of lemon! Thanks for sharing. Do you have any suggestions to make it less thick and fibrous?
Hey Ashlee! I suggest peeling the apple and pear and that should help. Also, make sure you are blending long enough. You don’t have to blend at full blast but you do want to make sure your smoothie is smooth. 😉
Thank you Jess! I’ll try it! I’ll let you know how it goes.
You’re welcome, Ashlee! Definitely let me know if peeling the apple and pear made a difference for you, texture-wise. 🙂
Yes one of my favorite morning smoothies.
This one is definitely a winner!
This is a great smoothie. Very refreshing taste and easy to prepare never would have thought to add a whole lemon but it works.. Thanks for all your great recipes I am really enjoying them. Keep up the good work you do.
Thanks for your awesome review, Judy!! We love the bright flavor the lemon adds!!
I would love to try your smoothies, but many are too high in carbs. As a diabetic, I look for recipes that are 15 grams of carbs or less. Is there a way to make some low-carb? Thanks.
Luci, you can always flip the ratio of greens to fruit, i.e., add more leafy greens and less fruit. I’d also recommend using low-glycemic fruits in your smoothies. 🙂
When I was on a serious health kick, I made this smoothie every day. It made enough for breakfast and lunch… and kept me full. I think I’m gonna give it a shot again and add in the protein powder to see how it goes. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sounds great!
Exactly how much is “two heads of romaine lettuce?”
Hey Desiree! You might find a head of lettuce in your grocery’s produce section, as literally a round ball of lettuce. If you can’t find romaine in a head, you may also find it in longer bunches, 3-4 bunches per bag. If you find it this way, just use 2 bunches as 2 heads.
Do you mean measurement-wise? Not exactly sure but maybe ~6 cups.