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Let’s talk about how to get clear skin because the struggle is real! If you have sensitive skin, eczema, acne or psoriasis then get sippin’ on this clear skin smoothie.
I’ve had my own issues with teen acne and adult acne. It seemed like I couldn’t escape it! Once I tweaked a few things in my life, it made such a difference (as you can see in the photos below).
I asked my friend and Simple Green Smoothies team member, Erin Mottayaw, to write this post and share her journey with finding the best foods for clear skin. I think you’ll be inspired and learn some great tips to get your skin looking amazing.
Table of Contents
A Journey to Clear Skin
Erin: Most of my life I was a “makeup kind of gal” because I didn’t have good skin. It was sensitive, prone to breakouts and splotchy. I tried every cleanser, soap, mask and more to try and tame my face, shoulders and arms, yet nothing worked.
After Jen taught me how to make a smoothie, I was intrigued, but a total newbie. But it’s amazing how quickly I changed.
- I swore I’d never drink a green smoothie without dairy. Now I use water or homemade almond milk as the base.
- I said I’d never blend (or eat) kale. Now I literally have a 4×4 foot garden of kale. That’s 18 kale plants that I treat like my own offspring! #leafygreens4life
- Finally, I said I’d never leave the house without makeup. These days, you’ll only find me a bit of eyebrow tint, mascara and a great face lotion with SPF on date night. Why? Because I discovered the secret of how to get clear skin and I’m never going back.
Healthy Skin: Where to Start?
Jen talked about the glowing skin she experienced with green smoothies, yet I was skeptical. I always had a kitchen full of fresh fruit growing up, yet I still had bad skin.
I agreed to try seasonal cleanse when Jen was asking friends to test it out and share feedback. For 21 days, I ate a TON of plants, drank a bunch of water and avoided these food groups entirely:
- dairy
- meat
- alcohol
- processed sugar
- gluten
We replaced all these things with plants: fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains.
As hard as it was to do, that cleanse made me see the light. My face started to clear up around day 5. By day 15, I was acne-free for REAL!
The Results: A Healthy Glow
I never realized how much food affected my skin issues until I gave up dairy and sugar on this cleanse. I saw that certain foods were causing my acne and others were promoting overall health like:
- Better skin: All my life I had these red bumps on the backs of my upper arms. Embarrassing and annoying. When I fueled my body with whole foods for clear skin, these bumps vanished. Food did what medication hadn’t accomplished.
- Healthier nails: My nails were easily broken and thin, yet now are super strong, healthy and beautiful.
- Less acne: I thought acne was just for teenagers until mine never left, even after college. A few months of daily smoothies and a cleanse changed all of that. I notice that when I stop drinking smoothies daily, my skin is all too eager to let me know.
- Better sleep: Cleansing forced me to listen to the sleep needs my body had, and led me to better sleep habits overall.
- New passions: I gained a newfound love for baking, cooking and gardening through eating whole foods. I even started a small pallet garden in my townhouse so that we could use the herbs for smoothies and future cleanses. Now I’ve got a thriving kitchen garden, and I’m growing food my college self didn’t even know existed.
I included numbers four and five because believe it or not, stress can show on our skin. Lack of sleep leads to bad eating habits, greater stress and premature aging. I find my stress levels go down when I sleep better, as well as when I work on projects that fuel my passions.
Both of these have the space to take place in my life when I’m eating foods that give me strength and longevity, not foods that work against me.
Now after the cleanse, my family still eats meat and dairy on occasion. Yet we also use the Rawk the Year Meal Planner to fuel our weeknights with plant-based meals and we love them!
Recipe Ingredients
My skin journey has me blending smoothies like the one below almost every day. I love how a daily smoothie makes me look and feel, so let’s find out what’s in this great recipe!
- Spinach: Spinach contains vitamin A, which helps our bodies control oil production. This keeps those clogged pores in check to minimize acne.
- Coconut water: Especially during warmer months, I need an electrolyte boost to get me through these long, hot days. Coconut water is nature’s Gatorade and helps replenish my body!
- Pineapple: The bromelain in pineapple has been shown to help reduce inflammation and improve recovery times from skin procedures.
- Avocado: Aside from being a great healthy fat that can help you feel full, avocado helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce inflammation in the body. Plus, they also fight adverse effects from UVA/UVB rays.
- Booster: I boost this smoothie with homemade protein powder to give it more protein, healthy fat and fiber. This helps me stay full longer, stay regular and have the energy to keep up with my kids.
Best Foods for Clear Skin
What other kinds of food can one expect in a whole food, clear skin diet? A lot of beautiful and delicious plants! Here are some incredible whole food, plant-based ingredients that will help your skin look great both now and in the future:
- Walnuts: Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, walnuts are a powerhouse in fighting inflammation.
- Sweet potatoes (and other orange veggies): Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body and acts as a natural sunblock.
- Red/yellow bell peppers: Also full of beta carotene, these specific bell peppers contain tons of vitamin C, which promotes the collagen that keeps skin firm.
- Broccoli: The sulforaphane found in broccoli protects against skin cancer.
- Berries: Low in sugar and high in flavor and antioxidants, berries will help generate glowing skin.
Foods to Avoid
Here are foods and ingredients to limit when figuring out how to get clear skin:
- Processed sugar: Refined sugar causes acne due to increasing blood sugar in the body, creating inflammation.
- Dairy: Though you may not have a dairy intolerance, consuming dairy can disrupt your hormones, creating acne and eczema.
- Complex carbohydrates: Processed foods of any kind can interrupt the body’s natural processes, clog pores and create reactions that are seen in the skin. Reading labels and limiting the overall intake of processed food can lead to healthier skin (and keep your other organs thriving as well!).
- Alcohol: Affects our hormones and influences acne development.
How to Blend a Clear Skin Smoothie
Daily smoothies are an easy habit because they take five minutes to put together. You can even cut down on that time if you choose to prep ahead smoothie packs! Since this smoothie has leafy greens, here’s how I use the two-blend method for a creamy result:
- Blend spinach and coconut water until there are no leafy chunks. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed to get every last chunk.
- Add remaining ingredients, including any boosters, and blend again until smooth. Depending on the type of blender you have, be patient! This may take a minute or two to really break down the ingredients.
- Enjoy! I try to drink my smoothies within 15 minutes of blending, yet it’s totally okay to put them in the fridge to enjoy later.
If you are using frozen ingredients you should get a refreshingly cool smoothie. If not, feel free to stick a blended smoothie in the fridge to chill.
FAQs
Drinking a daily green smoothie can seriously help clear up skin. You are nourishing your skin (and body) with a whole lot of nutrients from real, whole foods that will make your body work for you, not against you. My clear skin smoothie has only four ingredients and yet it is a hydrating force in my life.
My clear skin smoothie has spinach, coconut water, pineapple and avocado. This gives me a good dose of vitamins, minerals, fiber and healthy fat to keep my complexion clear and glowing.
Yes! Drinking a daily smoothie full of leafy greens and whole fruits and vegetables can hydrate and nourish your skin in the best way possible. Avoid adding extra sugar or other weird ingredients and stick to the real, natural ones to give you the best results.
More Recipes to Help You Glow
- Vegetable barley soup: This soup is packed with fiber, which helps your digestive system get moving. The more toxins and waste you can excrete through your digestive system, the less chance your skin has to do it.
- Carrot ginger soup: This warm and cozy soup contains fresh ginger root which is a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Sleep well smoothie: This bedtime smoothie encourages sleep, which in turn helps your skin out.
- Apple celery smoothie: This smoothie is low in sugar and high in fiber.
- Alkaline smoothie: Ingredients shown to hydrate your body leaving it happier and clearer.
Drop a comment letting me know some of your favorite foods for glowing skin, and let me know if you try this smoothie by leaving a rating!
Clear Skin Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups spinach fresh
- 1 cup coconut water unsweetened
- 1 cup pineapple frozen
- ¼ avocado
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Blend spinach and coconut water until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.
Equipment
Notes
- Use at least 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cool smoothie.
- Use the leafy greens of your choice.
- Swap coconut water with regular water.
Wonderful smoothie recipes. Everyday morning I am having kale, banana and berries mixed smoothie. I feel very fresh. Can I add raisins or dates to my green smoothie?
Hi Mona,
Looking to add raisins or dates to your green smoothie? Go for it! They’re the perfect way to sweeten up your favorite smoothie recipe!
Hi,
I have enjoyed the Beginners Luck Smoothie. I made it, froze half of it, drank the other half. Have you ever put carrots green tops in a smoothie?
Thank you,
Louann
Hi Louann,
We love carrots greens, have you seen our Beginner’s Luck recipe with tops?
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/carrot-top-recipes
Learn more about our love for carrots here…
Hi I’m new to the green smoothie movement and was wondering whether using packaged frozen fruit is as beneficial as buying regular fruits and cutting them up myself? I’m really amped to get this July challenge going 🙂
Hi Rochelle,
We love using fresh + frozen fruits, both offer a great nutritional tasty boost to any recipe! We suggest adding at least one frozen fruit to ensure your smoothie is creamy + chilled to perfection!
Cheers!
My whole family drink green smoothies now. They are called Hulk drinks around here. My son(6) gave them the name. we make it with frozen mango, coconut oil, banana, baby spinach, and apple and water and ice as the base ingredients and add extras sometimes of sorrel, mandarin, pear, lemon juice and parsley.
Hi Kathleen,
Hulk Drinks, WE LOVE IT, and we especially love sharing our green smoothies with Little Rawkstars! Keep blendin’ those leafy greens!
Im super interested in keeping my skin hydrated and healthy. I am allergic to pineapples, is there another fruit that I could subsitute or another shake to try? Thanks so much!
Hi Jennifer,
Allergic to pineapple, we’ve got you covered! Mango, oranges or peaches are all great options! We love to put our best face forward, and that means skin health! Here are a few of our favorite tips for glowing clear skin…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-popsicle
I’m allergic to coconut, what would you recommend in place of the coconut water? Just plain water?
Hi Lori,
If you’re allergic to coconut, swap in another liquid base you love! Water is a great option! Here are some of our other favorites…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
hi there just wondering my 17 month old can take little sips of these smoothies? she just won’t eat vegetables and trying to look for other ways so she can have vegetables in her diet
Hi Maru,
Thanks for reaching out! We love sharing our green smoothies with little rawkstars! When your child is that young, we suggest checkin’ with your pediatrician first! If they give you the go ahead, check out our tips for sharing green smoothies with your little ones here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/smoothie-recipes-for-kids
Hi, I was just wondering if you can make green smoothies in advance and store them in the fridge for a day or two or do they lose nutritional value if you don’t drink them straight away?,
thanks
Hi Colleen,
Some people say you have to drink it “right away” to get the optimal nutrients from each blend. But if left in the fridge over-night for one to three days, the taste and satisfaction is still there. You also may add a small amount of lemon juice to preserve and keep the smoothie blend as fresh as possible. Your body is still reaping the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables even if it is not consumed right away.
I love you all! I started doing nutritious smoothies just 4 days ago as my breakfast. I usually don’t like solid foods in the morning. I am so grateful that I had already liked your Instagram page months ago. My first smoothie was the TROPICAL MANGO-RITA.I just substituted the spinach for kale–my favorite veggie!! Thanks sooo much!! I’m going to try this one now. I have eczema, and am going to be getting some shea butter, African Black Soap, and then drink this smoothie. I am sooooo excited!!! y’all are uber-motivating me!! Thanks.
Hi Cortez,
We’re so excited to have you blendin’ with us! Keep us updated on your skin improvements while enjoying Simple Green Smoothies!
Cheers 🙂
Hi I am new to your smoothie site will I be able to lose my weight if I go on green smoothies for one meal substitute ?
Hi Nima,
Everyone is different! Our co-founder Jadah lost 25 lbs in 3 months by replacing one meal with a Simple Green Smoothie!
If you want to burn fat, you want to include plant-based smoothie ingredients that have the following weight loss effects:
-Jump start your digestion
-Burn excess fat
-Reduce and expel bad cholesterol
-Provide energy for your cardiovascular system
-Detox and hydrate your body
-Promote healthy bowel movement
-Decrease your appetite for processed foods and sugars
The Kiwi Berry Punch is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense smoothie recipe that combine the best fruits and veggies for an optimal approach to healthy weight loss.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/fat-burning-smoothie
The best part about a green smoothie–you can use a smoothie as a low-calorie meal replacement because they are full of fiber which keeps your body feeling fuller longer.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
I think I’m missing something…is unsweetened coconut water the coconut water w/out flavor? I don’t see anything that says unsweetened
Hi Alana,
Yes, unsweetened coconut water has no added sweeteners or flavors~ All coconut water will contain some sugar because it’s naturally occurring in the coconut, but we just want to make sure you’re not reaching for anything that has had any additional sugar added to it!
Hi girls!
I love your site and I’m in love with the green smoothies since last month. I’m very thankful for your job, you girls are just so sweet!
But I have a problem with my smoothies. I don’t know why but their texture isn’t smooth (like on your photos). There are always this kind of larger pieces that haven’t been blended. The reason could probably be my blender, which is very old, couldn’t it? I just wanted to ask, because I can be doing something wrong. I always blend the liquid and leafs first, as the recipes say. Then I add the rest of ingredients, I blend the whole smoothie for about 3 minutes at maximum speed. And it never looks so smooth e.g. as the “Tropical Skin Cleanser” on the picture above…
Hi Teresa,
If blendin’ your leafy greens + liquid base first isn’t working for you, it might be that your blender is starting to lose it’s strength. Including frozen fruit can help achieve a smoother consistency, and help breakdown any remaining leafy greens. Hope this helps!
I’ve tried adding frozen fruits and it’s so much better. Thank you very much! 🙂
That’s great to hear! 🙂
if spinach is not on hand does kale provide the same benefits?
Hi Richa,
If you like spinach then you will like kale. They are both known for their wide variety of nutrients, mild taste, and availability in your local markets.
Is there any substitute for coconut water. I reside in Baku, it isn’t available here. Thank you
Hi Prathama,
The key to making Simple Green Smoothies work for you, is finding ingredients that are easily available in your area. Feel free to replace coconut water with one of these great options…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
I know you all are great about saying just to substitute what we like, or leave something out of a recipe if we need to, but I was wondering specifically if you had a recommendation for a good avocado substitute. I am allergic to avocado, but I would still like as many of the nutritional benefits as possible. Thanks!
Hi Izzy,
Banana is a great substitution for avocado to achieve that creamy texture! You can also add a healthy fat in place of avocado to receive similar health benefits. Here are a few of our favorites:
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-fats
Cheers 🙂
Love love love you gals and your wonderful smoothie recipes, videos, and being so real… thanks for all of caring, your detox for 21 days was so great too!
Hi Cheyenne,
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re so thankful to have you blendin’ with us!