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
Equipment
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.
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.
Just made it and it is DELICIOUS!!! My new go to smoothie.
It really is delicious!
I’m always looking for a smoothie blend that’s good for the skin. I’m not a big fan of avocados, though. I will have to swap it for flaxseeds or chia seeds.
Hi Roz,
Swap in a healthy fat that you love. Like you said, flaxseeds or chia seeds can both be great options! Coconut oil is another great choice too!
What fruit can I substitute the avocado with? Also can I drink this smoothie everyday for breakfast to help with my skin?
Hi Sonya,
Looking to swap out the avocado, swap in another healthy fat you enjoy! Two of my favorites are coconut oil and flaxseed oil. Learn more about them here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-fats
You can definitely blend this recipe several times a week for glowing skin. Just make sure + switch up your leafy greens to prevent oxalate buildup. You can learn more about the importance of rotating your leafy greens here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/leafy-greens
Yummmm!! One of my all time favorites. The texture is awesome and the taste is super delicious!
I totally agree!!
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day.
It’s always useful to read articles from other writers and use something from other sites.
Hi Fidel,
Thanks for your support and we’re happy we could help you learn more about green smoothies!
Can you use pomegrants in smoothies?
Hi Sandy,
Pomegranates are a great addition to your green smoothie! In addition to being high in antioxidants, they are also a good source of potassium, folate, vitamins C and K, and fiber, if the full seed is eaten.
Check out one of our favorite recipes here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/pomegranate-smoothie
Helloo, anything whats a good replacement for spinach
Hi Nathalie,
We love switching up our leafy greens! One of our favorite substitutes for spinach is kale. They both have a mild flavor but are packed with nutrients!
Learn more about our favorite leafy greens here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/leafy-greens
This is my favorite!!! I always feel like I’m vacation when I drink it! 🙂
Hi Katie!
Thanks so much for reaching out + for your kind words! We’re so happy to have you as part of our community :). This recipe was definitely inspired by some of our own tropical vacations! Sometimes you just need to feel like you’re on the beach!
Cheers :).
I cannot eat bananas…what is a good replacement for them in these smoothies?
Hi Mary!
Thanks so much for reaching out! Feel free to swap out the banana for any fruit that you love :). Avocado is my personal favorite banana swap (it helps keep the creamy texture!), but pineapple, mango, and peaches or nectarines are also great substitutes!
Cheers :).
Hi! Coconut water is expensive and I can’t afford it. Are there any cheaper alternatives? Also, while this recipe doesn’t call for it, are there dairy free alternatives to Greek yogurt for the recipes that call for Greek yogurt?
Hi Heather,
We’ve got you covered! Water is the perfect substitute for coconut water, and easy on the wallet. Learn more about our favorite liquid base options here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
And don’t worry, you won’t find dairy in our green smoothie recipes. It’s all about finding what works for you + your body, but for us we prefer to avoid dairy and reach for alternatives like coconut and almond milk.
Cheers!
Hi, do you know how many calories/kj this smoothie is per serve? Thanks
Hi Kiki,
We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes at this time. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data, and the phone apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.
Hi,
I am so excited to start my free 30 day challenge. I was wondering if I can substitute almond butter for peanut butter? I also suffer from constipation and wanted to know if there is anything I should avoid putting in my green smoothies?
Hi Bianca,
We’re so excited to have you blending with us! Of course you can swap in peanut butter! Peanut butter + almond butter occupy similar niches in a healthy diet, and can often substitute for the other in most recipes! We love nut butter made from almonds because it contains more vitamin E and iron than peanut butter, but we love both!
Worried about constipation? The leafy greens + fiber in our recipes are perfect for helping you keep regular! Ensuring that you drink plenty of water with your green smoothie will help too!
Cheers!
Hi
I purchased the smoothie recipes a while ago and I cant find them on my computer or email. Can you please resend them to me.
thanks
Sheena
Hi Sheena,
We want to get those recipes to you right away! Send a quick message to our team at the link below…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/contact
I have leftover guacamole (it’s a little spicy but not too spicy). What would you recommend adding to a smoothie if substituting guacamole for plain avocado?
Hi Heather,
Yum! Adding a little spicy guacamole sounds like a tasty idea. No need to add anything else. If you find your smoothie too spicy, you can always add a little more fruit to help balance the flavors.
Cheers!
Hi please can you help me I have been cutting my fruit up & freezing it but then when I take it out of the fridge some of it has turned bad, what is the best way to make the smoothie as I don’t have time in the mornings to start cutting fruit
Thanks in advance
Hi Natalie,
Oh no! We hate hearing that your fruit is turning bad in the freezer. How are you freezing your fruit? We suggest slicing up your fruit, and then placing on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once frozen, store in an airtight freezer-safe container or prep your smoothies! Some fruit will experience browning like banana, apple + avocado. But don’t worry the taste + health benefits are still there!
Learn more about prepping your green smoothies here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/frozen-smoothie-packs
Hello, I have just found your site, and also signed up for the 30 day challenge. I am hoping to start this week after making a trip to Sam’s on Wed. I have 2 questions, all your recipes make enough for 2 servings. Do you not recommend halving the recipe to make just 1 serving, or does it matter? Also, I was reading about your 21 day cleanse but it states it is not available right now. Is that a book that I need to order that is just out of stock or how does that work? Thanks so much!
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for reaching out! We’re so excited to have you join our 30-Day Challenge! You’re right all of our recipes make 2 servings, because we love sharing the green smoothie love with others. Know you only want one serving? Simply halve our recipes!
We’re so excited to hear you’re interested in our Plant-Based Cleanse Day Cleanse. We’re currently revamping our cleanse to ensure we’re providing our community with the best resource possible! We’ll be relaunching our cleanse at the end of January, we hope you will join us!
Want to be the first to know when our cleanse is available? Make sure and sign up here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/cleanse
Cheers 🙂
Awesome! Thanks so much for the info and such a timely response.
You’re so welcome, Shelley! Reach out with any questions! 🙂