MENU
SEARCHBeauty nutritionist Paula Simpson offers tips on a healthful diet that also targets beauty goals.
Clients aren’t the only ones who want younger-looking skin, fuller hair and a white smile—that wish list probably applies to you as well. Beauty nutritionist Paula Simpson, a frequent contributor to the media on the overlapping topics of nutrition and beauty, has some tips about which foods to eat and which to avoid to maximize your beauty nutrition. Adapt these guidelines to your diet and, as your clients’ beauty advisor, share them with clients!
Photography by Monashee Frantz for Getty Images
Choose your—or your client’s—beauty target:
Paula Simpson
Fewer wrinkles. Simpson recommends eating soy. “Research shows that estrogen-like chemicals called isoflavones, of which soy is a rich source, help to keep the skin furrow-free,” she says. “You’ll get beauty benefits from soy in its whole forms—tofu, soybeans and edamame.”
Less Puffy Eyes. Downsize under-eye bags by lowering your salt intake and adding potassium, Simpson advises. “Our faces swell from too much sodium,” she notes. When adding potassium, Simpson recommends aiming for 4.7 grams a day. Foods high in potassium include bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados and cooked lentils.
Whiter Teeth. Highly acidic foods like citrus, soda and berries can leave your teeth vulnerable to stains from the acid left behind. Spaghetti sauce, red wine, cola and coffee also can stain teeth. But chewing on some cheese immediately after eating may neutralize that. Simpson reports that studies suggest that cheeses with high pH levels will safeguard your smile.
Minimized Age Spots. First, use sunscreen. Then boost your skin’s natural SPF by eating lycopene, a carotenoid found in red and pink produce like tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit and red peppers. “Your body absorbs the most from cooked tomato products like paste, sauce and soup,” Simpson adds.
Less Acne. Avoid sugar. “Eating foods like sweets and refined carbohydrates can jumpstart oil production, leading to clogged pores,” Simpson says. Instead, choose the richest source of zinc—red meat—or, if you’re vegetarian, opt for lentils, pumpkin seeds, kidney beans and raw oysters.
Great Bone Structure. “As bones lose volume and recede, your skin can begin to sag,” Simpson notes. “Keep your bones strong with high-calcium sources like fortified low-fat yogurt and milk, soy milk, kale, spinach and tofu.” Also bulk up on Vitamin K2, found in low-fat cottage cheese and chicken, as well as on magnesium, found in whole grains, leafy green vegetables and almonds.
Thicker Hair. Seek foods high in protein, iron and zinc, Simpson recommends. “Red meat is a great source of iron and zinc,” she says. Other good choices include pork and the dark meat of poultry, which has twice as much iron and zinc as the white meat. “If you don’t do meat, fill up on pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds), lentils and kidney beans,” Simpson adds.
What makes salon content worth a pause? Hairstylists Janelle Eyre, Sean Crutcher and Luis Rodriguez share how they show their work, earn guests’ trust and make posting feel manageable. You can get MORE from these artists in our upcoming webinar!
We learn some simple moves and strategies to keep the blood pumping through the muscles and limit posture problems from The Balanced Beauty Pro
Anny VanDriel, owner of Be Rosie Salon and creator of Pricing Isn’t Personal, volunteered to share a pricing presentation to beauty school students a year ago, and ended up learning more than she expected.
From the launch of the Ulta BeautyArtist Collective to the evolution of Trendspiration, celebrating stylists is what The Salon at Ulta Beauty does best.
Sponsored by Ulta Beauty
With more than four decades in the industry, hairdresser and MODE Education founder Stan Newton has built a career around the art and discipline of cutting hair, learning the rules so he can break them.
Beauty professionals should evaluate each service based on its popularity, profitability, and alignment with current trends. Conducting client surveys and analyzing booking data can provide insights into which services are in demand and which might be phased out.
LifeSpa leader Ali Yanez explains why strong mentorship, predictable income, meaningful recognition and the right work environment help beauty professionals build careers that last.
Whether a beauty professional chooses a commission salon, booth rental, salon suite or salon ownership, the common thread is having more choices than ever before.
Sport Clips Haircuts will host its inaugural "Level Up Live," a first-of-its-kind virtual event that combines live haircutting education, career inspiration, product knowledge, and employment opportunities for licensed stylists and cosmetology students nationwide.
Orthopedic PT reveals three daily exercises plus ergonomic advice that can help salon professionals avoid the aches and injuries caused by standing, bending and repetitive overhead work.
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
Salon suite pioneer Karen Kaminski argues that the next evolution of independent beauty businesses won't be defined by beautiful spaces alone, it will be driven by smarter systems that help professionals spend less time on administrative work and more time serving clients.
At a time when many LGBTQ+ people felt compelled to hide parts of themselves, Carlos Valenzuela found a career in beauty and a community that offered opportunity based on what you could do and how well you could do it.
Whether it's social media, fashion, film, art, or culture, Chaz Dean advises stylists to stay aware of what's inspiring people. Take the elements that make sense for you in these five lessons learned through a life in beauty.
For Jessica Domoney, building a successful career isn't about saying yes to every opportunity, it's about protecting your time, investing in yourself and creating an experience clients won't forget.
MODERN SALON sat down with Samuels to discuss the book, beauty education, mentorship and the habits that help beauty professionals thrive.
"The mistake people make is treating AI like a vending machine instead of a personal assistant." Digital marketing expert Scott Moon shares how beauty professionals can use AI while staying authentic
