Is Your Skin Craving a Smoothie?
YLB’s Green Smoothie
It’s green. It’s gorgeous. It’s your skin’s new morning obsession.
Forget chalky protein shakes or faddy detox drinks - this is skincare in a glass, and it tastes as good as it makes you feel.
Blend until silky. Sip slowly. Let it work its magic.
💚 My Morning Ritual (a.k.a. The Blend-Sip-Glow Moment)
I’ve always made time for a morning smoothie. Before the to-do list, before the inbox, before the treatments - it’s just me, my blender and a moment to do something good for myself.
But lately… I’ve needed it more than ever.
As many of you know, I’ve recently had a hysterectomy. And truthfully? I’ve been feeling a bit all over the place. Hormones shifting, joint and muscle pain, brain fog, emotions zig-zagging and my poor hair, skin and nails? Let’s just say it’s all gone a bit bananas (yes — pun absolutely intended!).
So I’m coming back to this little ritual with fresh eyes. I don’t want it to be a daily habit, I want it to be my daily check-in; a way to feed myself from the inside and show up for my skin, my energy and my sanity.
Because here’s the truth no serum will tell you: Skin glows better when your insides feel loved.
All those glow-boosting buzzwords - vitamin C, antioxidants, healthy fats, hydration - they don’t just live in posh little bottles. They live in fruit, veg, spices and the stuff we blend into our mugs and glasses. They live in the everyday ingredients we can control when everything else feels a bit off.
Let’s talk about what to I put in my smoothie and why your skin might just be begging for one too.
1 x Ball of Frozen Spinach
This humble leafy green is rich in vitamin A, which supports cell turnover (hello, fresh skin!) and iron, which helps oxygen flow better through the blood, meaning more radiance and less dullness. Bonus: It’s also a source of zinc, great for healing and calming breakouts.
13 x Green Grapes (yes, 13 - I count them and they have to be the green ones!)
Grapes are little antioxidant bombs, especially the red ones but I’m not keen on the taste of them in my smoothie so I stick to green (which are lower in sugar as well). The skins are full of resveratrol, a compound known for its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. Think of them as mini glow pills.
1 x Banana
My sister and I have got a weird thing with bananas - love the flavour, but the cold, squidgy texture? Nope. Can’t do it. So I sneak them into my smoothie where they work their creamy magic without offending my tastebuds. Or I bake them into banana bread and call it balance.” texture aside, bananas are full of vitamin B6 and magnesium - great for hormone balance (especially during stressful or hormonal times) and keeping your skin calm and happy. Plus, they help your gut stay regular and a healthy digestion = clearer skin.
1 tsp of Matcha Powder
I must admit, I find the matcha I take in powder form a bit too sweet so I may revert back to capsules. However, matcha isn’t just trendy - it’s powerful. It contains EGCG, a strong antioxidant that fights off free radicals, supports even skin tone and helps reduce inflammation. It also gives a gentle caffeine lift without the crash so nice for your skin and nervous system.
1 tsp of Fresh Ginger
Gosh, I could eat ginger with everything - I love it! Ginger is like a wake-up call for your skin. It stimulates circulation, helps reduce puffiness and has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits. If your skin’s ever feeling sluggish or breakout-prone, ginger helps bring it back into balance.
Water (no milk, no juice)
Simple but smart. Skipping sugary bases and using water helps keep your smoothie clean and hydrating. No added sugars, no dairy - just pure, skin-quenching goodness. At the start of my Smoothie Journey, I did try it with dairy-free milks and some juices but I felt they were too sweet and hey, I just prefer water.
💛 I’ve also added my skin squad of daily supplements because right now, I need all the support I can get!
Vitamin D & Folic Acid
I’ve been deficient in these at different times in my life and let me tell you, it’s not fun. The exhaustion, the low mood, the feeling like you’re dragging yourself through the day… it’s more than just being ‘a bit tired,’ (a bit like having a hysterectomy, eh Sal?)
After chatting with my doctor, I started taking both consistently and I’ve been on them for over a year now.
Folic acid can give a sense of calm, supports hormones and helps the body feel like it’s renewing properly. Vitamin D is a little sunshine-in-a-capsule; it lifts mood, helps the skin heal better and gives the immune system a gentle boost.
Marine Collagen
Seeing as I’m soooooo dehydrated at the moment and it’s showing in my skin and hair, I thought I would try N2 Marine Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid (this one also contains vitamin C and magnesium - seeing as sleep is an issue for me at the moment, I thought I would save some dosh instead of buying them separately). Usually sourced from fish skin or scales, it is rich in Type I collagen, the type that makes up the bulk of our skin, hair, and nails. It’s known for being highly absorbable and bioavailable, which means your body can use it more easily compared to some other sources (like bovine). I have only been on it a few days so watch this space!
Here’s what I am hoping it will do:-
Improve my skin elasticity and hydration (I am looking like a wrinkled prune these days)
Strengthen my nails and give me shiny healthy hair
Supports joint and bone health (stop this pain, please I say!!!)
Easily absorbed and gentle on the gut (I have such a sensitive tummy)
Sustainable and pescatarian-friendly (no fish parts going to waste)
I have a beef against creams and serums stating they have collagen in them - it’s often a big fat marketing spin. Most collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. The skin barrier (stratum corneum) is incredibly good at keeping big things out and collagen is one big, chunky protein.
If you really want to support the formation of collagen:
Swallow it (like in a supplement),
Boost it (with vitamin C), and
Protect it (with sunscreen every single day).
Tumeric
I’m still on my first bag of Nutrition Geeks’ Tumeric so too early to say that it’s working or not! They say take supplements for about 3 months to see any differences. Best taken with black pepper, it is a powerful all-rounder when it comes to beauty and wellbeing. Think of it as your natural anti-everything support:-
Anti-inflammatory: Helps calm skin flare-ups (like acne, eczema, or rosacea) and soothes the whole body
Antioxidant-rich: Fights free radicals - think brighter, more even-toned skin
Joint support: Eases stiffness and supports flexibility (especially helpful if you're on your feet all day)
Gut-friendly: Aids digestion, which is often the real root of skin issues
Mood boost: Some studies show it may help ease low mood or brain fog
Biotin
Another new aquisition, Nutrition Geek’s Biotin (also known as B7). I’ve bought this for my hair as it’s like straw! Biotin is often called the "hair, skin and nails vitamin". It helps your body convert food into energy, but more importantly for us, it apparently plays a big role in keeping your outer glow strong and steady. We shall see!
The Bottom Line
Your skin is an organ — and like the rest of your body, it craves nourishment, hydration, and balance. This little blend of smoothie and supplements hopefully ticks all those boxes and sometimes it really is just a blend of 13 little grapes and then some!
