In the holistic wellness space, there’s a saying I return to often: “drink your food and eat your water.” It is a reminder to slow down and consider the way nourishment moves through us, not just by what we sip but also by what we chew and savour.
Achieving hydrated skin is more nuanced than simply drinking water.
Late summer, in particular, seems designed for replenishment. The light is golden and the allotment, heavy with fruit and late crops, allows us to gather and taste. Cucumbers that snap with coolness, red peppers as sweet as any berry, plums that spill juice at the slightest pressure. When I walk between the rows, I can’t help but notice how the same foods that thrive in the heat are also those that soothe and hydrate us best.
There’s more to these harvests than just water, though the sheer juiciness of a ripe tomato or a handful of grapes is its own kind of medicine. Each plant carries with it an invisible pharmacy:
Vitamin C in red peppers and parsley
Lycopene in tomatoes, shown to help defend against UV-induced oxidative stress
Polyphenols infused through grapes, berries, and herbs. Helping to calm inflammation, support collagen, and strengthen the skin’s barrier
As the season edges towards its close, it isn’t too late to begin again. I often tuck in a last sowing of spinach, kale, or salad leaves. August’s soil is still warm, promising more harvests and more gentle nourishment for the weeks ahead. Quick-growing greens bring minerals and hydration straight from earth to plate, supporting skin from the inside out.
Why Food-Based Hydration Matters for Your Skin
We usually assume hydration is all about drinking more water, but the story is more nuanced. When you eat water-rich foods such as cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy greens, and berries you’re hydrating in a way that’s more sustained and effective. Here’s why:
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Structured Hydration: The water in fruits and vegetables is held within plant cells. As you digest these foods, water is released gradually, providing a steady supply to your cells, including your skin. Unlike plain water, which can be quickly lost through urination, food-based hydration tends to be absorbed and retained longer.
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Electrolyte Support: Foods such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greens deliver electrolytes like potassium and magnesium. These minerals are essential for healthy skin cell function and help draw water into skin cells, supporting plumpness and elasticity.
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Nutrient Synergy: Water-rich foods are also packed with antioxidants (like vitamin C, lycopene, and polyphenols) that defend the skin from environmental stress and inflammation. These compounds protect the collagen matrix, calm oxidative stress, and support the skin’s barrier... all vital for a radiant complexion.
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Fibre for Steady Hydration: The soluble fibre found in many fruits and vegetables slows the digestive process, allowing for steadier hydration and help balance blood sugar levels. This matters for skin, as blood sugar spikes and drops can lead to glycation, a process that ages collagen and elastin, making skin appear less firm.
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Gut-Skin Connection: A healthy gut supports the absorption of water, minerals, and phytonutrients. The gut-skin axis means that when digestion and microbiome health are supported (with fibre, polyphenols, and hydration), the skin is more likely to reflect that inner balance and nourishment.
Research increasingly suggests that eating water-rich foods can help maintain hydration better than drinking alone, particularly as we age and our natural thirst cues diminish.
Building a Hydration Ritual, Inside and Out
Our bodies are designed to prioritise vital organs first, and the skin receives what remains. Foods rich in water, minerals, and antioxidants help ensure that the skin’s needs aren’t forgotten. Antioxidants and polyphenols help the skin adapt to seasonal shifts, supporting resilience as we move into cooler, drier days.
In Ayurveda, late summer is the season of the Earth element, a time for gathering, grounding, and replenishing reserves. Food that feels good, digests easily, and leaves both body and skin feeling replete is especially valuable now.
The way we care for our skin mirrors how we eat… deliberate, nourishing, and supportive. I cleanse with Sow Prebiotic Cleansing Jelly, appreciating how it respects the skin’s microbiome, then follow with Sow Active Facial Serum, which is rich blend of actives and cold pressed seed oils from Autumn harvests. It’s a partnership of nourishment from the inside and out.
As the days begin to shorten and the light softens, this late summer ritual offers comfort and continuity. Eating your water, tending your garden, and caring for your skin… each is a way to carry the warmth and generosity of the season with you, well beyond its close.
If you’d like a gentle, step-by-step approach to nourishment, and self-care, download The Radiance Reset: A 7-Day Ritual to Restore Midlife Glow - a free guide designed to support midlife skin. Get your guide here.
When you’re ready to take your ritual further, you can explore our award-winning skin care in the hux + mū shop.
With care,
Shim
Disclaimer:
The information in this blog reflects my personal experience, research, and perspective as a holistic practitioner. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace guidance from your healthcare provider.