Lest you thought that all of your cosmetics belonged on your vanity table or in your bathroom cabinet, we encourage you to think again. Some of the most vital beauty fixes are things you would normally find in your kitchen, lending true meaning to the old adage – “you are what you eat.”

If you’re of the mindset that beauty comes from within, it goes to say that the vitamins and nutrients with which you supply your body have a lot to do with how you look on the outside. That being said, many of us may know this to be true without any knowledge of the food items or their individual applications. For the hungry and the curious, here’s a short, simple guide.

Fountain of youth

Before we delve into the nitty gritty, let’s all bring our attention to what’s arguably the most vital nutrient of them all. Water not only constitutes the bulk of our planet, our bodies and our life-force as a whole, but it’s also one of the most influential beauty tools.

Drinking your eight glasses is not a bunch of quackery – when you’re properly hydrated, you feel more energized, your skin glows brighter and even you hair retains more moisture.

Good, clean wholesome fun

Not surprisingly, what’s generally good for your nutritional health also packs some weight when it comes to your complexion.

“Diets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can make your skin glow, help clear up acne and fight aging and sun damage,” according to StyleList.com. “Likewise, meals laden with trans-fats, white flour, sugar and chemicals can leave your complexion looking dry, dull and lackluster.”

Their most basic advice? Skip processed foods, avoid anything that’s deep-fried, ditch the sugary drinks and opt for brown sugar or whole-wheat flour whenever you can.

Stock up on omega-3s

There’s a reason why Eskimos tend to be so happy – they’re always eating fish, after all. Not only do omega-3 fatty acids offer a major boost to your sense of well-being, as found in major recent studies, but they also offer a cure for a handful of different beauty ailments.

According to StyleList, foods rich in omega-3s are a good antidote for dry skin, psoriasis, acne, redness and inflammation.

Wondering how best to get your hands on this miracle worker? “These ‘good fats’ are found in fatty fish including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, halibut, as well as ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, walnuts, leafy greens, and tofu,” Health & Fitness reports.

Hair revival

There’s a whole grocery bag’s worth of stuff that will help you nab good hair days forevermore. According to The Frisky, reaching for salmon will get you the omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B-12, and iron that your tresses crave. Other hair-friendly foods include dark green vegetables, beans, nuts, poultry, eggs, whole grains, oysters, low-fat dairy items, carrots, beef and brown rice.

What’s your backup plan?

Getting the most out of the stuff you eat doesn’t involve a major dietary turnaround alone – lots of people take nutritional supplements to boost their intake of vital nutrients, and this can help give you that added boost that may be hard to attain just from one day’s worth of meals. Good news for you is that many companies create custom dietary supplements to specifically target your skin, hair or overall beauty needs, so you can be sure you’re getting all the good loving you need to look amazing.

Try Murad Pure Skin Clarifying Supplement for a complexion that can’t be beat, or try Sprayology Hair + Nail Tonic for beautiful hair and nails from the inside out – just two sprays below the tongue and you’re good to glow!