Looking and feeling like a million bucks is something we all should aspire to.

Your self-worth should be considered and celebrated. I, for one, see this as clear as the gin and tonic I’m about to pour. And I confess to you all that I have been an honest-to-goodness beauty addict since Clinton’s been in office.

In other words, a long time.

My bathroom, hall closet, and medicine cabinet rival the Sephoras on this side of Highway 101. Maybe it’s the promise of youth, smaller pores, or waking up looking like Margot Robbie. Whatever it is, I need help.

My love for all things beauty started way back when I’d tag along to mom’s hair appointments in the newest and coolest salons on Ventura Boulevard; flipping through Seventeen magazine and taking quizzes on  “Signs You Need To Dump Him” in the latest Cosmo while waiting patiently for her perm to set.

As the years followed, I became a licensed esthetician, gleefully popping pimples and slathering mint-colored masks on anyone willing and able. Still to this day, my daily self-care has become a religious ritual.

To some, my vanity might seem a bit extravagant; just ask my husband, who is completely fed up with all the amazon charges and monthly beauty boxes. Not only is he worried about all the money I’m spending, but he’s also terrified that one day I will go too far and come home looking like I made out with an exhaust pipe…got to love those lip fillers.

I remember my mom always saying to me, “Lisa, I wish you took better care of what you put in your body than what you put on it. Basically, she was saying you eat like crap, and that cute face of yours won’t last no matter how many skin masks you apply.

Well, she was right. No skin cream would turn back the clock unless I started to eat more healing foods.

So that’s what I started to do, and you know what? They work.

Here are some of the most healthy and nutritious foods. Let’s turn back time like Cher and eat our way to gorgeousness.

1. Fermented foods 

Kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented beetroot, kefir (yummm…with blueberries and granola). These can help reduce systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, prevent blood sugar spikes, balance hormones, and reduce insulin-driven outbreaks like my good ol’ friend Acne and eczema.

2. Dark green leafy vegetables

Kale, spinach, watercress, beet leaves, chard, and arugula (try the microgreens). These guys contain the most antioxidants and prevent free radical damage that protects against signs of aging. Don’t forget they are loaded with magnesium, B vitamins, and chlorophyll, which help with hormone function (huge!)—and liver detoxification. Do you have an icky liver? Your face will show it.

3. Green tea (matcha)

Girls, dump that latte and get all up in green tea. This fantastic tea contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate), an all-mighty antioxidant that helps to reduce UV damage, slow collagen breakdown, and improves skin cell regeneration. Hello, pour me a cup, pronto!

4. Eggs

Eggs contain fat-soluble antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Think of these guys like an inner SPF; they protect you from free radical damage caused by UV exposure. Little eggies also have loads of Vitamin D (when free-range or pasture-raised) and sulfur, which is high in Keratin.

5. Brazil nuts

This yummy nut keeps your skin hydrated, helping calm down inflammation like psoriasis and helping the cells in your skin fight cancer. Pour me a bowl, please.

6. Chili peppers

This little spicy nugget is packed with Vitamin A, which is crucial to skin health and aging. Vitamin A is the main ingredient in retinol and collagen building for smoother skin.