Skin-Saving Smoothie

First published on WellandGood.com

Instead of reaching for the aloe vera when it’s already too late, save your skin by nourishing it from the inside out by sipping on a hydrating smoothie that features no-UVAs-necessary glow boosters from your fridge.

The recipe is made with chunks of juicy watermelon (super hydrating), strawberries (they contain ellagic acid, which studies have shown can help protect skin from sun damage), and mint and aloe (which both soothe sunburns by cooling the skin and triggering cell regeneration).

Genius, right? So while you still need to slather on the SPF, this smoothie will help boost your natural (and year-round) glow inside out. Get the recipe below—and watch the video to see how easy it is to make.

Ingredients

2 cups watermelon chunks
2 cups strawberries, cut up
1/4 cup aloe flesh
1 Tbsp chia seeds6-8 mint leaves

1. Cut the watermelon and strawberries up. Drop them in a blender and add ice. While you are cutting the fruit, soak the chia seeds in water for 5 minutes. This will make them easier to blend.

2. Cut the thick end of the aloe leaf off and slice it down the middle. Extract the pulp by peeling back the flesh. Scrap the aloe into the blender.

3. Add the chia seeds and mint leaves into the blender. Blend, serve, and add a bit more mint for garnish.