Almond milk is the most popular alternative milk option in the world.
The beverage is low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carbohydrate, making it an excellent choice for those on the Whole30, keto, or paleo diets.
It’s also plant-based, offering a tasty option to people who want to avoid animal products on a vegetarian or vegan diet.
In addition to these nutritional benefits, almond milk is a great ingredient to add to your skin care regimen.
Explore how almond milk is good for your skin, including the benefits of drinking almond milk and ways you can use it in your skincare routine.
What is Almond Milk?
Almond milk is a plant-based beverage made of almonds and water.
Homemade almond milk is created by combining a cup of raw, skinless almonds with two cups of filtered water in a high-speed blender.
Then, the liquid is strained into a separate container and stored in the fridge in an airtight container for about 7 to 10 days.
Commercial almond milk manufacturers make the beverage the same way but often contain other ingredients such as emulsifiers, thickeners, preservatives, and Vitamins.
Flavored almond milk has added sugars and other ingredients like cocoa or vanilla extract.
These distinctions are important because while almond milk can be good for your skin, its benefits highly depend on the brand, ingredients, and freshness of the almond milk you drink or use on your skin.
Is Almond Milk Good For Your Skin?
The short answer is that almond milk is, by and large, a beneficial ingredient to use for skincare.
You can drink almond milk to improve your skin from the inside out by providing your body with the vitamins and nutrients that almond milk contains.
For soft, hydrated skin, you can also use almond milk on your skin, in face washes, masks, and lotions.
However, not all almond milk is the same.
Homemade almond milk may be best for use in topical skin care applications.
This is because you can control the ingredients and use fresh almond milk to make handcrafted facial and hair products.
Many people can benefit from drinking homemade almond milk for the same reasons.
Alternatively, you might consider drinking store-bought almond milk from brands that use minimal, organic ingredients like MALK unsweetened almond milk or New Barn Organics for improved skin.
Almond milk containing many additives or flavorings may not be a healthy option for your skin.
You also want to avoid using flavored or highly processed almond milk in homemade skincare items, as ingredients like carrageenan and sodium diphosphate might not have beneficial effects on your skin.
Drinking Almond Milk For Better Skin
One way for your skin to benefit from almond milk is to drink a serving or two daily.
Ingesting almond milk gives you a variety of vitamins and nutrients that boost your overall wellness, which can lead to better skin.
It also contains nutrients that specifically help your skin stay hydrated and healthy.
Supports a Plant-Based Diet
Drinking almond milk supports a plant-based diet.
The beverage is made from almonds—nuts that grow on the Prunus dulcis tree and can help you maintain a whole food plant-based diet (WFPB).
WFPBs are shown to help with healthy skin due to the essential vitamins in plant foods. WFPB diets may reduce carcinogens and gerontotoxins that affect your skin on a cellular level.
Almond milk, as part of a WFPB diet, can help you prevent or slow down signs of aging skin.
Contains Nutrients Beneficial to Skin and Hair
Most almond milk brands contain nutrients that benefit the skin and hair.
Vitamin E, for example, is an antioxidant that can fight inflammation that causes your skin to look dry. Vitamin E can also help reduce dark spots by eliminating free radicals in your skin cells.
Some fortified almond milk also contains Vitamin C, which can have an anti-aging effect on your skin.
Vitamin C can even help out your skin tone, reducing hyperpigmentation and improving your skin’s brightness.
Boosts Immunity
If your almond milk contains beneficial nutrients like Vitamins A, D, and E, it can help boost your immunity.
These nutrients, along with Vitamin B and iron, improve immune function and contribute to better overall wellness.
When your body can fight illness and stress, your skin looks softer and has a natural glow.
Good For Digestion
For most people, almond milk provides an excellent alternative to dairy milk and aids digestion.
While those with nut allergies may need to avoid almond milk, people with lactose intolerance can benefit from this nutrient-rich beverage.
Better digestion often equals less stress and better health overall, leading to clearer, more healthy skin.
Related: Does Almond Milk Cause Constipation?
Reduces Acne
For many people, almond milk can improve skin acne. Full-fat dairy milk has been found to have a high correlation with this skin condition.
A 2017 study found that adolescents that drank two glasses of full-fat dairy had a 13.9% prevalence of moderate to severe acne.
Almond milk offers a non-dairy alternative to cow milk that can help you prevent breakouts and have more clear and radiant skin.
Offers Hydration For Dry Skin
Most people don’t drink enough during the day, with U.S. adults only drinking an average of 44 ounces of plain water per day.
While almond milk isn’t plain water, it’s closer to water than dairy milk, which contains lactose (a form of sugar) which can add to feelings of dehydration.
Though the percentage varies by brand, most almond milk lists filtered water as the first ingredient, indicating it is the ingredient with the most weight in the product.
This is good news for your skin because drinking enough liquid, including healthy options like almond milk, can keep your cells hydrated, giving you plump, hydrated skin.
Other Ways To Use Almond Milk For Your Skin
In addition to drinking almond milk for a healthier body, you can use it topically on your skin to see its benefits.
Many companies make almond milk-infused products, such as lotions, face washes, and hair creams, but you can also make your items at home.
It’s best to use homemade almond milk for these products, but you could also opt for organic almond milk with few added ingredients.
The following are ways you can use almond milk in your at-home beauty routine:
Face Mask
This face mask uses almond milk, honey, and oats to create a skin-softening paste that you can use once or twice weekly.
Mix 2 tablespoons of almond milk, one tablespoon of honey, and two drops of lavender essential oil (you can use another scent if you prefer).
Then, mix in finely ground oats (you can also use oatmeal powder or oat flour) until it forms a paste you can spread on your face.
Gently scrub the mixture into your skin or leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse the mask off with a soft, wet cloth and put on your regular moisturizer.
Exfoliator
To make an exfoliating scrub for your face, you can use the pulp leftover from the almonds you use to make homemade almond milk.
This mask is a great way to use this part of the almond, so it doesn’t go to waste.
For superior exfoliation, make sure the pulp is finely ground, and combine it with a bit of honey, yogurt, or almond milk.
You need enough to cover your face and neck and for the texture to be spreadable without being too wet or dry.
Gently exfoliate your skin by rubbing the mask into your face with circular motions, then rinse off after about 5 minutes.
Hair Conditioner
To make your own almond milk conditioner, you only need one cup of almond milk.
Simply heat it to a tepid or warm (not hot) temperature and pour it onto your hair.
Massage into your scalp for a few minutes, then leave on 15 to 20 minutes before washing it out and styling your hair like usual.
Skin Toner
You can make an at-home toning treatment with almond milk to tone and replenish your skin, giving it a hydrated and dewy look.
The base of the toner uses about two tablespoons of almond milk, which you can customize with additional ingredients.
For example, you can add two teaspoons of coconut oil for aging skin, one teaspoon of matcha powder to minimize skin discoloration, and two teaspoons of aloe vera gel for dehydrated, dull skin.
Mix your ingredients, then apply to your face using a clean, dry cotton ball. Continue applying for several minutes, then wash your face and put on your moisturizer like normal.
You can add this treatment to your nighttime routine about once per week.
Brightening
You can make the following almond milk mask for a brightening treatment that can help make your skin appear lighter and more youthful.
Mix an egg white, a splash of lemon juice, and almond milk.
If your skin is sensitive or needs extra hydration, opt for more almond milk than lemon juice. Apply the treatment to your skin and let it dry for 30 minutes.
You can also try mixing almond milk with plain, full-fat yogurt and papaya or banana. These fruits can help remove dead skin cells for a brighter appearance.
Improve the Quality of Your Skin With Almond Milk
Almond milk is an excellent option for skin care, both from the inside out and the outside in.
You can include almond milk as part of a healthy, plant-based diet to boost your skin’s appearance, reduce puffiness, and give you a healthy glow.
You can also use almond milk as an ingredient in at-home skincare products for dewy, youthful skin or look for skincare products that contain almond milk to benefit from its many skin-loving properties.
