The Role of Healthy Fats in Radiant, Glowing Skin
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- December 15, 2025
It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You can follow every skincare routine, invest in serums, and still feel like your skin is dull, dry, or showing early signs of aging. I’ve been there myself, my skin was often dry, uneven, and reactive despite doing everything right. It wasn’t until I focused on what I was eating, particularly the types of fats I included, that I began to notice real transformation. My skin became calmer, softer, and more radiant, and I started helping others achieve the same results.
Why Fats Matter for Skin
Fats aren’t just fuel, they are essential building blocks for your skin. They form the membranes of every cell, support hydration, and help maintain elasticity. Without the right fats, skin can become dry, irritated, and prone to premature aging.
But not all fats are created equal. Saturated and trans fats may readily fill your caloric energy needs, but they don’t provide the nutrients your skin relies on. Excessive saturated fats, found in butter, cheese, and many animal products, can contribute to inflammation, accelerating skin aging and worsening conditions like redness, acne, or eczema. Trans fats, typically present in processed or fried foods, are even more harmful. They increase systemic inflammation and interfere with the body’s ability to use healthy fats effectively, leaving skin dry, less elastic, and more prone to irritation.
The real heroes for radiant, healthy skin are unsaturated fats, monounsaturated fatty acids, omega-3s, and omega-6s like gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA.
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs)
Monounsaturated fats, or MUFAs, are found in foods like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds. These fats are anti-inflammatory and help maintain the skin’s natural barrier, supporting hydration and elasticity.
Regularly including MUFAs in your diet can improve skin softness and resilience. For example, swapping out a processed spread for avocado or drizzling a small quantity of olive oil over a salad is a simple change that can make a visible difference over time.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3s are essential for reducing inflammation and supporting skin barrier function. They help keep skin calm, smooth, and less prone to redness or sensitivity.
Ahiflower oil stands out as the highest natural source of omega-3s, surpassing even fish oils. Unlike other plant-based sources like flax or chia, Ahiflower provides stearidonic acid, or SDA, which the body converts efficiently into the forms of omega-3 most beneficial for skin, heart, and overall health. This makes it an exceptional choice for anyone, whether you follow a plant-rich diet or consume animal products. Regular intake can make a tangible difference to hydration, tone, and overall skin comfort.
Omega-6 GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid)
GLA, another type of essential fatty acid, is particularly important for hormonal skin balance. It helps maintain hydration, reduces redness and irritation, and supports the repair of damaged skin.
Many plant oils contain omega-6, but few contain GLA. This is where Ahiflower oil is exceptional, it provides both omega-3 and GLA, giving your skin a potent combination for hydration, resilience, and calmness in one simple daily supplement.
Practical Tips for Incorporating Healthy Fats
- Include MUFAs daily, add a small quantity of high quality extra virgin olive oil to salads, enjoy avocado on a whole grain breat, or snack on a handful of almonds
- Prioritise omega-3 and GLA, Ahiflower oil is highly effective for anyone seeking radiant, hydrated skin
- Balance omega-6 intake, minimise processed oils that are high in linoleic acid while focusing on sources rich in GLA – again Ahiflower is a top choice for this
- Pair fats with whole foods, eating fats alongside vegetables and fruits enhances nutrient absorption and supports overall skin health
Beautiful, glowing skin isn’t just about what you put on your face, it’s about what you put into your body. Consistent intake of high-quality unsaturated fats, especially MUFAs, omega-3s, and GLA, supports hydration, elasticity, and overall skin resilience.
Ahiflower oil provides a rare combination of omega-3 and GLA and is the highest natural source of omega-3s available. When your diet supplies the right fats, your skin doesn’t just look better, it feels better too, calmer, softer, and more radiant from within.
- About the Author
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Camilla Brinkworth is a naturopath and nutritionist (BHSc Naturopathy, GradCert Human Nutrition) with nearly 15 years of experience in the wellness industry. She specialises in plant-based nutrition and holistic natural PMDD recovery. Her approach goes beyond food and supplements—she combines lifestyle medicine and nutritional guidance with herbal medicine, nervous system support, trauma processing and ancestral healing to address the deeper causes of disease.
Originating from the UK, Camilla now lives in Ubud, Bali, offering online consultations to clients worldwide. Having personally overcome PMDD, autoimmune arthritis, anxiety, depression, and panic disorder, Camilla understands the complex relationship between the body, mind, and lived experience; her clinical work is grounded in compassion, clarity, and evidence-informed practice.
Camilla is also the CEO of PhytoLove and was instrumental in bringing Ahiflower omega oil to Australia and New Zealand, leading its regulatory approval and education. Through this, she continues to advocate for sustainable, plant-based innovation in nutrition.
As a speaker, clinician, and educator, Camilla guides people in understanding the deeper story behind their symptoms, resolving what’s held in the body, and supporting long-term transformation through highly expertised, science-backed yet holistic care.
