Eat the Rainbow: Why Your Skin Starts From the Inside Out
We’ve been sold the dream of glowing, glass-like skin in 12 steps or less. The internet is overflowing with miracle creams, “holy grail” serums, and TikTok trends that promise to change your skin overnight. But what if the real secret to healthy, luminous skin isn’t on your bathroom shelf, but on your plate?
But in our latest episode of After Hours with Anni – Health & Wellbeing Stories, we sat down with Dua Fakhereddin, Holistic Skin Therapist & Acne Specialist, and Anni Expert, alongside Anni Co-Founder Anna Lee‑Renwick and Anni Community Manger Jamie Bucirde, to talk about The Great Exhaustion, the toll stress takes on our skin and hair, and why the first thing you should do for your skin might be to “eat the rainbow.”
“Eat the rainbow, the more the colour is in your food, the different the nutrients you provide to your skin, the better the value.”
The Great Exhaustion on Your Face
“The simpler, the better,” Dua begins. “When the inside is healthy, the outside glows. Skincare is a journey. It’s not a magic solution.”
In a culture of chronic stress, burnout, and endless hustle, our skin often becomes a billboard for what’s happening inside our bodies. That dullness, those breakouts, the dryness that no cream seems to fix, they can all be signals from your skin telling you something’s off internally.
“When the inside is stressed, it sends you signals,” Dua explains. “It becomes sensitive, it breaks out, it becomes dry. It’s just trying to communicate with you and tell you that the inside is not happy.”
For Dua, glowing skin starts in the kitchen. And it’s refreshingly simple: nutrition, hydration, basic skincare.
Eat the Rainbow
“The rule says, eat the rainbow,” she says. “The more the colour is in your food, the different the nutrients you provide to your skin, the better the value.”
Fruits and vegetables deliver antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that your skin needs to repair and protect itself. Hydration keeps skin cells plump, elastic, and able to function at their best.
“It’s not about how many litres of water you drink in one go,” she notes. “Drink one cup of water when you wake up, then one cup every two hours. Our body has a priority list, and skin is at the bottom. If you want enough water for your skin, you need to give your body more than it needs.”
And when it comes to your bathroom shelf? Dua keeps it lean: cleanser, moisturiser, SPF, and optionally, an organic serum suited to your skin’s age and needs. “Clean, hydrate, and protect. That’s it.”
Simple!
TikTok Trends That Miss the Mark
Social media is a treasure trove of skincare inspiration and of course misinformation. One of the more unusual fads Dua has been asked about? Snail mucin.
“Let’s think about it,” she says. “Why does a snail produce this gel? To keep moisturised, to help it slide. It’s meant for lubrication, but it is not meant to penetrate the skin.”
Even if snail mucin contains nutrients, Dua doubts they can meaningfully absorb into your skin without the right formulation technology. “A lot of these cheaper products just sit on the surface. They feel nice, smell nice, but they’re not doing the work inside. What’s worthy is what penetrates the skin, and that’s an investment.”
Her advice: skip the hype and speak to an expert before trying something just because it’s trending. What works for someone else’s skin, or looks great in a filtered before-and-after, may not work for you.
Leave the snails alone!
Less, but Better
Beyond debunking fads, Dua wants people to take the pressure off. Skincare doesn’t need to be a part-time job, and you don’t need to spend thousands a year to get results.
“Don’t touch your skin unless you have to,” she cautions. “The more products people use, the more sensitive the skin becomes. Keep it simple. Support your body from the inside. That’s how you glow.”
In a world of beauty overload, it’s easy to forget that your skin is a living organ, reflecting your diet, stress levels, and environment. Eating the rainbow, staying hydrated, protecting your skin from the sun, and filtering out the noise might be the most radical beauty routine of all.
Curious? Ready to explore?
Ready to find out what your skin really needs? Book a session with Dua or one of Anni’s other qualified skin professionals and get advice tailored to you, no snail slime required.
About Dua Fakhereddin - Holistic Skin Therapist & Acne Specialist, and Anni Expert
Dua Fakhereddin is a Holistic Skin Therapist and Acne Specialist based in Melbourne, Australia, with a passion for helping people discover their healthiest, most radiant skin. Drawing on her own journey of overcoming severe skin challenges as a teenager, Dua brings empathy and expertise to every consultation, guiding clients towards lasting results without the frustration or wasted expense she once faced herself.
As a qualified Facial Therapist, Dua takes a whole-person approach to skin and beauty, blending tailored facial treatments, nutrition, supplements, and practical skincare education. She believes true glow starts from within and is committed to helping her clients feel confident and comfortable in their own skin, naturally and sustainably.
Warm, approachable, and deeply knowledgeable, Dua is dedicated to empowering others with the tools and understanding they need to achieve results that last, and to feel truly at home in their own skin.
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