The Inflammation-Fighting ‘Green Lemonade’ a Chef-Turned-Beauty Founder Sips on All Summer Long for the Sake of Her Skin

From clinical-grade topicals to techy at-home devices, there are a vast number of ways you can nourish your skin from the outside.  But while these on-the-surface treatments are important, Janus Auermann, founder of elemental skin-care brand AKT Therapy, says the key to hydrated, healthy skin is treating it from the inside, too.

According to Auermann, who began her career as a private chef, consuming plenty of fluids is the key to keeping skin looking plump and organs healthy—particularly during the warmer months of the year. “My personal summer lemonade is a year-round tonic I drank why flying as a private chef,” she says. To prepare us for the summer, she shared her secret formulation, which she claims “combats UV/free radical damage and inflammation, strengthens the immune system, and balances digestion.”

Her ‘green lemonade’ is one of the tastiest (and prettiest) ways to sip some skin-friendly goodness. Its primary ingredient, lemon, is known to be rich in vitamin C—and the juice of the single lemon you’ll use to make it contains about 50 percent of your daily recommended amount. This powerful antioxidant is known to protect the skin from free radicals (which cause visible signs of aging), and helps up hydration levels. What’s more, lemons also contain citrus flavanoids that suppress inflammation, and polyphenols that research has shown may have additional anti-aging benefits.

The tincture also contains apple cider vinegar, which has its own anti-inflammatory properties, and malic acid that helps with digestion (which is essential, because as we all know, the gut/skin connection is real). Finally, there’s spirulina, which—aside from giving the concoction its greenish tint—effectively helps the body flush out toxins.

So if you’re looking to up your skin health from the inside out this summer, whip up some green lemonade of your own by following the steps below.

Aurmann’s green lemonade for glowing skin

Yields 1 gallon

Ingredients1 gallon filtered water2 tbsp Hawaiin Spirulina1/4 cup apple cider vinegar1 lemonStevia or honey to taste

1. Pour filtered water (aka from a Brita or other water purifier) into a pitcher2. Add Hawaiian spirulina, apple cider vinegar, and the juice of one lemon to the pitcher3. Add your preferred sweetener4. Mix vigorously5. Store the solution in a non-metal water bottle, such as a glass water bottle or mason jar. This will ensure that no toxins seep into the drink and will prevent the formulation from expiring for longer.

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