Oscar winning actress and passionate environmentalist Natalie Portman was recently interviewed by The Cut, where, amongst other things, she spoke out about her enviable radiant complexion. Crediting her newly adopted vegan diet, Portman said:
“I’m vegan and I found my skin is much, much better than when I was a vegetarian. [I] cut out dairy and eggs, and I never had a breakout after.”
Adult acne is a problem for many, celebrities included. Whilst blemishes to the skin may seem minor to those lucky enough to only get the odd pimple, the side effects of acne can be much more stubborn and problematic. But it doesn’t have to be and Natalie’s experience isn’t an unusual one.
Dairy is a major cause of acne in addition to being linked to a plethora of more serious health issues ranging from respiratory problems to breast cancer. Almost non existent in non-milk drinking countries, acne is considered an epidemic skin disease in Western society, afflicting over 85% of adolescents.
Over the years, Portman has flirted with the idea of eliminating animal products from her diet; moving to and from vegetarianism and veganism. She initially adopted a plant based diet back in 2009 after reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals which explores the impacts of industrialized farming and animal suffering. Despite this though, Natalie reverted back to eating eggs and dairy during her pregnancy, stating that:
“If you’re not eating eggs, then you can’t have cookies or cake from regular bakeries, which can become a problem when that’s all you want to eat.”
If only we were around back then! This list of sweet-treats in L.A could have been her skin’s saviour.
Regardless of her toying between dietary choices, Natalie does recognize the value in avoiding animal products in areas other than food. At age 28 she launched a range of vegan shoes for green label Te Casan and has long been a proud supporter of PETA. It’s safe to say that although she has never been (perhaps until now) strictly vegan, her lifestyle is generally more reflective of her ethics as opposed to her beauty regime or health concerns.
Natalie is a keen advocate for sustainable living, humanitarian issues and animal rights. In 2007 she visited Rwanda to film a documentary highlighting the extinction of gorillas, and has also raised awareness around issues such as child malnutrition. Moreover, Portman actively supports impoverished women in setting up their own businesses and publicly announced her resolution to carbon-neutralise all her travel. What’s more? Natalie is also a supporter of sustainable jewellery and wears an engagement ring handmade with ethically sourced diamonds set in recycled platinum. What a gem!
Image Credit: A Wallpapers Images
