BY BETH WEITZMAN
Once an actress and now a trailblazing vegan chef and wellness expert, Leslie Durso is dedicated to inspiring healthier, more vibrant lives through plant-based eating. Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that what we eat influences both our health and beauty. While her shift from the screen to the kitchen was sparked by her role on Bill Nye the Science Guy, Durso notes that her journey to food education began much earlier.
“I stopped eating meat when I was 7,” she recalls. “It was a gut instinct, a pivotal moment that set me on the path I’m on today.” As Durso delved deeper into plant-based cuisine, she uncovered a powerful connection between food and beauty.
“I’ve always been a ‘plant nerd,’ searching for the healthiest foods all over the planet — including trekking through the rainforest in Peru with a shaman and cooking with nonnas in Italy,” she explains. “It’s natural to think that what we put in our body affects our beauty. The cells you ingest literally become the cells you are made of. It makes sense that a diet full of vibrant, colorful, nutrient-dense foods will improve your hair, skin, nails — everything!” This belief led her to realize that many of the ingredients in her kitchen also double as skincare staples.
“As a whole food chef, the ingredients I put in my food are extremely important, and what I put on my skin is just as important. Our skin absorbs a lot of what we apply straight into our bloodstream, so it’s crucial that we feed our skin healthy food, too! My bathroom cabinet looks a lot like my kitchen pantry — stocked with coconut oil, olive oil, salts from all over the world, oats, and apple cider vinegar.”
Durso’s Italian heritage and global travels have also deeply influenced her food-beauty philosophy. “I am Italian American, and my grandmother used foods, herbs, and spices as remedies all the time. It’s probably what first got me thinking about food that way. I think Italians, and certainly India’s Ayurvedic practices, rely heavily on food ingredients for healing.”
FROM KITCHEN TO VANITY: DUAL-PURPOSE INGREDIENTS
Avocado, for instance, is one of Durso’s favorite dual- purpose ingredients. “Avocado not only tastes delicious but is a skincare superfood! They’re packed with vitamins E and C, which support oxidative stress and help maintain skin firmness. It’s also a fantastic moisturizer when used on the skin and can help soothe inflammation.”
Similarly, coconut oil plays a significant role in her beauty routine. “It’s a healthy fat source packed with antioxidants. I use it as a moisturizer and even as a makeup remover.”
A more surprising addition to her beauty routine is apple cider vinegar (ACV). “ACV helps improve digestion and heal your gut when you ingest it, but it’s also a great skin toner, acne treatment, and sunburn remedy.”
THE FUTURE OF FOOD AND BEAUTY
Looking ahead, Durso envisions a bright future for food-based beauty, with items such as ashwagandha, reishi mushrooms, and fermented ingredients potentially playing a significant role in skin health and stress reduction.
Ingredients like kombucha and fermented rice are being explored for their potential to support the skin microbiome,” she notes, emphasizing how these natural components are increasingly making their way into beauty routines. Durso also highlights the growing interest in vegan collagen alternatives derived from algae and bamboo.
For Durso, the intersection of food and beauty is more than just a trend — it’s a lifestyle.
“Whether you like it or not, you are what you eat. Every forkful you put in your mouth is either going to add longevity and beauty benefits or take them away. The decision is yours.”
NEW VENTURES IN FOOD AND BEAUTY
Durso continues to innovate at the crossroads of food and beauty. Her recent partnership with Fabalish resulted in a Basil Aioli that aligns with her philosophy.
“It’s delicious and contains cold-pressed, unheated oil, and basil, known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial qualities. It’s also great for skin brightening,” she explains. She’s also collaborated with Dr. Mindy Pelz on recipes for the book “Eat Like a Girl.” “We both strongly believe plants have the power to heal us, and
I can’t wait for everyone to experience this book!”
ADVICE FOR INCORPORATING BEAUTY-BOOSTING FOODS
For those new to the concept of “edible beauty,” Durso offers three simple tips:
Start Your Day with a Beauty Smoothie: Incorporate skin-nourishing ingredients like spinach, avocado, and berries.
Snack Smart: Opt for nutrient-dense snacks like nuts, seeds, and energy balls made with superfoods like chia seeds and cacao.
Eat the Rainbow: Include colorful fruits and vegetables in your meals to provide a variety of vitamins and antioxidants that benefit the skin.
Visit www.greenlivingmag.com/beauty-on-the-menu-vegan-chef-leslie-dursos-delicious-path-to-radiance to try Leslie’s Nourishing Green Smoothie recipe for radiant skin.
