By Brooke Armour 

Hailey Bieber’s “Donut Skin,” characterized by a clear, glossy complexion, has become a sought-after look among GenZers, but what is behind the model and entrepreneur’s radiant skin?

“I just want to look like a freshly glazed, Krispy Kreme donut,” she said during an episode of Dear Media’sBreaking Beauty podcast.

Could Bieber’s diet play a role?

Let’s examine the science and what we know about her style of eating.

The most cited nutrients and compounds related to skin health include vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, copper, selenium, silicon, polyphenols, and essential fatty acids, according to the National Library of Medicine. In addition, a poor gut-skin axis may worsen skin health. “When food is ingested, the resident microbes utilize some of the nutrients and other food compounds, including phytonutrients, to produce new metabolites, which may act as systemic messenger molecules for the cutaneous microbiota. Thus, a poor diet may contribute to dysbiosis, inflammation, and reduced skin health, resulting in skin conditions,” researchers write in Nutrients.¹

In one study, people who consumed diets with more vegetable oils, poultry, fish, and fewer sweets had healthier small blood vessels, which could help nourish the skin. For this research, the team assessed the anthropometric, nutritional, biochemical, and microcirculation parameters of 291 healthy men using finger skin capillaroscopy. The participants’ diets were analyzed through a food-frequency questionnaire and principal component analysis, and from this, researchers identified the connection between this specific dietary pattern and improved microvascular function.²

This pattern seems on par with what Bieber eats, according to media reports.

” Lunch is usually salad, fish, grilled veggies, or maybe a sandwich… I love a good kale Caesar salad,” she said in an article in Brit + Co.³ [note from Debbie – the reference to this article was added to the references list at end, as reference 3] “Over the past 2 and 1/2 months I completely cut meat (other than fish) out of my daily eating and have been sticking to more vegetarian/vegan dishes,” Bieber shared in an Instagram Story.

And sugar? That’s a Negative! “[I generally try to avoid] sugar. Sugar’s a big one for everyone, I think,” she told ELLE.³

Diet and Acne: What Else Does the Research Show?

Some studies suggest a link between high glycemic index (GI) foods, skim milk, and acne. High GI foods, which cause rapid blood sugar spikes, may increase inflammation and potentially worsen acne. Skim milk and dairy products are also associated with acne in some studies, although the exact mechanism is unknown.

Chocolate and greasy foods like French fries do not cause acne, despite myths, according to Harvard University.⁴ What does? “An oily substance called sebum causes acne. It’s made and secreted by the skin. In fact, there’s no evidence that any specific food causes acne.”

Parents often want to blame their child’s ‘terrible teenage diet’ as the main reason for their breakouts, [and] I enjoy explaining that it’s not always the diet’s fault—and that greasy foods alone don’t directly cause acne,” said Shanna M. Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, a Physician Assistant with Riverchase Dermatology in Naples, FL.

But if a teen or tween already has acne, consuming pro-inflammatory foods can worsen the inflammation. “These include dairy (especially skim milk), high glycemic index foods, processed foods high in sugar and unhealthy oils, and foods containing hormones,” she said.

Overall, factors such as genetics, skincare routines, and lifestyle factors all contribute to Bieber’s “donut skin,” but diet can play a meaningful role in maintaining healthy skin circulation, which helps enhance the skin barrier, creating a flawless, clear look.

So, Bieber’s look may not just come from products or genetics; it could also be influenced by her nutrient-rich, balanced diet.

Dermatologists and dermatology providers should ask their patients if they notice that a certain food is causing or worsening breakouts, and what happens if they stop eating this food for a prolonged period.

By asking these two key questions to their patients, one can better identify potential diet-related triggers and offer a plan that addresses both the internal and external factors influencing their patient.

The good news? There are many effective acne treatments available today. “I aim to create a regimen that targets all four pillars of acne pathogenesis, often using combination therapy to address as many of these pillars as possible,” Miranti said. “For the past year and a half, one of my favorite topical options has been Cabtreo (clindamycin phosphate, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, Ortho Dermatologics), which effectively targets three out of the four pillars and delivers excellent results,” she said.

“For patients with excess sebum production or signs of hormonally driven acne, I often add clascoterone (Winlevi, Sun Pharma) to help block androgen receptors at the skin level—further reducing the hormonal contribution to acne,” she said.

About the Author

Brooke Armour is a high school student in New York City. She serves as Co-President of the Pre-Med Club at Avenues: The World School. She is also a staff writer for Hi Science, a student-led publication dedicated to promoting STEM education in a fun and accessible way.

Disclosures: Brooke Armour reports no disclosures.

References:

1. Assaf S, Kelly O. Nutritional dermatology: Optimizing dietary choices for skin health. Nutrients. 2024;17(1):60. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39796494/
2. Karatzi K, Protogerou A, Kesse-Guyot E, et al. Associations between dietary patterns and skin microcirculation in healthy subjects. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014;34(2):463–469. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24357061/
3. Here’s what model Hailey Baldwin eats in a day. Brit +Co https://www.brit.co/hailey-baldwin-diet/#:~:text=Brekkie%20is%20a%20simple%20deal,but%20it’s%20apparently%20worth%20it. Accessed August 20, 2025.
4. Don’t fall for these skin myths. Harvard Health Publishing website. https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/dont-fall-for-these-skin-myths. Posted October 25, 2018. Accessed August 11, 2025.