When it comes to skin care, tomatoes are one the most effective remedies for a clear and clean skin.
When it comes to skin care, tomatoes are one of my favourite and most effective remedies for a clear and clean skin. Not only are these humble robust red balls full of nutrients but also highly effective in healing and clarifying the skin.
Slightly acidic in nature, tomatoes contain high contents of potassium and vitamin C; this transforms the dullest of skins and restores glow to the skin. Tomatoes also have lycopene, which is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals in the body. Apart from this, it helps treat skin problems related to ageing and sun damage therefore making it a great skin rejuvenator. Due to their astringent properties, tomatoes help reduce excess sebum on the skin’s surface preventing oil build up, which further reduces the chances of blackheads and whiteheads. Since they have pore-shrinking properties and help tighten the skin, chances of acne and pimples are also greatly reduced. This makes tomato a versatile and popular ingredient for problematic skin conditions.
Benefits of tomatoes for skin
Many people don’t realize what you put ON your skin can only do so much for your skin’s appearance. Creams, potions, lotions and everything else that line the beauty aisles all claim they can help you look younger.
However, many of these products are full of chemicals, which are absorbed into your bloodstream and add to the toxicity of your liver. Your poor liver, which has to detox all the chemicals you come into contact with on a daily basis such as car exhaust, tap water, conventional foods, etc becomes overburdened leading to acne and aging!
The better (and healthier) option is to focus on what you eat and what you’re putting IN your body, not just what you’re putting ON your body. We all want that youthful glow that makes us feel younger and more alive, but instead of spending a ton of money on beauty products, look in the produce aisle of the food store where you’ll find numerous fruits and vegetables as well as healthy essential fats that are necessary building blocks for a healthy body and healthy appearance. When we don’t consume enough of the antioxidants and essential fats in nutritious foods, we often see hair loss, infertility, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, cognitive imbalances, dry skin and so much more.
What foods are good for your skin?
Foods like tomatoes, avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds, berries, dark leafy greens and citrus fruits such as lemons and limes are ideal for keeping our body healthy and our skin vibrant. Why? Well, because the antioxidants and nutrients in clean, whole foods such as the ones listed above are anti-inflammatory and support our body’s ability to detox toxins on a daily basis as well as nourish and feed our cells and gut bacteria, which keep us healthy and alive!
When you eat food, you’re not only feeding you, you’re feeding your gut bacteria, which far outnumbers your cells and keeps your entire microbiome and gut (where almost 80% of your immune system lives) healthy and flourishing. You’re also feeding the mitochondria in your cells, which are like your little working bee’s that make everything in your body work optimally and keep you moving along on a daily basis.
Tomato benefits for skin
So, you may be asking yourself, ‘How does this work’? Many of us weren’t raised understanding the connection between our food and our health and skin’s appearance. Let’s look a little closer and take tomatoes for example. Cooking tomatoes is a healthy choice, because it makes the lycopene (the antioxidant in tomatoes that gives them their juicy red color), because you make the lycopene more bioavailable, which means there is more available to your biochemistry. Now, when you eat raw tomatoes on the other hand, your body absorbs less lycopene than when you eat cooked or processed tomatoes. And if you cook tomatoes in olive oil, you reap an even greater benefit. Cooked tomatoes are superior to raw because the heat makes them easier for you to absorb phytonutrients (such as specific antioxidants) and chlorogenic acid that impacts your metabolism. Moreover, lycopene has shown it has the ability to defend against skin aging and the most common source of lycopene is in tomatoes, which is why the above tips will help you to incorporate more into your meals and snacks.
Lycopene skin benefits
Lycopene’s antioxidant ability to defend our skin from UV radiation can be seen as a natural form of skin protection, which is ideal for any of us looking to keep our skin youthful. You can easily start to add more Lycopene into your lifestyle by roasting cherry tomatoes in your oven with extra-virgin olive oil, eating watermelon, papaya and pink grapefruit, sautéing heirloom tomatoes in a large skillet and cooking tomatoes in a soup. As I’ve mentioned above, note that tomatoes are your best bet when it comes to reaping all the benefits of lycopene. If you don’t think you’re getting enough lycopene in your lifestyle you can easily supplement with Lycored. Remember, eating clean, whole foods isn’t just about fueling your body, it’s also about giving your skin and your organs the building blocks and nutrients they need to keep you glowing and energized all year long- no matter what lotion or potion you’re using!
How to use tomatoes for your skin
There are no proven benefits to topically applying tomato to your skin. You may have the best benefits from consuming tomatoes.
But if you’re interested in experimenting with a topical application, there are several methods you can try.
Direct application
Dab a cotton swab in 100 percent tomato juice, then rub the tomato juice over your skin. Rinse the area with warm water.
You can also blend a whole tomato into a paste. Apply the paste over your skin. Rinse after 20 minutes.
Spot treatment
Rather than apply tomato juice over a large area of your body, you can use it as a spot treatment. Only apply the juice to areas of concern. These may include parts of your body with hyperpigmentation or dryness.
Tomato mask
Combine tomato juice with oatmeal or yogurt to create a mask. Apply the mask over your face. Rinse with lukewarm water after 20 minutes.
Other methods
You don’t have to apply tomatoes or tomato juice to your skin to reap the benefits, though.
Along with the above methods of application, eating raw tomatoes and drinking tomato juice may also contribute to healthier skin. If you buy the juice, just make sure there isn’t added salt and sugar.
Tomatoes can enhance many of your favorite dishes, but they don’t only benefit your taste buds. They may also improve your skin’s health, resulting in fewer wrinkles and less inflammation. However, the only proven benefits are through eating tomatoes.