How to use tomatoes for skincare
Joy Onuorah
Tomatoes is a kitchen essential that has deliciously made their way into any and every’ culinary creation. Just like food, tomato can blend effortlessly into your beauty regime.
Power-packed with skin-healthy nutrients, using tomato for the face particularly comes with abundant benefits. It’s no surprise then that this red and juicy treat is a part of many of those DIY beauty recipes that are handed down to us.
Tomato can either be included in daily skin care as a form of juice, or you can opt for pulp or mashed tomatoes.
A great fit for all skin types, this bright red food that’s full of beauty benefits is picking popularity as the new big thing in the skincare industry.
Ways to use tomatoes for skincare
1. Reduce Oiliness
2. Seal in Moisture
3. Remove Dead Skin
4. Keep Acne at Bay
5. Relieve Skin Irritation
6. Skin Brightening
7. Youthful, Supple Skin
8. Promote Cell Regeneration
9. Diminish Signs of Ageing
10. Tighten Pores
11. Protect Against Sun Damage

Reduce Oiliness
Tired of blotting your face every now and then? If greasy skin is hampering the appearance and health of your skin, resort to tomato. It helps reduce the production of oil and combats excessive greasiness.
Tip: Simply cut a tomato in two halves and rub it all over your face. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse clean.

Seal in moisture
Just because it helps reduce oiliness doesn’t imply that applying tomato will strip your skin of natural oils. It works as a balancing moisturizer, towards that natural glow.
Tip: Team tomato with aloe vera gel for intense moisturisation.

Keep acne at bay
Adult acne is one of the most common skin concerns today.
As tomato promotes skin cleansing and healthy pH levels, it can be trusted as a natural cure for acne.
Tip: To treat acne-prone skin, add two to three drops of tea tree oil in tomato juice.

Relieve skin irritation
Frequent application of makeup, long hours in the sun, and even overuse of anti-acne products can irritate the skin. Tomato is rich in several anti-inflammatory compounds like beta carotene, lutein, vitamins E and C, and lycopene that combats inflammation and helps soothe irritation.
Tip: Indulge in a tomato-cucumber face pack to calm your irritated skin.

Skin brightening
Rich in skin-healthy nutrients like vitamins C and E and beta carotene, tomato helps even out the skin and boosts skin health for an au naturel healthy and radiant glow.
Tip: Add sandalwood and turmeric powder to tomato juice to make your DIY skin brightening face pack.

Youthful, supple skin
Tomato stimulates the production of collagen, the protein which gives the skin its structure. This helps enhance the texture of the skin and improves skin elasticity, keeping skin soft and supple at every age.
Tip: Team tomato with yoghurt to achieve a refreshing glow.

Promote cell regeneration
We are all aware of free radicals that are guilty of damaging the skin cells, accelerating the process of ageing. As tomatoes are rich in antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin C, it fights cellular damage and powers regeneration to keep signs of ageing away.
Tip: Apply tomato juice directly on your face, or mash its pulp and add it to your DIY face pack.

Diminish signs of ageing
Tomatoes are a powerhouse of skin-healthy vitamin B, serving as a great source for vitamins B-1, B-3, B-5, B-6, and B-9. These vitamins are packed with anti-ageing properties that help combat visible signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, dark circles, pigmentation, etc.
Tip: Make a paste of tomato pulp and mashed avocado for a nutrient-rich face rub, and massage it over your face gently.

Tighten pores
Tomato works as a natural astringent that shrinks pores and diminishes its appearance significantly. This also reduces the threat of breakouts.
Tip: If you are troubled by large pores, treat your face with a mixture of tomato and lemon juice.

Protect against sun damage
Lycopene, the compound that gives the tomato its pretty red hue, also has a UV-protective effect. While it is not a potential replacement for your SPF, it may reduce sensitivity towards the sun, reducing the chances of burns and tanning. Consider this as an add-on to your sunscreen.
Tip: Apply tomato juice on your face twice a day for best results.