Benefits of Tomatoes for Skin: Why It's So Popular in the Beauty World

Cucumbers get a lot of credit for what they do to the skin. After all, everyone has slices of the stuff over their eyes in every makeover movie made. But they’re not the only produce that you can use to pamper yourself. Avocados improve suppleness, lemons bring out brightness, bananas exfoliate and moisturize. And, then there are tomatoes. These plump fruits do more than flavor your pasta. Learn all about the benefits of tomatoes for skin!

According to a 2011 study in the British Journal of Dermatology, tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene can protect your skin against the effects of ultraviolet radiation as well as the longer-term aspects of photodamage.

While tomatoes should not be used as sunblock or sunscreen, research has established that tomato juice can treat painful sunburns. An experiment by the BBC also showed that 23 women who ate a tomato-paste-rich diet for 12 weeks saw a 30% increase in skin protection.

By now you know that the benefits of tomatoes for skin include smoothening fine lines (thanks, vitamin C!). Antioxidants offer a lot more to your skin than defending and treating you from the woes of sun damage, it also combats signs of aging. Tomatoes are also loaded with B vitamins (B1, B3, B5, B6, among others) that diminish the look of age spots and wrinkles.

Tomatoes provide relief to sunburn for a reason. A 2021 PLoS One article studied the fruit’s anti-inflammatory properties. Tomato extract contains daphnetin and esculetin (as well as other compounds) that help inhibit inflammation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, its vitamin C content also supports the growth of connective tissues that can mend wounds and speed healing.

If you don’t want to eat copious amounts of tomato to enjoy its promises, opt for POND’s Tomato Face Mask instead. A Korean beauty expert developed this sheet mask, which uses the tomato’s vitamin- and antioxidant-rich qualities to keep the skin plump and smooth. It also has 50 times more Vitaboosters to help bring out your skin’s radiance.

The benefits of tomatoes for skin are wide-ranging. But you only need 15 to 20 minutes of your time to reap all of it with this tomato face mask.