Tomatoes for Natural Beauty

Tomatoes are the best source of the magical anti-aging component lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects and rejuvenates our skin.
Lycopene provides antioxidant protection from environmental damage, shielding skin from premature aging and reducing skin cell damage and redness caused by sun and pollution. In addition to providing protection, lycopene also improves connectivity and metabolism within skin cells and improves skin’s texture. It reduces aging as it has the capability of enhancing the skins ability to produce collagen and reduces the DNA damage that leads to wrinkles.
Tomatoes are also packed with Beta-carotene, vitamin C and Vitamin E to keep skin looking young and fresh.
Surprisingly, lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by your body when it is cooked or processed, and one of the best sources is tomato paste, so stock up!

Research presented at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology has discovered that 5 tablespoons of tomato paste added daily to your diet significantly improves your skin's capacity to fight harmful UV radiation that causes several conditions from premature aging to skin cancer. Women who were consuming this amount daily were also found to have much higher levels of pro-collagen, a protein controlling skin structure making it firm and smooth.

These increasing levels suggest potential reversal of the skin aging process.

When applied to the skin, tomatoes have cooling and astringent properties. They are naturally acidic so they help balance the skin and get rid of excess oil.

If you would like to shrink the pores on your face, combine one tablespoon of fresh tomato juice with two to four drops of fresh lime juice. Apply the mixture with a cotton ball and massage gently into skin using circular motions. Leave on the skin for about 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water to shrink pores even further, and then moisturize.