Tomatoes for Skin Health & Skin Care
Oh, summer and your red vine ripe tomatoes. Tomatoes come in a variety of summer colors besides red. There are yellow, orange, purple, and good old green tomatoes all these beautiful healthy colors come in all shapes and sizes. Tomatoes contian a marvelous reservoir of the antioxidant lycopene which has been link in helping all kinds of chronic health issues. They are a wonderful source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K and help to keep heart desease and some cancers at bay. But did you know that tomatoes where also good for you skin?
Using Tomatoes for Better Skin
Tomatoes are fruits, technically berries, that are rich in nutrients that benefit many bodily functions especially skin health. One large tomato contains a healthy dose of water, protein, fiber, carbs, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, nutrients, and antioxidants that work in unison to optimize skin radiance and other bodily functions.
Beautiful skin starts with what you put into your body. Tomatoes are the perfect food to use to achieve healthy skin from the inside out. They are often prepared and eaten cooked which maximizes the amount of nutrients the body can use. It also makes them much more appetizing to some people.
Tomatoes are acidic and can upset sensitive stomachs. The acid in tomatoes is why they’re also beneficial when applied onto skin. There are several face mask recipes and a tomato-based toner anyone can create for cheap, effective, and natural skincare.
Vitamin C in Tomatoes
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and ascorbic acid that the body needs to develop, heal, form collagen, absorb iron, and maintain other bodily functions. A cup of tomatoes contains 24.7 mg of vitamin C which is 35% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C the body needs. Sun-dried tomatoes contain higher amounts of Vitamin C than other methods of preparing them.
This nutrient is an excellent way to avoid premature wrinkles and dry skin since it helps the body form collagen. Collagen is a protein the body uses to structure connective tissues like skin. The vitamin C in tomatoes holds cells together during the body’s collagen production. This effective antioxidant prevents collagen from being degraded after this process. The result is fewer blemishes, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
Since tomatoes are high in Vitamin C and many other nutrients, you can incorporate them into your skin care routine in many ways. When applied directly to the skin tomatoes are excellent for reducing redness, fading hyper-pigmentation, shrinking the size of pores, and brightening the overall appearance of skin.
Pore-shrinking Mask
Gently rub a tomato slice all over a freshly cleaned face for a few minutes. Wait 15 mins to 1 hour. Lightly rinse off your face with warm water and then a dose of cold water to close your pores. Do this every other day and monitor your skin’s transformation.
The tomato acts as an astringent by reducing oil buildup and tightening the skin. The calcium and potassium in tomatoes heal and moisturize your skin cells. This will also reduce acne and blackheads after a few weeks.
Toning Mask and Spray
To create a toner that is 100% effective using natural astringents is the best way to go. Tomato and Cucumbers are two natural astringents that when combined hydrate and tighten the skin very well.
All you need to make your own toning mask besides a blender is 1 Tomato and 1/2 of a cucumber. Blend them together till well blended. Pour into a jar using a funnel if possible and take out what you plan to use. Apply face mask to the face by gently rubbing the mix into the skin. Wait 20 minutes before rinsing the toning mask off and gently pat down your skin with a towel.
To create a hydrating toner mist you need 1 whole cucumber and 1 whole tomato. Juice these two things together and then strain completely. Pour the filtered mixture into a spray bottle. Keep fresh in your fridge for three days. Use this toner daily for a rejuvenating boost for your skin.
Body Scrub
To get soft skin all over you can use a tomato sugar scrub in your next shower. To create this mask, you need 3 Tablespoons of granulated sugar and 1 medium tomato.
Cut your tomato in half and extract the pulp. Mix the pulp and sugar. Juice the rest of the tomato into the sugar. Now spread evenly and work the scrub into the skin focusing on dry areas. Rinse with warm water once sugar granules have melted. Moisturize after shower with coconut oil or lotion.
Sunburn and Detan
Tomatoes can create a radiant and holistic skincare routine but these superfoods can also provide relief from sunburn. Loaded down with Vitamin A and C, tomatoes revive and cool red and irritated skin.
The cure for sunburn is a half and half mixture of tomato juice and buttermilk. Sit in the tub while you pour the liquid over your shoulders and any other areas of the body that have been burnt. Allow the milk and tomato juice to soak into the surface of your skin before rinsing with cool water. By the end of your soak your skin should feel less pain. Go seek a doctor if pain is unbearable. You may have a case of sun poisoning or severe sunburn.
Tan Soothing
To soothe a tan or hydrate after a day in the sun use a tomato for full body relief. The moisturizing properties of tomato and it’s high antioxidant count will even out tanned skin and reduce redness.
All you have to do is mash a tomato into a pulp and rub into skin. Cover skin in an even layer before allowing your skin to absorb the nutrients for 10 minutes. Rinse off the tomato with lukewarm water and then cold.
Conclusion
There is nothing more natural than going straight to the source. There is no reason to spend big money on Vitamin C serum when you can get the same results from a tomato for less than 1 dollar. The Vitamin C and antioxidants in tomatoes work when digested by creating collagen which replenishes the skin’s natural appearance. On the outside Vitamin C and other acids in tomato clean and tighten the skin. Eating clean and using natural products will improve skin health.
So now you know all about tomatoes and their impact on skin-care. You can use more tomatoes in your cooking for a nutrient-packed meal and use raw tomatoes in face masks, scrubs, or toner like the recipes above. These big berries can work from the inside out and from the outside in to create beautiful glowing skin.
About the Author
Twigs cafe staff is comprised of editors, writers, food & drink experts, nutritionists, and researchers to create informative and helpful content for health-conscious people.
