Description and Uses
The therapeutic skin care properties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) depend on the part of the plant that is used. For example, the extract made from the whole plant is astringent, whereas the fruit itself is considered a humectant and emollient. Tomato water has an ability to mask odor. Sources also cite anti-oxidant activity. The common property to all tomato derivatives in cosmetics is skin conditioning. Tomato’s constituents include beta-carotene, carotenoids (lycopene), histamine, fructose, glucose, vitamins A, C, and e, mineral salts, and trace elements.
