What is lycopene?

A carotenoid, lycopene is in the same family as beta-carotene. More specifically, lycopene is a pigment that’s naturally found in red fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and watermelon. Even more important, it’s an antioxidant that’s packed with powerful benefits. In addition to promoting brain and immune functions, lycopene boasts the following skin-boosting benefits:

• It protects skin. Lycopene provides antioxidant protection from environmental damage, shielding skin from premature aging. In Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles: Eat Your Way to Firmer, More Beautiful Skin with the 100 Best Anti-Aging Foods, author Allison Tannis points out that lycopene has the power to “reduce skin cell damage and redness” caused by environmental triggers such as the sun and pollution.

• It improves texture. In addition to providing protection from the sun, lycopene also improves the junctions between cells as well as the processes related to cell metabolism — which is how cells grow and reproduce. What does this mean for your skin? Improved connectivity and metabolism within skin cells may improve skin’s texture, writes G. Todorov, Ph.D., on Smart Skin Care.

• It reduces aging. Tannis also reports that lycopene has the capability to improve cellular functions that are essential to keeping skin looking young. Lycopene strengthens skin by enhancing its ability to produce collagen and reducing the DNA damage that leads to wrinkles.

Unlock the benefits of lycopene

There are two ways that you can benefit from lycopene:

• Diet. Eating foods that contain lycopene is one way to experience its benefits. Tomatoes are packed with lycopene; however, the lycopene in raw tomatoes is bundled within indigestible fiber, according to Todorov. In order to unlock lycopene, experts suggest eating cooked or processed tomatoes, such as tomato sauce or processed beans. The downside is that you’ll have to eat several ounces per day to get the benefits.

Another way you can reap the skin-boosting benefits of lycopene is by taking a daily supplement, such as Pevonia Pevovitale Vitamins YouthRenew. It includes a blend of vitamins and nutrients — including lycopene — that promotes radiant skin and a healthy immune system.

• Skin care products. Instead of ingesting lycopene through your diet, you can apply it directly to the skin. When applied topically, lycopene is actually easily absorbed by the skin. Here are a few products that contain lycopene.

• Anti-aging mask. Euoko Y-00 Instant Precision Cellular Masque attacks aging from deep within the skin. Formulated with powerful antioxidants, including lycopene, pomegranate extract and buriti oil, this mask helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles while restoring skin’s radiant glow.

• Rejuvenating scrub. Reveal healthier, younger skin with L'Occitane Honey and Lemon Sweet Sugar Scrub. Enriched with pure honey, lemon peel and lycopene, this nutritious sugar scrub gently exfoliates while infusing skin with age-fighting ingredients.

• Defense moisturizer. Protect your skin from daily stressors like the sun and pollution with Euoko P-40 Watermelon Defense. This moisturizer features intense ingredients including hyaluronic acid to enhance hydration and lycopene to restore the skin’s natural healing processes.

The last word on lycopene

Lycopene provides an all-natural answer to healthier, younger-looking skin. Your best bet for adding lycopene to your skin care routine is to take a daily supplement or apply lycopene-rich formulas.

See also:

Anti-Aging Handbook

Grapefruit

10 Articles for Kick-Starting a Natural Beauty Routine & Lifestyle

Pevonia Botanica Product Review