Pearl tomato extractis made from white heirloom beefsteak tomatoes, or Solanum Lycopersicum, and has several benefits for skin health and radiance. Originating in the 20thcentury, pearl tomatoes, also called great white tomatoes or white beauty tomatoes, come in season from mid-summer to late fall.
Characterized by their large, heavy fruit with a creamy hue, white heirloom tomatoes can weigh up to two pounds. When eaten, they have a sweet flavor with notes of melon and guava, which makes some think they are low in acid, but in fact, they come higher in sugar, which makes them seem less acidic than other tomatoes.
Benefits of Pearl Tomato Extract
When taken as a supplement, pearl tomato extract has many benefits for skin health and appearance.
A clinical trial was done in South Africa at Aura International in 2019 to study the benefits of white tomato extract supplementation in patients with melasma. Melasma, also called chloasma, is a condition where brown patches appear on the face due to either hormonal changes during pregnancy or sun exposure. Women are more likely to develop melasma, the mask of pregnancy, but men can develop the condition also.
The brown patches develop mainly on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. If melasma develops due to pregnancy, it will typically resolve on its own after giving birth. For those women who do not have a natural resolution or those who have melasma due to sun exposure, taking pearl tomato extract can be a good option for lightening the hyperpigmented facial patches associated with the disorder.
The study found that those who consumed the white tomato extract had improved skin tone and texture with decreased skin dryness and roughness.
The colorless carotenes found in pearl tomato extract, including phytoene and phytofluene, remain precursors to colored carotenoids such aslycopene. These colorless carotenes comprise carrots, oranges, and, of course, white tomatoes.
Carotenoids have beneficial antioxidant properties that help protect the body from disease. Skin and eye disease represent two conditions that carotenoids help protect the body from developing.
Antioxidantslike carotenoids found in pearl tomato extract protect the skin by reducing free radical production. Free radicals can damage the skin, causing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines.
Antioxidants found in pearl tomato extract also help protect the skin from UV radiation. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a naturally occurring carotenoid found in many fruits.
A study conducted on hairless mice given tomato powder for 35 weeks and then exposed to UVB light three times a week found that the mice who consumed the tomato powder developed fewer tumors than the control group.
Lycopene also demonstrates photo-protective properties. Taking pearl tomato extract may provide some protection from UV light-induced sunburn. Although taking pearl tomato extract may reduce your risk of sunburn, it does not replace the need to wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Usesunscreenwith SPF 30 or higher when spending significant time outdoors to protect against sunburn and skin cancer.
Several compounds in pearl tomato extract, including carotenoids, possess anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can help reduce skin inflammation while offering additional systemic benefits such as improving cardiovascular and digestive health.
Pearl tomato extract may help improve skin quality from the inside out.
Pearl tomato extract is a good source ofB vitaminsthat are essential to skin health. Vitamin B has anti-aging properties that may help reduce wrinkles and age spots. B vitamins may also help reduce hyperpigmentation and sun damage as they play a vital role in cellular repair.
An excellent source ofpotassium, pearl tomato extract may help with skin hydration. Dry skin associated with eczema and atopic dermatitis may result from decreased potassium levels. Consequences of dry skin include cracking, itching, and flaking of dry skin cells, making the skin irritated and more vulnerable to infection due to scratching and cracking.
Pearl tomato extract is combined with the amino acidL-Cysteineto help improve the efficacy of the supplement. L-Cysteine is a precursor toglutathione, a potent antioxidant found naturally in the body.
Glutathione has many uses and benefits to the skin, including improving psoriasis and reducing oxidative stress. It also is known to help reduce hyperpigmentation from disorders such as melasma. It does this by converting melanin to a lighter color and deactivating tyrosinase, an enzyme that helps produce the pigment.
The Bottom Line
Pearl tomato extracthas several skin-related benefits. It can help with hydration, hyperpigmentation disorders, wrinkles, aging, and inflammation in the skin.
Also serving as a natural sunscreen, pearl tomato extract helps protect the skin from the inside out. An increase incollagen productioncan help with skin elasticity, promoting a more youthful appearance as we age.
Supplying nutrients known to benefit the skin, including vitamins B and C, potassium, and carotenoids, pearl tomato extract can boost skin health and radiance.
Pearl tomato extract is generally safe and well-tolerated. Avoid taking pearl tomato extract if you are allergic to tomatoes. Consult your doctor before starting any new dietary supplement.
