Tomato Beauty
We all love a bit of beauty news that won't break the bank, so we were very happy to hear that there is more than one use for a tomato. Yes, the lovely tomato can be used in a variety of ways that will ultimately give you clearer, happier and brighter skin.
The science behind it is the fact that tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C and A, which both combat dull skin and acne breakouts. Even though none of us are teenagers anymore, the occasional acne breakout can play havoc with our social lives, so by knowing this little beauty secret and by popping to our local supermarket each week, we'll be set for life.
Apparently tomatoes also rank right up there with the best anti-ageing products on the market too, hurrah! So if your skin is quite dry generally, then mashing up a tomato and applying it to your skin for a few minutes, can dramatically help pump some moisture back into your skin.
Tomatoes are also pretty nifty at brightening up your complexion too, and if your skin is oily, then mixing a tomato with some cucumber juice will also help to combat the oilyness.
The best tomato method for this is to use tomato paste- again it's extremely cheap and easy to come by. Apply the mask for 10-15 minutes, making sure that if it starts to tingle then you wash it off immediately in warm water.
Tomato paste is also great for removing pimples, so forget expensive lotions and potions and ditch the oh-so painful stinging sensation that comes with applying toothpaste to a spot, and simply switch to puree instead. It works by drawing all the excess oil out of the skin and soothing the redness that comes with a particularly irritating sore spot.
Here are some other clever beauty uses for a tomato...
Chill Mask
Mixing a tomato with some natural yogurt is great for creating a cool and soothing mask, as it naturally softens the skin. Don't restrict yourself to using it on your face though, as this is a great combination for sunburn on both the face and body. Stick to plain yogurt though, as mixing it in with your strawberry flavour may not go entirely to plan!
Minimize Pores
Although the tomato can work some miracles on its own, if you mix a little bit of lime in with your tomato mixture, it's a great remedy for reducing pore size. Apply the mix to your face, remembering to focus on your nose, chin and forehead, as these are the areas where pores are usually at their largest. Rinse off with cold water after about 10 minutes and then moisturise as normal.
Tomato Facial
This is probably the easiest of all the tomato secrets for you to try, because all it involves is cutting up a tomato and rubbing it directly onto your face. Simple huh? Again focus on those areas where you are prone to blackheads appearing and leave on for around 5 minutes. Rinse off in luke warm water, to get rid of any residue that may be left.
Horrid Hair Stink
If by some horrible coincidence you find yourself with hair that is particularly stinky, and no amount of shampoo and conditioner can remove it, then call in the humble tomato to fix it. Simply apply tomato paste to your scalp and leave to soak in for around 15 minutes. Then wash off and style as normal, leaving your hair odour free.