The Tomato that Works from Within

Not a fad. A different breed entirely.

Red tomatoes get their color from lycopene. White tomatoes, by contrast, are a cultivated heirloom variety that skips lycopene almost entirely — concentrating instead on two colorless carotenoids: Phytoene and Phytofluene.

These colorless compounds absorb light in the UV range rather than the visible spectrum, which means they bring no color to the fruit — but bring considerable benefit to the skin. Tomesoral is an heirloom white tomato powder standardised for this precise profile.

Because Phytoene and Phytofluene are also found naturally in human skin, the body recognises and absorbs them efficiently — accumulating them in the dermal layers where they get to work.

As Skin Anarchy notes, white tomato varieties are selectively cultivated for a carotenoid profile that is rich in Phytoene and Phytofluene rather than lycopene — making them fundamentally different from the tomato on your plate.

Four ways white tomatoes transform skin

Inner UV protection
Phytoene and Phytofluene absorb light in the UVA and UVB wavelength range, providing a layer of photoprotection built from within. A clinical study found that a tomato powder rich in these colorless carotenoids raised subjects' minimum erythemal dose — the threshold at which UV begins to cause redness — by an average of 10% across all panelists, and 20% in two-thirds of them after 12 weeks.

Melanin control & skin brightening
Phytoene and Phytofluene directly inhibit melanin synthesis by acting on the tyrosinase enzyme pathway — the same target as widely-used brightening agents like kojic acid. Research published in a peer-reviewed patent studydemonstrates their combination reduces melanin content in skin cells with no cytotoxic activity, making them suitable for sustained use. Personal Care Magazine notes they work through direct inhibition of melanin synthesis alongside anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action.

Glutathione activation
Tomesoral acts as a long-term catalyst for the body's own glutathione production. Clinical research by Tomesoral shows it significantly boosts the expression of Glutathione Reductase — the enzyme that converts oxidised glutathione back into its active form (GSH) — at nearly double the baseline level. GSH is a cornerstone of natural skin lightening and antioxidant defence.

Antioxidant & anti-inflammatory defence
Phytoene scavenges hydroxyl radicals; Phytofluene helps neutralise singlet oxygen. Together they protect skin cells from oxidative stress caused by pollution, UV exposure, and daily aggressors. Cosmetics Business reports that these colorless carotenoids also inhibit collagenase expression, reducing collagen degradation and contributing to a younger-looking appearance over time.

Panelists reported great improvement in skin radiance, suppleness, evenness, smoothness, moisturisation, elasticity, visible skin health, visible skin youthfulness, and overall skin beauty — as well as increased resistance to UV.

— OA Text clinical study, colorless carotenoid food supplement

These are not surface-level effects. Because Phytoene and Phytofluene accumulate in the skin over time, the product's activity deepens with consistent use — making it well suited as a foundational beauty-from-within ingredient in any daily supplement or nutraceutical.

For a deeper look at the mechanism and full study data, visit tomesoral.com/science.