Lycopene is the red orange pigment that gives tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit their color, and in skincare it is used as a plant derived antioxidant. Its molecular structure makes it especially good at neutralizing free radicals, the unstable molecules that build up in skin after UV exposure and contribute to visible aging. Once it builds up in skin, lycopene helps mop up this everyday damage.
The strongest evidence for lycopene protecting skin actually comes from eating lycopene rich foods, which raises the level of it already present in skin, rather than from applying it topically. On top of that, pure lycopene breaks down quickly when exposed to light, heat, and air, so the amount that ends up in a finished product can be a lot lower than what was originally mixed in.
Lycopene References
Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo, a randomized controlled trial, British Journal of Dermatology, 2011
Molecular evidence that oral supplementation with lycopene or lutein protects human skin against ultraviolet radiation, British Journal of Dermatology, 2017
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
