Written by Jessie, Product Manager · Updated 11 November 2026

Snow tomato is a name you'll see on skin drinks, but it's rarely explained. It isn't an exotic new fruit. It's a tomato extract rich in two colourless carotenoids that do something few nutrients do: absorb UV light from inside the skin.

Here's what snow tomato is, what the research shows for skin tone and sun-exposed skin, and how it fits alongside the serums and sunscreen you already use.

→ See Snow Tomato Glowjuice, our white tomato skin drink

What is snow tomato?

Snow tomato is a white tomato extract, rich in two colourless carotenoids called phytoene and phytofluene. Unlike virtually all other carotenoids, including the lycopene that makes tomatoes red, these two absorb most strongly in the ultraviolet (UV) range.^[2]

• Where they come from: phytoene and phytofluene are the colourless building blocks from which all other carotenoids are made. They sit alongside lycopene in tomatoes, and are also found in oranges and carrots.^[1]
• What they absorb: phytoene absorbs most strongly in the UVB range and phytofluene in the UVA range.^[2]
• How your body uses them: they're readily absorbed from tomato foods and extracts.^[3] In a 12-week study, a daily tomato extract raised blood levels of phytoene and phytofluene, and total carotenoids in the skin rose too.^[4]
• No tint: because they're colourless, phytoene and phytofluene don't colour the skin.^[5]

In Snow Tomato Glowjuice, the snow tomato is PhytoflORAL® White Tomato Extract, a non-GMO white tomato powder.

How does snow tomato brighten skin?

Snow tomato is thought to support a more even, brighter-looking tone by helping your skin cope with the sun. UV light is behind much of the irregular pigmentation, spots and uneven tone of sun-aged skin, and phytoene and phytofluene work against it from within.^[2]

• They absorb UV inside the skin. Between them, phytoene and phytofluene cover the UVB and UVA ranges, so they may add to your skin's own defence as they build up in it.^{[2] [6]}
• They're antioxidants. Carotenoids mop up the reactive oxygen species that sunlight creates in skin, which researchers see as a key way they protect it.^[6]
• They calm the skin's response to UV. In a placebo-controlled trial, a tomato extract containing these carotenoids, plus lycopene, lowered two UV-triggered inflammation markers compared with placebo.^[7]

UVA deserves a special mention. It plays a prominent role in sun ageing, and phytofluene is one of very few dietary carotenoids that absorbs it.^[2]

What does the research show for skin tone and sun-exposed skin?

Human studies link daily phytoene and phytofluene to more even skin and stronger resistance to UV, with results building over about 12 weeks. Here's what they found, starting with the study on snow tomato extract itself.

• Snow tomato extract, 12 weeks (small open study). 22 healthy women aged 20 to 40 took PhytoflORAL®, a tomato powder rich in phytoene and phytofluene, in an amount giving 5 mg of these carotenoids a day. By week 12, 95% had a more even complexion, and roughness, suppleness and texture had improved in 90%. On average, their skin also needed 10% more UV before it reddened.^[5]
• Tomato extract, 12 weeks (randomised, placebo-controlled). In 149 healthy volunteers, a daily tomato extract with 5.8 mg of phytoene and phytofluene, plus lycopene, gave less UVB redness, measured instrumentally, and lower inflammation markers than placebo. It was well tolerated.^[7]
• Tomato extract vs pure lycopene, 12 weeks. Compared with the start of the study, UV redness was 38% lower with a tomato extract and 48% lower with a tomato extract drink, against 25% lower with synthetic lycopene alone. The researchers suggest the phytoene and phytofluene in the tomato products may have added to the protection.^[4]
• Carotenoids and UV pigmentation, 12 weeks (randomised, placebo-controlled). In 60 volunteers, a daily mixed carotenoid supplement meant skin needed more UVA before lasting pigmentation set in. This trial tested a carotenoid blend rather than snow tomato, and it shows how carotenoids can help skin resist sun-induced darkening.^[8]

Sources: the human studies listed in the References.^{[4] [5] [7] [14]}

Lab research adds one more detail. In human skin cells exposed to UV, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and the colourless carotenoids calmed inflammation markers more strongly together, and phytoene and phytofluene protected CoQ10 from oxidation.^[9] Snow Tomato Glowjuice pairs its white tomato extract with 15 mg of CoQ10 to make use of this partnership.

How does snow tomato compare with niacinamide and other brightening ingredients?

Snow tomato works from within, across all of your skin, while niacinamide and vitamin C serums work on the surface where you apply them. Because they work at different layers, they combine well rather than compete.

Snow tomato: human studies.^{[4] [5] [7]} Niacinamide: clinical trial.^[10] Vitamin C: dermatology review.^[11] Oral glutathione: placebo-controlled trial.^[12] Sunscreen: American Academy of Dermatology.^[13]

Niacinamide is the pairing people ask about most, and it's a good partner. Niacinamide targets pigment where you apply it, and snow tomato supports an even tone across all of your skin, including the areas your serum doesn't reach. Whatever you combine, daily sunscreen protects your results.^[13]

If you'd also like to try oral glutathione, SkinBright Thins gives you 200 mg of liposomal L-glutathione in a cranberry mint strip that dissolves on the roof of your mouth, once a day.

How long does snow tomato take to work?

Give snow tomato about 12 weeks of daily use. Carotenoids build up in skin gradually, and because skin renews itself over weeks, their protective effects take several weeks to appear.^[6]

• Around 6 weeks: in the snow tomato extract study, 64% of women already had more even skin.^[5]
• 10 weeks: 40 g of tomato paste a day, taken with olive oil, lowered UV redness by 40% compared with olive oil alone.^[14]
• 12 weeks: 95% of women had more even skin, and their skin needed 10% more UV to redden.^[5]

That's why we suggest giving snow tomato at least 3 months of daily use before you judge your results.

Why does snow tomato suit Singapore's sun?

Singapore's midday sun is intense, so skin here benefits from protection that works all day. The National Environment Agency notes that UV levels in Singapore commonly reach Very High and Extreme between 11am and 3pm on days with little cloud.^[15]

Most of that UV is UVA, about 94% of what reaches the ground.^[15] UVA passes through window glass, and about half of UVA exposure happens in the shade,^[2] so it reaches you on the bus, by the office window and under the hawker centre roof. Phytofluene absorbs in the UVA range, which is why a daily source of colourless carotenoids suits life here.

Pair it with the habits the Ministry of Health recommends: sunscreen of at least SPF 30, shade or an umbrella, sunglasses that block UVA and UVB, and a broad-brimmed hat.^[16] For more on spots that darken in our climate, read our guide to melasma and pigmentation under the Singapore sun.

How do you add snow tomato to your routine?

Snow tomato works best as one steady step in a simple daily routine:

1. Sunscreen every morning. Broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher.^{[13] [16]}
2. Snow tomato every day, after a meal. Consistency matters more than timing, since carotenoids build up in skin over weeks.^[6]
3. A targeted serum for spots. Niacinamide or vitamin C on the areas you want to even out.^{[10] [11]}

Snow Tomato Glowjuice gives you 500 mg of PhytoflORAL® White Tomato Extract in every sachet, the same extract used in the 12-week snow tomato study above, with 100 mg of acerola extract (25% vitamin C), 50 mg of L-cysteine and 15 mg of CoQ10. Healthy skin holds high levels of vitamin C, which supports collagen production and antioxidant protection against UV damage.^[17] It's a ready-to-drink peach and apple sachet with no water needed: take 1 a day after a meal, or 2 a day for a more intensive routine.

Shop Snow Tomato Glowjuice

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Related reading: Sunscreen from the inside? Antioxidants and UV, explained · Niacinamide vs collagen: do you need both? · Why your dark spots keep coming back

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the same benefits from eating tomatoes?
Tomatoes and tomato paste do contain phytoene and phytofluene alongside lycopene, and your body absorbs them well. In one study, 40 g of tomato paste a day with olive oil led to 40% less UV redness after 10 weeks than olive oil alone. A snow tomato extract gives you a steady daily amount of these colourless carotenoids without planning your meals around tomato paste.

When is the best time to take Snow Tomato Glowjuice?
Take it after a meal, at whatever time of day you'll remember, and many customers prefer the morning. One sachet a day suits daily maintenance, and 2 a day suits a more intensive routine. Taking it every day matters more than the time you choose.

Do I still need sunscreen if I take snow tomato?
Yes. Snow tomato supports your skin's defence from within and sunscreen filters UV at the surface, so they work best together. Researchers note that dietary carotenoids give less protection than a topical sunscreen, but they raise your skin's baseline defence against UV and support longer-term protection.

Is snow tomato good for dark spots?
Snow tomato supports your skin's defence against the UV that darkens spots, and in a 12-week study it helped skin look more even. For a stubborn spot, pair it with a targeted serum such as niacinamide and daily sunscreen.

Is snow tomato safe to take every day?
In a 12-week trial of 149 healthy volunteers, a daily tomato extract providing phytoene and phytofluene was well tolerated. Snow Tomato Glowjuice contains an animal-derived ingredient (chicken), so it isn't suitable for vegans. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or have allergies, check with your doctor first.

References
[1] Meléndez-Martínez AJ et al. A comprehensive review on the colorless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2015.
[2] Meléndez-Martínez AJ et al. Skin carotenoids in public health and nutricosmetics: the emerging roles and applications of the UV radiation-absorbing colourless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene. Nutrients. 2019.
[3] Engelmann NJ et al. Nutritional aspects of phytoene and phytofluene, carotenoid precursors to lycopene. Adv Nutr. 2011.
[4] Aust O et al. Supplementation with tomato-based products increases lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene levels in human serum and protects against UV-light-induced erythema. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005.
[5] von Oppen-Bezalel L et al. The photoprotective effects of a food supplement tomato powder rich in phytoene and phytofluene, the colorless carotenoids, a preliminary study. Glob Dermatol. 2015.
[6] Stahl W, Sies H. β-Carotene and other carotenoids in protection from sunlight. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012.
[7] Groten K et al. Tomato phytonutrients balance UV response: results from a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2019.
[8] Baswan SM et al. Orally administered mixed carotenoids protect human skin against ultraviolet A-induced skin pigmentation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2020.
[9] Fuller B et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of CoQ10 and colorless carotenoids. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2006.
[10] Hakozaki T et al. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. Br J Dermatol. 2002.
[11] Telang PS. Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2013.
[12] Arjinpathana N, Asawanonda P. Glutathione as an oral whitening agent: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2012.
[13] American Academy of Dermatology. How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones. Updated 10 March 2025.
[14] Stahl W et al. Dietary tomato paste protects against ultraviolet light-induced erythema in humans. J Nutr. 2001.
[15] National Environment Agency. UV radiation and UV index. Updated 8 April 2026.
[16] National Environment Agency. Ultraviolet index (sun protection advice from the Ministry of Health). Updated 2 April 2026.
[17] Pullar JM et al. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients. 2017.

These statements have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Consult a healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on prescribed medication.