The ingredient, explained

Lycopene

Research examined LYCOPENE under the stated study conditions.

Antioxidant

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

-all-E--2‚6,10‚14‚19‚23‚27‚31-Octamethyl-2‚6,8‚10‚14‚16‚18‚20‚22‚24‚26‚30-Dotriaconatridecaene

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Antioxidant: Limits oxidation, including deterioration of formulation ingredients. This label alone does not show a clinical antioxidant effect in skin.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Human topical research

The lycopene and wheat-bran cream improved melasma severity measurements compared with placebo.

What this does not tell us

22 participants; wheat-bran extract is co-active and all used SPF30 sunscreen. Lycopene-only benefit, recurrence beyond one month and broader skin-lightening effects are not established.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 33151615 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Read exact local candidate abstracts first; select identity-relevant papers; targeted primary PubMed/publisher searches. This is not an exhaustive systematic review.