How to make lemons your secret beauty weapon

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. That’s what they say, right? Well, did you know that the fruit can literally fight the ageing process and help you look more beautiful? They can. Here’s how.

Use lemons to moisturise your skin

Lemons can be a natural moisturiser. Mixing a few drops into coconut water, will help hydrate your skin and keep it clean and clear. The acid in the lemons acts as a gentle facial peel, while the minerals in the coconut water are hydrating.

If you use coconut oil, it can be even more moisturising. Be careful with the lemon, however, as too much can also dry out your skin. Lemon is naturally high in vitamin C, which also helps skin cell turnover.

Get rid of blackheads

It might sound too good to be true, but lemons can actually help with acne. They’re antibacterial, thanks to the acetic acid in them, along with the vitamin C. A slice of lemon is all you need. Squeeze the juice from one lemon and rub it all over your face. Your blackheads will begin to fade within a few days. 

Clean your skin

Cleaning your skin with lemons isn’t a new idea. In fact, a lot of new household cleaners use citrus as an active cleaning agent because it’s so powerful. But you must be careful. The power of lemon can really beat your skin up if you’re not careful.

Mix a few drops with tea tree oil and put the concoction into about six ounces of water. Dab a bit of the solution onto a cotton ball and rub into your face. This can help even out your skin tone and exfoliate.

Tea tree oil is a powerful astringent, while the lemon acts to improve skin cell turnover. The combination is potent for cleaning skin.

Whiten your teeth

You have to be careful with this application as the acid from the lemon can damage your enamel – that’s how powerful it is. But a small amount of lemon, used for just a few days at a time, can help whiten your teeth. Mix baking soda with a few drops of lemon and sponge it onto your teeth.

Don’t brush or use any other abrasive techniques as this can be damaging to the tooth enamel. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse.

If you want to enhance the whitening power of lemon, you can infuse it into water and drink throughout the day. Again, make sure you don’t let it sit on your teeth every day, all day. But there are so many benefits of drinking lemon water that it’s usually worth the risks.

Exfoliate your lips

Rub a small amount of lemon juice into your lips and let it sit overnight. In the morning, the top layer of skin will peel off. It sounds gross, but the skin underneath will be fresh and new. Don’t do this if you already have chapped lips or skin that’s excessively dry.

Make sure you don’t do this for more than one or two nights in a row either. The lemon juice is pretty corrosive and may cause skin damage if left on too long or used for too many days in a row. But don’t worry too much about it, it’s not difficult to tell whether you’re starting to overdo it.

The acid in the lemon burns and it’s kind of like getting a chemical peel. If it’s painful, stop. If you notice way too much skin flaking off, stop. If there’s any doubt about what you’re doing, stop.

Strengthen your nails

Lemon can be worked into your toenails and fingernails. If you’ve had one too many gel manis and pedis, or if your nails are looking a little yellow, soak them in a solution of olive oil and lemon. This will help your brittle nails recover while also fixing that yellowing issue.

This procedure can be done every day until you get the desired result. But, as with any treatment, if you experience any pain, stop.

Lighten your hair

Apply lemon juice to your hair before you go out into the sun for a natural bleaching job. If you have a darker hair color, you’ll have a sun-kissed look. Some say that this may make your hair brittle, and it may, if you don’t use olive oil or a conditioner afterwards.

If you already have brittle hair, skip it.

Elbow and knee bleacher

If your elbows or knees are looking a little dark, rub them with half a lemon. It will brighten your skin and help work out the rough patches of skin.

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