Important please note – When using lemon as a beauty aid rememeber it is full of acids so use only a few drops for application purposes. Using too much lemon juice can actually burn, darken and damage the skin.
Lemon is a fresh yellow colored fruit with a refreshing and uplifting fragrance. It is an excellent herbal medicine and is known for its natural beautifying properties.
For hot summers lemonade is the best thing one can think of. Lemon is rich in vitamin C and other essential nutrients. Drinking a combination of 1 lemon juice, 1 spoon honey/raw sugar in a glass of room temperature water early in morning purifies your blood and gives you a clean healthy skin.
Lemons are loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a major role in the formation of collagen which is essential for a younger looking firmer skin. Here are some lemony lemon beauty recipes.
Gentle lemon scrub for natural exfoliation-
Exfoliation is a quickest way to achieve a healthy glowing skin by removing the surface layer of dead skin. Make a paste by adding
1 spoon oatmeal
1 spoon of orange peel powder
few drops of lemon juice
and cold milk to make a paste.
Lemons contain natural exfoliating ingredients which help remove upper layer of dead cells and lighten the dark spots. Orange peel gently polishes the skin texture while milk provides the skin the much needed moisture and nourishment. Oatmeal gently lifts dirt and pollutants from the pores. Regular use of this pack gives you a clean, sparkling skin tone.
Recipe for bright smooth skin-
Mash a ripe banana. You need 1 spoonfull of banana, add 1/2 tea spoon of lemon juice and mix well. Apply this on your face, elbows and hands. Rinse after 20 minutes.
Lemon is an excellent remedy for glowing complexion. This beauty lemon recipe gives you a hydrated smooth skin tone.
Recipe for extra dry blemish prone skin-
Make a combination of
3-4 drops honey
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Min together and massage well into your skin. Rinse after 20 minutes. Lemon effectively bleaches darkened or discolored areas. Vegetable oil added to the recipe soothes and moisturises the extra dry skin.
Astringent toner for oily skin-
Lemon is well known for it’s astringent properties therefore lemon juice diluted with water is used to clean pores of excessive oil. Make a mixture by adding
1/2 spoon of lemon juice
1 spoon of distilled water
1 spoon witch hazel
Dip a cotton ball in this mix and wipe your face. Rinse after 5 minutes. This toner will leave you with a tingly clean feeling skin.
Natural homemade bleach-
Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in 1:1 proportion. Apply this solution regularly to your sunburnt or tanned skin. Lemons are rich in vitamin C and other natural nutrients which bleach and lighthen the color of your skin in a few weeks. The fruit acids present in lemons gently exfoliate the upper dead cells and bleach darkened spots.
Improve your skin texture-
Squeeze a fresh lemon and add equal quantity of glycerine and a few drops of honey to it. Apply this mixture to your skin for 30 minutes daily. You will notice gradual improvement in your skin’s texture. Your skin looks more hydrated, clear and fines lines are diminished.
Instant pick-me-up-
Mix 1 spoon powdered sugar, few drops honey and lemon juice and massage your face for 5 minutes using gentle circular movements. It instantly brigthens up your complexion.
Lighten dark elbows, knees-
You need a used up lemon peel. Sprinkle some sugar on the lemon peel and gently rub the lemon peel on your elbows for not more than 5 minutes in light circular movements. Regular use of this helps to break the build up of dirt and upper layer of dark skin. Apply a moisturiser or vaseline to protect the freshly revealed skin. So every lemon rub done should be followed with a moisturising cream.
Lemon tub soak-
Fill your bath tub with warm water. Squeeze a fresh lemon and add 1/2 cup of baby oil and throw in some sea salts. Slip in and soak for 10 minutes. The baby oil makes your skin soft and smooth. The lemon juice along with the hot water kills odour causing bacteria and your skin feels refreshly clean.
Dandruff control oil-
Add the juice of one lemon to 1/2 cup olive oil. Apply to your hair and gently massage the scalp to loosen the sticky dandruff flakes. This mixture once applied to your scalp should not be left for more than 30 minutes as it contains lemon juice. Shampoo and rinse your hair within 30 minutes.
Remedy for dandruff-
Add the juice of half lemon to 2 cups of water and keep it aside. First shampoo your hair. Now massage your wet hair with this mixture for 2 minutes. Rinse this lemon-water solution from your hair with water thoroughly.
Breathe freshner-
The acid content present in lemon is a powerful killer of odour causing bacteria. Squeeze some lemon juice to half cup of water and swish it around in your mouth for a few seconds.
Points to note-
1) Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice, the bottled stuff has so many additives added that it is actually harmful.
2) If you are using lemon on a regular basis you are exfoliating your skin frequently so avoid direct sun exposure as the skin might react leading to skin irritation or sensitivity.
3) Discontinue using lemon if you experience any discomfort or sensitivity.
