You might love lemonade and lemon chicken, but
your skin and hair love lemons even more—they
have an amazing range of beauty benefits.
Here are some great uses for the sunny yellow fruit:
Clarifying moisturizer: Mix a few drops of
coconut
water with a few drops of lemon juice. The coconut
will hydrate your skin, and lemon will clear and
brighten it.
Elbow and knee bleacher: "If your
elbows and
knees appear dark, simply rub them with half of a
lemon," says Patrice Coleman, owner of DaBlot
Beauty. "It's like magic!"
Blackhead treatment: It may sound too good
to be true, but because lemons are antibacterial,
they can help treat acne. Just slice a lemon, and
squeeze the juice on your face. Your blackheads
will start to fade before you know it.
Cleansing wipes: "I like to
mix a couple drops
of lemon and tea tree essential oil in about
6 ounces
of distilled water. I recommend it as a toner or for use
with cotton pads as a cleansing wipe for problematic
skin," says Becky Sturm, founder of Storm Sister
Spatique.
Teeth whitener: Mix baking soda
and lemon juice,
and apply it to your teeth with a clean Q-tip. Then, use
your toothbrush to scrub your teeth and rinse. It's way
cheaper than going to your dentist's office.
Canker sore treatment: Sturn also uses a
few
drops of the lemon essential oil on her canker sores
to help them heal faster.
Skin brightener: Lemons are rich in
vitamin C and
citric acid, so they can help brighten and lighten your
skin when used over time. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant
for neutralizing free radicals and boosting collagen
production, says Marina Peredo, M.D., a dermatologist.
That means it can help lighten age spots, dark spots, or
a fake tan gone wrong. Remember to wear SPF when using
lemon juice on your skin, though, since the citrus fruit can
make your skin more sensitive to UV rays.
Shine eliminator: Lemon is
great for reducing excess oil.
Lip exfoliator: Put a
little lemon juice on your lips before
bedtime, and wash it off in the morning to help remove dead
skin cells and dried skin. One caveat: "Obviously, if
you
already have severely chapped lips that have any cuts, do
not try this," says Gary Goldfaden, M.D., a dermatologist.
Nail strengthener: Have you been
getting too many gel
manicures? Make a mixture of your favorite cooking
oil (try olive oil) with lemon juice, and soak your nails.
This is a good practice if your nails are dry and brittle,
but it's also a great way to help fix nails that have yellowed.
Hair Lightener: Score dye-free DIY
highlights with lemon
juice. Apply it before you expose your hair to sunlight to
score a sun-kissed color. The lemon juice can also help
treat a dry scalp and dandruff, so apply it liberally.
By Aly Walansky for Daily Makeover
will hydrate your skin, and lemon will clear and
lemon," says Patrice Coleman, owner of DaBlot
they can help treat acne. Just slice a lemon, and
of distilled water. I recommend it as a toner or for use
your toothbrush to scrub your teeth and rinse. It's way
to help them heal faster.
skin when used over time. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant
bedtime, and wash it off in the morning to help remove dead
oil (try olive oil) with lemon juice, and soak your nails.
score a sun-kissed color. The lemon juice can also help
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