This summer, you’ll have bowls full of fresh lemons in your kitchen. After all, they’re perfect for adding a little zest to just about any meal.
The natural crispness of lemon makes this citrus the best summer scent for your home.
But did you know that lemon can also be an excellent addition to your summer beauty routine? Packed with vitamin C and natural oils, lemons have the power to solve all your biggest beauty blunders right at home.
With all the damage the sun will do to your skin this summer, the natural fruity acids in lemon can help you fight back by removing dead skin cells, lightening harsh age spots, and clearing facial discoloration—without stripping your skin of its natural oils.
Still not sold? Well, then just take a look at all the different ways lemon can give you the flawless skin you’ve always wanted:
- Remove Blackheads: The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal components of lemon make it easy to clean out your pores, without using harsh, expensive beauty products. Just cut one lemon in half and rub the juicy side all around your face. According to The Health Site, adding a few drops of honey to the lemon creates an even more powerful mixture if you plan on applying lemon juice directly to blackheads. Leave the juice on your skin for about 5 to 10 minutes, and rinse off with cold water to close your clean pores.
- Treat Acne: If you want to get rid of a pimple fast, simply dilute some fresh lemon juice with a little water and apply the solution directly to the affected areas using a cotton pad. Leave this on for about 15 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Beauty Health Tips also recommends drinking lemon water to clear acne internally for glowing skin. Just add about 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon to an 8-ounce glass of water and drink it right when you wake up in the morning. This will help flush toxins out of your body for brighter, clearer skin.
- Lighten Dark Spots: We’ve all heard that lemon juice can help get rid of freckles—and that’s actually true! The fruity acids in lemon can help even out skin tone, banishing any dark sun spots, age spots, and acne scars from your face over time. Since lemon juice can help lighten dark spots, it can essentially help whiten skin, as well. Just add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to 3 tablespoons of water, and apply the solution all around your face and neck to evenly brighten your skin. Leave this mixture on for about 30 minutes and wash off with cold water. You should try to do this daily if you want to lighten your skin quickly, without causing irritation.
- Whiten Teeth: Instead of buying a $50 teeth whitening kit, make your own whitening solution at home with lemon and baking soda. Simply remove excess saliva from your teeth with a cotton swab and apply a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda directly to your teeth. The solution should look slightly bubbly before you apply it. Brush it through quickly before letting it sit for no longer than a minute. Gently rinse, and take a look at those beautiful pearly whites!
Do you have any tips for adding lemon to your beauty routine? Let us know in the comments!
Photo Copyright © 2010 JogiBaer2/Flickr
