There’s something simple and joyous about laying eyes on a fresh, vibrant lemon. Sitting in a fruit bowl or hanging out in the fruit and veg drawer of the fridge. Their vivid yellow color immediately grabs your eyes and makes them stand out in a pile of produce.
And, when it comes down to it, this is really just nature’s way of saying that this is one pretty darn awesome fruit. The color belies the goodness contained inside, which is vast. If you’re familiar with The Alternative Daily, you’ve probably already stumbled across at least a few articles heralding the awesome health benefits lemons can provide, from improving digestion and boosting immunity to kicking toxins and supercharging your antioxidant levels, but what you probably haven’t considered until now are all the beneficial ways lemons can repair, brighten and elevate your skin health.
Lemons are such a great replacement for run-of-the-mill beauty products because they are so good for you! How amazing to have beauty products that are topically beneficial, but also healthy to ingest.
Read on to find out how lemons can be your next go-to beauty product.
1. Brighten your skin
The citric acid contained in lemons, along with their potent mix of antioxidants and nutrients, makes them an excellent skin toner, cleanser, and brightener. Here’s a recipe to brighten your skin:
- Mix together 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of water (mineral water is preferable, but tap water is fine).
- Use your hands or a damp cloth to rub the mixture onto your face and neck. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wash off with cool or lukewarm water.
To really see results, repeat this process every day for a few weeks. To reduce skin irritation and add hydration to the mix, consider putting a drop of raw honey into your mixture each time.
2. Get rid of acne and heal zits faster
The worst of your acne problems are most likely the marks and scars left behind after you made it through your teenage years, but everyone still gets an outbreak every now and then. Although they are temporary, dealing with blemishes isn’t fun. So instead of layering on copious amounts of makeup, why not try a more natural approach? Lemons can save the day!
The anti-acne powers of the lemon are twofold. Firstly, you can use the awesome internal cleaning powers of the lemon to support your liver and banish toxins from your system, dramatically lowering your chances of an acne outbreak in the first place.
To do this, simply squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm water every morning before you eat anything. Drinking this every day will cleanse your system and balance your body to ensure that an outbreak is less likely.
Secondly, you can attack an outbreak head-on if it’s already occurred. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto a damp cotton pad or clean wet cloth and rub it onto the affected area. Leave the solution on for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse off with cold water. The lemon will cleanse your skin, removing the excess oils that are fueling the acne outbreak, and make your zits heal much faster than they otherwise would.
3. Exfoliate your lips
Want to wake up in the morning with luscious lips? Lemons can also help with that. Simply apply a small amount of fresh lemon juice to your lips at bedtime, then rinse your lips with cool water in the morning when you wake up, to assist in the removal of dead skin cells and dry bits. As you know, lemons contain plenty of citric acid, so you’re not going to want to use this technique if your lips are already exceedingly dry or have any open cuts.
4. Whiten your teeth
Everyone likes a set of pearly whites, but obtaining such a set can be difficult to achieve without a costly — and possibly toxic — visit to your dentist. Lemons can provide the solution:
- Mix a small amount of baking soda with freshly squeezed lemon juice, then apply the paste directly to your teeth.
- Use a Q-tip to rub the solution into your teeth, leave on for a minute or two, then brush your teeth with toothpaste as per your usual routine.
Over time, your teeth should get a shade or two whiter.
Avoiding acne isn’t the only reason to drink lemon water in the morning. Click here to find out some of the other great things lemon water can do for your health and wellness.
—The Alternative Daily
