When Life Gives You Lemons…

In the face of adversity or misfortune we are suggested to make lemonade, a sweet beverage, out of the bitter lemons life has given us, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” What about when life gives you acne, dull skin, gritty nails, or bad breath, what then? Take those lemons and put them to work! I have found 15 amazing beauty uses for lemons that will change the way you think about the tart fruit forever. This simple grocery buy can help lighten age spots, dark spots, or even correct a fake tan gone wrong. Continue reading for more lemon beauty hacks.

15 BEAUTY USES FOR LEMONS

1. 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.
2. Blackhead Treatment: Because lemons are antibacterial, they can help treat acne. All you need is a slice of lemon, then squeeze the juice on your face. Your blackheads will start to fade before you know it.
3. Shine Eliminator: Lemons are great for reducing excess oil.
4. Cleanse Your Face: Zap zits naturally by dabbing lemon juice on blemishes to draw them out during the day. You can also wash your face with lemon juice for a natural cleanse and exfoliation. Your skin should improve after several days of treatment.
5. 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, too.
6. Anti-Aging: Lemon water reduces the production of free radicals which are responsible for aging skin and skin damage. Lemon water is also calorie free and an antioxidant.
7. 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.
8. Lighten Age Spots: Why buy expensive creams when you’ve got lemon juice? To lighten liver spots or freckles, try applying lemon juice directly to the area. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin clean. It’s a safe and effective skin-lightening agent.
9. Hair Rinse: Regardless if you’re skipping shampoo or not, lemon juice can reduce the dullness created by hard water (and soap residue), leaving your hair shinier. Combine 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with one cup of warm water, and pour it slowly over your hair. Allow it to sit for at least a minute before rinsing out.
10. DIY Blonde Highlights: For salon-worthy highlights, add 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinse your hair with the mixture. Then, sit in the sun until your hair dries. To maximize the effect, repeat once daily for up to a week.
11. Clean and Whiten Nails: Pamper your hands without a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.
12. Freshen Your Breath: Make an impromptu mouthwash by rinsing with lemon juice straight from the bottle. Swallow for longer-lasting fresh breath. The citric acid in the juice alters the pH level in your mouth, killing bacteria that causes bad breath. Rinse after a few minutes because long-term exposure to the acid in lemons can harm tooth enamel.
13. Soften Dry, Scaly Elbows: Itchy elbows are bad enough, but they look terrible too. For better looking (and feeling) elbows, mix baking soda and lemon juice to make an abrasive paste, then rub it into your elbows for a soothing, smoothing, and exfoliating treatment. Rinse your extremities in a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water, then massage with olive oil and dab dry with a soft cloth.
14. 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. However, if you already have severely chapped lips that have any cuts, do not try this.
15. Nail Strengthener: Have you been getting too many gel manicure? 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.

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