Remember how once upon a time our parents told us how lemons were good for whatever ails you? We know that the citrus fruit adds zest to beverages and foods. We even overdose on them when suffering from a cold. Did you know lemons can also work wonders on your skin, hair, and teeth? These yellow gems are an excellent source of vitamin C that plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the support system of the skin.
Lemons have a wide range of beauty benefits and here are a few:
Elbows and knees lightener. This is an old belief, but it works! The citric acid in lemons brightens and improves skin color. The antioxidant and vitamin C firm the skin. Cut a lemon in half. Then, sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda over a lemon slice and rub it on your dark elbows and knees for a minute. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Moisturize your skin well with olive or coconut oil. Repeat this method until you get your desired effect.
Blackhead eliminator. Squeeze out the juice of fresh lemons and apply directly on your blackheads either with your fingertips or a small cotton swab. Doing it twice or three times a day will give you excellent results within a few weeks.
Teeth whitener. Lemon peel contains high acid levels, which makes it a great whitener, or even bleaching agent. Mix baking soda with lemon juice, and apply to your teeth with a clean Q-tip. Then, use your toothbrush to brush your teeth and rinse. Do this type of whitening VERY sparingly because citric acid can actually cause teeth to lose calcium.
Facial shine killer. The citric acid in lemons can also work as an astringent. If your complexion appears too greasy, add a few drops of lemon juice to a cotton pad, then wipe it over freshly washed skin to kill the shine.
Nail strengthener. Mix olive oil with lemon juice in a small bowl and soak your nails. The mixture works wonders on nails that are brittle and dry. It also helps nails that have yellowed over time.
Hair lightener. Go the natural route if you want to lighten your hair. Apply lemon juice to sections of your hair before you go out in the sun. Want to obtain an ombre kind of effect? Apply the lemon juice just toward the ends of your hair.
