The Beauty Of Lemons- Part 2 of 3

Lemon juice has many flavorful and healthy uses when added to foods and drinks. It also has a variety of uses for natural skin and beauty treatments as well.

Here are some of the ways you can use lemon as a natural part of your beauty regimen.

Lemons for beautiful skin

For brighter, softer skin use fresh lemon juice on any area of your body, including the knees, elbows, and face to brighten up and soften your skin.

Lemon juice also fades freckles and age spots by applying lemon juice on the areas before going to bed at night. Over the course of a week or two, it will cleanse the skin and lighten its color.

You can also add 1/2 cup of fresh juice to your bath water and soak for 20 minutes for an all over skin treatment.

If your skin is sensitive to the citric acid in lemons, you may desire to dilute the lemon juice with a bit of water rather than use it full strength. I apply lemon juice to my skin by putting the juice on an already moistened cotton ball. It is also not advisable that you apply lemon juice to your skin before sun exposure as it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun.

Make A Mask

Make a moisturizing mask for dry skin by mixing equal amounts of honey, lemon and olive oil. Apply the mixture to dry areas on the skin and allow it to dry thoroughly for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Tone It

As a toner for oily skin, combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons vodka, 1 tablespoon distilled water, and 1 teaspoon witch hazel. Use cotton balls to apply the mixture to your skin then rinse. You can store this mixture in the refrigerator for about a week.

Exfoliator

To exfoliate dead skin cells rub a cut lemon dipped into a half-teaspoon of sugar over your face for a few minutes, or create a mild mixture by using lemon juice, sugar and a small amount of water. Do this every night to help remove accumulated dead skin cells and refresh your skin.
To make a lemon anti-wrinkle mask mix a teaspoon of honey, a few drops of lemon juice and a drop of sweet almond oil. Apply this mixture on the face and allow it to dry for 20 minutes and wash off.

Lemon treatments for the hair

To make a hair conditioner for dull, damaged hair combine 3/4 cup Olive Oil, with 1/2 cup raw honey and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Use the mixture by combing the lemon juice mixture evenly throughout already wet hair. Then cover hair with a plastic cap or bag for a 1/2 hour. Shampoo and rinse this conditioner out of your hair.

To add natural highlights to your hair use 1/4 cup lemon juice and 3/4 cup water mixed together and apply the mixture to your hair. I prefer to mix it in a spray bottle and then spray it on my hair and comb it through. Sit in the sun for 25 minutes or use the heat from a blow dryer for a sun bleached look. Each use will lighten the hair slightly.

For a lemon hair rinse, mix the juice from two lemons (about 3 fluid ounces) with a quart of water. This rinse helps to reduce oils from oily hair.

Treat hair loss by mixing lemon juice with four tablespoons of coconut milk. Apply the mixture to the scalp once a week.

To treat dandruff and an itchy scalp take an egg white and mix it with the juice of a lemon (about 3 Tablespoons). Apply this mixture to the scalp and rub it in and let it set for an hour, and then wash it out. Repeat treatment for a month.

Lemons for a body detox

Lemon water is also great for detoxifying for your body. In a glass, mix the juice from a lemon with warm water and sweeten with 1 tsp of honey.

Lemon juice aids your liver in flushing out unwanted toxins, stimulates blood circulation, reduces arterial pressure, and activates bile and intestinal secretions. So it’s a good idea to drink lemon water daily.