The humble lemon is versatile to say the least. Lemon for adding zing to your food, lemon as an anti-dandruff solution, lemon for acne, lemon for dark spots, and lemon for cracked heels, just to mention a few of its benefits. Enriched with Vitamin C, lemon juice treats acne scars and spots and acts as a natural skin lightening ingredient, and a whole lot more.
Let’s discuss the lemon benefits for skin, lemon face pack, and some lemon-based products that are worth your moolah!
5 Benefits Of Lemon For Skin
Lemon benefits for skin are as below:
1. Antioxidant
Lemon juice contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that is believed to control skin damage and arrest premature signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Antifungal
The acidity of the juice is a potent solution for getting rid of fungus-induced skin conditions like Candida fungus stains.
3. Astringent
Lemon juice can control oil production on your skin and also reduce swelling because of its high pH levels.
4. Skin Lightening
Lemon for skin is a natural lightener, helping you reduce stubborn acne marks and spots.
7 DIY Lemon Face Pack Recipes You Can Try Your Hands On
Now that we’ve discussed lemon benefits for skin, let’s move on to sharing some face pack recipes using it.
1. Recipe For Lemon & Honey For Face
Honey is a natural humectant that uses the moisture in the air and makes it available to the skin. Lemon, on the other hand, improves the texture of your skin, giving you soft and supple skin. Below are the list of ingredients for lemon and honey for face.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp organic honey
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp water
How To Use It
- Pour the lemon juice into the bowl of water and blend it thoroughly.
- Next, add honey to the above mixture.
- Apply the mask with lemon on face and let it stay for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Wash off with warm water.
- Apply this recipe for lemon and honey for face 2 to 3 times a week to see results.
2. Recipe For Turmeric And Lemon For Face
Turmeric is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and protects the skin from acne breakout and photoageing. It also gives you an even skin tone.
Ingredients
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 tbsp water or rose water
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp organic honey
How To Use It
- Add the lemon juice to the rose water or water and dilute it.
- Add honey and turmeric to the above mixture.
- Apply the pack on your face and neck and let it dry for about 15 minutes.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Repeat 2-3 times a week.
3. Besan (Gram Flour) & Lemon Face Mask
Gram flour works as a great exfoliator, removing your dead skin cells. It is also effective as an anti-tan and gives you an even skin tone.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp water or rose water
- 1 tbsp besan or gram flour
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
How To Use It
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly to get an even paste.
- Apply lemon on face and neck, and let it dry for about 15 minutes.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Repeat 1 to 2 times a week to make the most of the ingredients.
4. Aloe Vera & Lemon Face Mask
Aloe vera is enriched with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It imparts moisture to the skin, and encourages elastic and collagen production. It also has anti-ageing properties that treat fine lines and wrinkles effectively, and also improves skin radiance.
Ingredients
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 tbsp pure aloe vera pulp
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp water
How To Do It
- Pour the aloe vera pump into a blender till it has been grinded into a gel form.
- Pour it out into a bowl and mix all the other ingredients. Give it a good mix.
- Apply the mixture on your face and let it stay for 15 minutes or till it dries completely.
- Rinse it off with warm water.
- Do this 2 to 3 times a week for best results.
5. Lemon & Potato Face Mask
The juice of potatoes has a cooling effect on your skin, reducing inflammation and itching. It also reduces spots and scars left behind by acne and also ensures an even toned skin.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp diluted lemon juice
- 1 tsp raw potato juice
How To Use It
- Blend the ingredients together to get an even paste.
- Apply it on your face.
- Let it stay for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse it off with cold water.
- Do this 2 to 3 times a week to reap the benefits of the ingredients.
6. Lemon & Banana Face Mask
Bananas do wonders to your skin by imparting a soothing effect.
Ingredients
- ½ ripe banana
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp water
How To Do It
- Mash the banana in a bowl, using the back of a fork.
- Dilute the lemon juice in water and add it to the above mixture, along with the honey.
- Apply lemon on face liberally.
- Leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes for the mask to dry completely.
- Rinse it off with warm water.
- Repeat this 2 to 3 times a week for best results.
7. Lemon & Dahi (Yoghurt) Face Mask
Yoghurt is a wonderful ingredient for calming your skin and soothing acne breakouts and sunburns.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp yoghurt
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp water
- A pinch of turmeric (optional)
How To Use It
- Dilute the lemon juice with water in a bowl.
- Add the other ingredients in the bowl and give it a good mix.
- Apply it with your hands or a makeup brush.
- Let this stay for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
- Repeat this thrice a week to make the most of the ingredients.
6 Lemon-Based Product Recommendations
1. Lakme Blush and Glow Lemon Face Wash
Fortified with lemon antioxidants, the face wash comprises soft, cleansing beads that are adept at removing dirt, grime, and pollutants on your skin’s surface. A one-stop solution for revealing fresh skin with a glow of radiance. When you’re looking for a face wash that doubles up as an excellent exfoliator, you can consider this one.
2. Lotus Herbals Lemonpure Cleansing Milk
Replete with lemon and wild turmeric, it is an amazing deep cleanser due to the anti-septic and antioxidant properties that are an integral part of it. The mild formulation gives you a soft, supple skin, an even tone, and a fresh, flowing skin.
3. Fabindia Citrus Lemon Body Wash
Embalmed with pure lemon and lime extracts, the body wash deep hydrates your skin and leaves you feeling rejuvenated. It treats skin irritations and itching, and mesmerises you with its subtle citrusy smell. The result? Soft and supple skin tone that’s devoid of white scratches that are an evident sign of skin dryness.
4. Himalaya’s Oil Clear Lemon Face Wash
This all-natural, herbal formulation cleans your face of dirt, pollution, and excess oil (sebum) on the surface of your skin. It is powdered with lemon that offers a cooking sensation and an astringent, and honey that deep moisturises your skin, making it feel fresh and youthful. What’s more, honey also is a fine source of nutrition for your skin. Not just for your body, lather up this body cream and experience the results for yourself within a few days. It is not just suitable for your body, but for the skin on your face too.
5. The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam, Lemon & Grapefruit
If you’re fascinated with Korean glass skin and would love to see the same effect on your skin, here’s a cleansing foam that claims to meet your desired expectations. The lemon and grapefruit formula is power-packed with the goodness of vitamin C that does wonders to your skin health.
6. Joy Lemon Face Wash For Oily Skin
One of the perfect formulations for skin radiance and even skin tone, this face wash rids your face of dirt and impurities that are detrimental for skin health. It also helps tame excess oil production on your skin, revealing your natural glow.
5 Possible Side-Effects Of Lemon On The Face
Lemon has a high pH level, which indicates that it is very acidic in nature. Hence, some dermats believe that it has more adverse effects on your skin than benefits. Some of side-effects of lemon on face are as below:
1. Irritation
You might experience skin irritation like flakiness, dryness, and redness as a result of it being highly acidic in nature. The more sensitive is your skin, the highest will be the chances of it causing skin irritations.
2. Sun Sensitivity
Exposure of your skin to sunlight right after using citrus-based products can have adverse reactions on your skin like phytophotodermatitis. So, steer clear of using products or a DIY face pack before stepping out.
3. Sunburn
Lemon face packs can raise the chances of sunburn. So, it is advisable that you don’t step out into the sun immediately after using a lemon-faced product or a DIY face mask that contains lemon juice.
4. Certain Skin Concerns
You might develop certain skin conditions like vitiligo, which manifests through white spots on the skin that has been exposed to lemon juice for a considerable period of time.
5. Skin Lightening
Lemon is enriched with properties that lighten skin naturally. Not just that, it also helps you get rid of acne scars and spots. However, there are prescription ointments that do the job far better than lemon.
FAQs
1. Is it safe to use lemon juice as a home remedy?
The high pH level of lemon juice is a deterrent when it comes to use it as a part of a homemade face pack. So, it’s best to do a patch test on your skin first before introducing it in your DIY pack mask, to make sure that it does not irritate your skin.
2. Can lemon juice be applied directly on the face?
Applying lemon juice directly on your face is not recommended. Instead, you should dilute a few drops of lemon juice in a spoonful of water to dilute it, and then add other ingredients like honey, turmeric, or aloe vera, or explore coffee and lemon face pack to make the most of the benefits of lemon.
3. Is applying lemon juice before going out into the sun harmful for the skin?
Yes, the chances of sunburn and sun sensitivity is higher when you use a lemon-based product or a home remedy before going out into the sun. So, make sure that you don’t use these just before stepping out at day time.
Despite its plethora of benefits, the disadvantages of using lemon juice as a part of your skincare routine often overshines its advantages. Do a patch test before including this as a part of your skincare, to ensure that your skin is not reactive to it. If it does not cause irritation, go on and make the best use of this ingredient.
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