When life gives you lemons, use them.
The humble lemon has long since been hailed as a super ingredient when it comes to cooking, drinks and cleaning products. But did you know that there are also many ways that the citrus fruit can be used in your beauty routine? It’s true. Lemon are a natural source of vitamin C and actually have a few super powers when it comes to quick, easy and natural ways to cleanse, brighten and rejuvenate. So without further ado, here are ten awesome little beauty tricks that you can do at home with lemons. 
Cleanse Mix a couple of drops of lemon juice and tea tree essential oil with around 6 floz of distilled water. Soak cotton pads in the mixture and use to cleanse your face daily. The active ingredients in the lemon will detoxify your skin and kill bacteria too. Tone Lemon juice by itself, squeezed onto a cotton wool ball, makes an excellent toner for the face. Leave overnight and rinse with warm water in the morning. Moisturise For a super clarifying moisturiser, mix a few drops of lemon juice with coconut water. The coconut will moisturise the skin, while the lemon brightens. Exfoliate Now that we know lemons can cleanse, tone and moisturise, why wouldn’t we want to exfoliate the face and body with it too? To make a super exfoliator simply:
- mix the juice of half a lemon with one tablespoon of olive oil.
- Use an airtight container to shake them up well, and whisk or fork to really combine the ingredients.
- Add one tablespoon of honey (read this post to see why we love honey so much!) and mix well.
- Add half a cup of raw sugar
- Scrub!
Use in a face mask We love a good face mask for an intense cleanse and to leave our skin feeling soft, moisturised and bright. Lemons are fab for this! To make your super revitalising face mask:
- Mix two tablespoons of natural yogurt with 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Apply to skin, leaving for 20-30 minutes. For an added boost, this mask can be left on for up to an hour.
- Rinse with warm water and dry gently.
Bleach your elbows and knees If your elbows and knees are a slightly darker shade than your usual skin tone, lemons can be used to gently and naturally bleach the skin. Cut a lemon in half and rub over the area gently.
Brighten Lemons are natural sources of vitamin C and citric acid, which means that they are able to brighten and lighten easily. Age spots, dark spots, or even a fake tan gone wrong? Blitz them with a lemon. The vitamin C acts as an antioxidant for neutralising free radicals and also helps to boost collagen in the skin. Do note though that lemons can also make the skin more susceptible to UV rays so you’ll need a good sunscreen too.
Strengthen your nails Soak your nails in olive oil and lemon juice to whiten nails and to moisturise too.
Whiten your teeth We all want a nice, bright smile, right? Time to get busy with the lemons then. Baking soda mixed with lemon juice creates a paste that can be applied to the teeth with a cotton wool bud. This process should then be followed with your usual toothpaste.
Use as a lip balm Another step towards that winning smile; lemons can also be used to make a natural lip balm that will leave your lips soft and full. Slice a lemon, rub over your lips, and leave overnight. By morning your lips will be soft and free from dry sores that can plague us from time to time.
What are your top tips for using lemons?
