Benefits Of Using Lemon On Your Face & Ways To Use It

Have you ever wondered what were the magical ingredients that our grandmothers used to achieve healthy, glowing skin? Of course, they didn't have too many skin care products unlike now. Instead, they relied on natural ingredients to take care of their skin.

Lemon is one such incredible natural ingredient that offers a plethora of benefits when applied to the skin. You can find it in different skincare products too. But is it safe to use on your face?

In this article, we tell you about the benefits of using lemon on your face, the side effects, and the best ways to use it.

Highlights:

• Is It Good To Use Lemon On Your Face?
• How To Use Lemon On Your Face?
• Benefits Of Using Lemon On Your Face
• Side Effects Of Using Lemon On Your Face
• What To Mix With Lemon For Your Face?
• What Not To Mix With Lemon For Your Face?

Is It Good To Use Lemon On Your Face?

Lemon has a high acidic content and can be an effective solution to brighten your skin tone, lighten dark spots, treat acne, prevent premature signs of aging, among others. It is an age-old home remedy for different skin concerns. However, lemon may cause side effects like burning sensation, irritation, etc. on your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. So, consult your dermatologist before including lemon to your skincare regime.

How To Use Lemon On Your Face?

A slice of lemon when rubbed on the skin surface gives an instant rejuvenation due to its antioxidant properties. It works best when combined with other natural ingredients like honey, sugar, and milk. Honey and lemon for face and skin care are considered the best combination for all skin types. To use it:

• Do a patch test. Take a cotton ball, add a few drops of lemon juice to it and apply it to a small portion at the back of your hand. If your skin absorbs the lemon juice well without any issue, then you may continue using it.
• You can also mix lemon with other natural ingredients like honey, aloe vera, and sugar to get better results. Mix all the ingredients and apply it once every 2 or 3 days. It is also absolutely safe to use once daily.
• If you have side effects, discontinue using it.

Benefits Of Using Lemon On Your Face

Lemon has certain properties that make it a wonderful ingredient in your skin care. They are:

 1. Boost collagen production: Lemon is rich in Vitamin C that works wonders to prevent premature aging and limit skin damage. It also boosts collagen production that makes the skin look younger.

2. Natural astringent: Lemon is a natural astringent. The presence of high pH levels in lemon juice helps lessen oil on your skin and helps in reducing inflammation.

3. Antifungal: Lemon juice has antifungal properties that helps to treat fungal infection like Candida fungal rashes.

4. Skin lightening agent: Lemon juice is rich in acids, primarily citric acid, lesser amounts of malic acid, and ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C. Due to the rich acid content in lemon, it has excellent skin lightening properties. Also, it is effective to reduce age spots and dark spots.

5. Helps to get rid of acne: Lemon is a natural cure for blemishes. The presence of high concentration of Vitamin C helps cure acne. The drying effect of citric acid and its antiseptic properties kill bacteria causing acne bursts. Lemon-derived products are thus highly recommended for acne-prone skin.

SkinKraft Tip:

If you’re using lemon for the first time on your face, do a patch test to see if there is any sensitivity reaction. Always mix lemon juice with water before applying it to the skin for less irritation.

Side Effects Of Using Lemon On Your Face

Too much of anything is not good and lemon is no exception. Know the side effects of lemon on your face before applying it.

1. Irritation on the skin: Applying lemon extracts directly to the face often causes skin irritation due to its high acidic properties. Skin irritation such as dryness, redness, peeling, and flakiness are some of the common side effects. If you have sensitive skin, these symptoms can become severe.

2. Skin sensitivity to sunlight exposure: Exposure to the sun right after applying any citrus fruit extract on the skin can cause swelling, redness, and patches. This type of skin reaction under the harmful influence of UV rays is known as Phyto photodermatitis. It is common in areas where people experience great exposure to heat and sun.

3. Increased risk of Leucoderma: Citric acid can increase the chances of leucoderma. In this skin condition, large white spots develop on the skin. Lemon, when applied directly, can increase the risk.

4. Can cause sunburn: If you have sensitive skin, avoid using lemon extracts directly on your face. It can help sun rays penetrate better on the epidermis and cause sunburns.

What To Mix With Lemon For Your Face?

Lemon juice, combined with other natural elements, precisely Vitamin E-enriched ingredients, can resolve your skin issues and help you achieve healthy, beautiful skin. Here is a list of ingredients you can mix with lemon to get visible results.

1. Honey and lemon for face: Mix 1 tsp of lemon juice and honey each. Apply it on your face, leave for 10 to 15 mins to allow your skin to soak it up and then wash away with water. This will give you well-nourished and blemish-free skin.

2. Aloe vera and lemon for face: Take a fresh aloe vera leaf and extract the gel. Mix it with 1 tsp of lemon juice. Apply it to your face or other darker areas of your body and observe the changes.

3. Milk and lemon for face: Mix 1 tsp of lemon juice with raw milk and apply to your face and neck area. It works well as a natural hydrator for dry skin.

4. Lemon and turmeric for face: This combination is a well-known remedy in treating acne and other skin inflammation. Take 1 tsp of lemon juice and mix turmeric powder to make a smooth paste. Apply it to your face, let it dry, and wash off.

5. Lemon peel powder: Not just lemon juice, but lemon peel is also good for your facial skin. Dry fresh lemon peels under the sun and churn it into a powder. Mix it with a few drops of rose water and make a paste. Apply it on your face evenly and let it dry. Wash off after 15 minutes.

6. Egg white and lemon for face: Squeeze the juice of half a lemon. Mix it with one egg white. Whisk both the ingredients until it turns frothy. Clean your face and apply the mixture with a brush. Let it dry and wash with cold water.

7. Aloe vera with lemon for face: Take 8 tsp of aloe vera and mix it with 1 tsp of lemon juice. Form a thick paste and apply it to your clean face. Allow it to dry and then rinse well. Remember, to avoid the areas around the eyes while applying it.

8. Lemon and coffee mask for face: Mix one tbsp of coffee powder with one tbsp of lemon juice. Mix to make a paste with uniform consistency. Apply it evenly on your face and let it dry for 10-15 minutes. This face mask works great in removing tan marks.

What Not To Mix With Lemon For Your Face?

You must not mix citric fruits like lemon with other acidic ingredients in your skincare regime. The pH level of lemon is 2. It is acidic in nature and when combined with other ingredients having high acidic properties, it might lead to skin damage. Redness, rashes, irritation, and hyperpigmentation can occur when it's paired with other ingredients.

1. Tomato and lemon for face: Tomato has a high citric acid content. When mixed with citric fruit like lemon, it causes skin dryness and other skin conditions.

2. Curd and lemon for face: Lactic acid and citric acid do not go well, primarily with facial skin treatment. So avoid mixing them.

Note:

If you notice skin irritation, redness, or burning sensation on your skin, consult your dermatologist. Also, if you have any specific skin conditions, you should consult your doctor before using lemon on your skin.

Wrapping Up

Using natural ingredients for the skin is always better than using skin care products loaded with harmful chemicals. However, there are pros and cons of natural ingredients too. Lemon is not an exception when used as a skincare ingredient. While it is good as an antioxidant or skin lightening agent and prevents premature aging, using it on your face may cause skin irritation or other skin sensitivities. Consult a doctor if you see signs of redness or irritation after using lemon on your face.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin