Ok, we’ll just say it: lemons are deeply underrated. For one, they flavor some of our very favorite cocktails (we’re talking to you, gin and tonics), but that’s not nearly all. Lemons are also wellness warriors and beauty saviors, if you will. If you’re sitting there scratching your head, trying to figure out what we are talking about, stop. No brow-furrowing necessary! We’ve got you covered with 10 unusual uses for lemons that will fit into your beauty regimen.
1. Highlights
We’ll start with the obvious: highlights. Remember the good ol’ tween days when you’d squeeze lemon in your hair, and bask in the sun while it turned your locks crunchy and full of citrus pulp? Perhaps this DIY recipe will be more useful (and less messy): rinse your hair with a mixture containing 1/4 cup lemon juice and 3/4 cup water, then sit in the sun. Naturally golden summer locks are on their way, we promise!
2. Dandruff
3. Nails
Struggling with brittle and yellowing nails? You’re not alone (and yes, it happens to those under the age of 77, don’t worry). Try this: soak your nails in lemon juice twice a week to ban both brittleness and that mysteriously yellow tint.
4. Facial Toner
We’re all eager for an even complexion. Turns out, we may not need to make an expensive trip to Sephora to achieve it. Even better news? You don’t have to paint your face green like Shrek, either: simply combine one egg white with the juice from half of a lemon and (carefully) apply to your face and neck. Let the mask sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Invigorated pores are just a DIY recipe away!
5. Acne
Wish your skin was as flawless as hers (above)? So do we. Try zapping pesky zits with lemon juice. Apply the liquid to blemishes multiple times over the course of the day–the acid in the citrus fruit has the power to naturally lighten skin, therefore reducing redness. Yes , please.
6. Sun Spot Reduction
Summer is a time for ice cream cones and denim cutoffs, bike rides and pool parties, right? Right. But it’s also the season for sun spots and freckles. Yay? Nay. Outsmart these irksome skin stains with this super easy at-home remedy: mix 3 tablespoons lime juice, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 tablespoons plain yogurt, and 2 tablespoons honey and apply to skin spots twice a week to reduce the aging effects of our fave warming rays.
7. Teeth Whitener
How do we get a set of pearly whites to match our bronzed summer skin? Help is on the way thanks (not surprisingly) to lemons. Mix lemon juice with baking soda and apply to teeth with a Q-tip. Use your toothbrush to thoroughly scrub the mixture over your choppers and then rinse, rinse, rinse! Those babies will be blinding in no time.
8. Bath Fragrance
Taking a bath feels pretty luxurious, if you ask us. Squeezing lemon juice into and then adding the used lemons to the bathwater makes for an even more pleasant bathing experience. The fresh and natural fragrance adds to the already-uber-relaxing activity. Now all we need is the surroundings from the photo above and we’re set for life. We won’t hold our breath for that one, though…
9. Bad Breath
Morning coffee is a must; morning breath isn’t. Rinse with lemon juice to beat bad breath (and spare your colleagues).
10. Dry Skin
Squeeze lemon juice onto patches of dry skin for a seriously hydrating effect. Feel free to take it to the next level and rub the fruit against the skin–this works particularly well on elbows, a common dry spot for us all. Warning: you may start glowing like the model above. Lucky you.
Will you try one of these unusual uses for lemons?
All Images Via Getty
