10 Toxic Beauty Products You Can Replace With Lemons

Lemons aren’t just a tasty citrus fruit. They’re loaded with calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and potassium. These are all agents that can revitalize your hair, skin and nails. If you love lemons, you’re going to love this.

1. Rejuvinating lemon mask

Vitamin C and antioxidants in lemons can help keep your skin tight and healthy. Let’s make a mask out of lemons.

Here’s how to do it.

• 2 tbls of natural yogurt
• 1 tbls of freshly-squeezed lemon juice

Mix the ingredients up and apply to your face for a half hour. Leave it on up to an hour for the best effect.

2. Lip repair

You can apply a bit of lemon juice to your lips before bed to use as a moisturizer. I even mix it with a bit of coconut oil sometimes. Works like a charm.

3. Sweet face scrub

Lemon juice has been known to have antibacterial properties that help reduce acne, tighten pores and smooth the skin. Ditch the harsh chemical face washes. Try this one.

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (that serve as an exfoliant)
• 1/2 tbls honey

Mix it all into a bowl and then gently massage onto your face for 30 seconds. Rinse with warm water.

4. Damaged hair repair

Lemons can help bring life back to dry, damaged hair. This saves money on conditioner and is easier on the environment too. Give it a try!

• 2 tbls fresh lemon
• 3/4th cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup of raw honey

Whisk everything in a bowl and apply to your hair. Allow to sit for a half hour. Afterward, rinse with warm water. Use some shampoo if you’re not ready to go ‘poo free yet.

5. Dandruff destroyer

Dandruff happens to pretty much everyone, but fortunately lemon juice can soothe your scalp, reduce itching, and kick dandruff to the curb. Just rub a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice onto your scalp while your hair is dry. Then, shampoo and rinse like normal. Then you can mix another two tablespoons of juice onto the scalp, but this time don’t wash it off.

6. Add highlights to your hair

Lemon juice is a natural hair highligher. Isn’t that something?

• To lighten your hair, simply distribute lemon juice to the whole of your hair. Allow to sit for a bit.
• Streaky Highlights: Apple cold lemon juice in a zigzag across your part. Comb both sides away from part.
• Streaky Highlights For Pulled Back Hair: Begin by applying lemon juice in short lines from the center of your forehead down your hairline. Brush back from forehead.

7. Bath time gel

Lemon can reduce the negative effects of chlorine found in tap water on your skin. Apply this gel all over your body before soaking in the bath to prevent drying.

Ingredients:

• 8 tsp natural yogurt (or curds)
• 3 tsp lemon juice
• 5 tsp starch (rice)
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp any oil vegetable

Blend everything and apply all over your skin. Let sit before 15 minutes before getting in the tub.

8. Teeth whitening action!

This is one I didn’t know about. Forget the fluoride-treated toothpastes and mouthwash! Try this:

• Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• Apply to each of your teeth with a clean Q-tip
• Brush teeth as normal and rinse

9. Weak nails? Strengthen them!

Having trouble growing long, healthy nails? Don’t sweat it! The vitamin C in lemon juice can strengthen your nails. Just soak them in a bowl of lemon juice and a spoonful of melted coconut oil a couple times a week. Lemon juice gets rid of the dark, yellowish color nails sometimes get too.

10. Bleach your elbows and knees

If you don’t much like the way your skin around your joints looks after the fake tan wears off, don’t worry about it! Slice a half a lemon and gently rub your elbows and knees with the halves. The dark areas will disappear!

Image credit: Danielle Segura, Flickr