There’s nothing like a DIY beauty recipe to elevate your skin care routine.
We’re talkinghoney face masks,sugar scrubs,and everything in between.
Not all natural ingredients are safe for the skin.
Takelemon juice, for example.
Reported skin benefits of lemon.
According to some, lemon juice offers several theoretical benefits when used topically.
However, don’t just go slather on a lemon cocktail and hope for the best.
As you’ll read later in this article, the bad may outnumber the goodespecially when used incorrectly.
Despite the potential skin benefits of lemon, you’ll want to avoid drenching your face with it.
Well, applying straight lemon juice can do more than good,especiallybefore going out in the sun.
This can cause a sunburn-like rash that’s inflamed, irritating, and painful.
UV rays can “excite” these furocoumarins, causing skin cell damage and inflammation.
However, applying straight lemon juice will have the opposite effect.
On the flipside, lemon juice is highly acidic, as it has a pH between 2 and 3.
Burns
Photosensitivity that’s brought on by lemon juice can result in a severesunburn.
Not only will this speed up skin aging, but it increases therisk of skin cancer1, too.
How to safely use lemon in skin care.
But first, ensure you’re practicing safe sun habits like wearing hats andSPF.
Apply pre-formulated products.
Another option is to use pre-formulated products that containlemon peelor juice.
Drink lemon water.
As Mehr notes, “What we consume has a direct effect on our skin.”
But remember, lemon juice is acidic, so you’ll want todilute it in waterortea.
The takeaway.
Lemon juice can help exfoliate dead skin cells and reduce excess sebum.
The safest option is to dilute in another ingredient, like honey, or drink it in beverages.
