How to use Lemon Juice to Lighten your Skin! (Guest Post)

Hello everyone,

Here’s the second guest post for my blog, by the lovely Kristina. You can follow her blog here.
Read along for her great post!
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Does lemon juice lighten skin?

The thing about skin blemishes, particularly on your face, or other exposed parts of your body, is that they can make you feel super self-conscious and embarrassed and can undermine your confidence. You’re probably pretty desperate to find an effective way of dealing with them which does not cause undesirable side or long term effects and does not cost an arm and a leg. So you’ve turned to natural remedies, rather than expensive creams full of toxic chemicals, for an answer to the problem

You’ve heard that lemon juice can lighten skin spots. But is it true? That is the question! Can the humble lemon, yes, the one in your refrigerator, actually perform this miracle? As with most products, natural or manufactured, there are many, many myths floating about as to whether the juice of a lemon really can lighten the skin. And if it can, how long until you really notice the difference when you look in the mirror? And is applying lemon juice a temporary fix or a permanent solution?

Read on for some facts which will tell you the truth, once and for all, dispelling all those confusing fairytales and myths.

Does lemon juice lighten skin spots?

Actually yes! You want to know how and why? Let me explain.

The most common cause of dark skin spots is unprotected and extended over exposure to the sun’s UVA rays. Maybe, in the past, you were aiming for a tropical tan and you used a very low factor sunscreen, or none at all. This over exposure results in the production of an excessive amount of melanin, particularly on older skin and that’s the reason for your dark skin spots.

So called skin trauma (acne, infections, eczema and other dermatological conditions) can also result in dark skin blemishes.

Genetics too play a part; you may be pre disposed to develop dark spots on your skin.

Whatever the cause, the lemons in your kitchen can come to your rescue.

Lemon juice is very rich in vitamin C and citric acid. You may or may not know that vitamin C is one of the purest antioxidants known to man, or woman. Numerous studies have scientifically proven that this vitamin reduces the amount of melanin when applied regularly to the skin. So, it’s not just a far-fetched legend, lemon juice really can lighten things up.

Does lemon juice lighten skin permanently?

So, is lemon juice just a quick, temporary fix, a bit like lipstick which comes off the moment you put a glass of wine or a cup of coffee to your lips? Or is it a more long-lasting solution to the dark skin problem, erasing those dark patches forever?

The extent and permanence of lemon juice as a skin lightener varies from woman to woman. But the experts’ consensus is that, despite being a natural bleaching agent, lemon juice is not a permanent solution. Unfortunately, ladies, skin lightening is a bit like waxing or hair dyeing, it has to be reapplied regularly.

How fast can lemon juice lighten skin?

Now, I’m sure your next question on your mind is, how long does it take for lemon juice to work its magic? How long until your skin is noticeably lighter? An hour, a day or a week?

Well – and you’re not going to like this – it’s definitely not an instant fix, that’s for sure.

According to the experts, it can take two to three months of regular applications to really start to see a significant difference to the color and tone of your skin. So patience and dedication are required here.

How to use lemon juice to lighten skin

Did you know that, although it’s a natural ingredient, lemon juice on the skin can trigger a severe reaction, when exposed to sunlight? The condition is called phytophotodermatitis and it can cause very painful itching, inflammation, burning and blistering, so it’s important to do a patch test on a small area of skin before using lemon juice extensively on your face and body, just to make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions.

If all went well with your patch test, here’s how to prepare and apply a lemon juice mask.

Skin Lightening Mask

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon tomato juice

1 tablespoon cucumber juice

1 tablespoon sandal wood paste

Mix all ingredients into a paste, apply to face, and let sit for 15 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly and moisturize.

This can be done 2-3 times a week.

Diet can help too

As long as you don’t experience any negative reactions, applying lemon juice to dark patches of skin can be an effective treatment. It’s worth a try; after all lemons are cheap, natural and widely available. If nothing else, the citric acid and vitamin C will exfoliate your skin and that’s a good thing. Obviously Vitamin C is also found in many fruits and vegetables, so making sure you include plenty in your daily diet can help your skin to look radiant. And don’t forget to drink 2 litres of water every day (more if the weather’s very hot), to keep your skin hydrated and in tip top condition.

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Thanks so much for this Kristina! Loved it!

Have a topic you want to talk about? I’d love to hear from you!! Check out my guest post opportunity right here and shoot me an email! 🙂

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Until next time, xoxo