Lemon juice has many flavorful and healthy uses when added to foods and drinks. It also has a variety of uses for natural skin and beauty treatments as well. Here are some of the ways you can use lemon as a natural part of your beauty regimen.
1
USE LEMON FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN
For brighter, softer skin use fresh lemon juice on any area of your body, including the knees, elbows, and face to brighten up and soften your skin. Lemon juice also fades freckles and age spots by applying lemon juice on the areas before going to bed at night. Over the course of a week or two, it will cleanse the skin and lighten its color. You can also add 1/2 cup of fresh juice to your bath water and soak for 20 minutes for an all over skin treatment.
If your skin is sensitive to the citric acid in lemons, you may desire to dilute the lemon juice with a bit of water rather than use it full strength. I apply lemon juice to my skin by putting the juice on an already moistened cotton ball. It is also not advisable that you apply lemon juice to your skin before sun exposure as it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun.
Get Rid of Blackheads by rubbing lemon juice over the area of your face that has blackheads before going to bed at night. In the morning, rinse your face with cool water. Repeat this procedure nightly until blackheads are gone.
Make a moisturizing mask for dry skin by mixing equal amounts of honey, lemon and olive oil. Apply the mixture to dry areas on the skin and allow it to dry thoroughly for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
As a toner for oily skin, combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons vodka, 1 tablespoon distilled water, and 1 teaspoon witch hazel. Use cotton balls to apply the mixture to your skin then rinse. You can store this mixture in the refrigerator for about a week.
To exfoliate dead skin cells rub a cut lemon dipped into a half-teaspoon of sugar over your face for a few minutes, or create a mild mixture by using lemon juice, sugar and a small amount of water. Do this every night to help remove accumulated dead skin cells and refresh your skin.
To make a lemon anti-wrinkle mask mix a teaspoon of honey, a few drops of lemon juice and a drop of sweet almond oil. Apply this mixture on the face and allow it to dry for 20 minutes and wash off.
2
USE LEMON TREATMENTS FOR THE HAIR
To make a hair conditioner for dull, damaged hair combine 3/4 cup Olive Oil, with 1/2 cup raw honey and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Use the mixture by combing the lemon juice mixture evenly throughout already wet hair. Then cover hair with a plastic cap or bag for a 1/2 hour. Shampoo and rinse this conditioner out of your hair.
To add natural highlights to your hair use 1/4 cup lemon juice and 3/4 cup water mixed together and apply the mixture to your hair. I prefer to mix it in a spray bottle and then spray it on my hair and comb it through. Sit in the sun for 25 minutes or use the heat from a blow dryer for a sun bleached look. Each use will lighten the hair slightly.
For a lemon hair rinse, mix the juice from two lemons (about 3 fluid ounces) with a quart of water. This rinse helps to reduce oils from oily hair.
Treat hair loss by mixing lemon juice with four tablespoons of coconut milk. Apply the mixture to the scalp once a week.
To treat dandruff and an itchy scalp take an egg white and mix it with the juice of a lemon (about 3 Tablespoons). Apply this mixture to the scalp and rub it in and let it set for an hour, and then wash it out. Repeat treatment for a month.
3
USE LEMON FOR NAIL CARE
For strong, shiny, bright fingernails soak your fingernails in lemon juice for about 10 minutes. Then brush your fingernails with a nail brush dipped in a mixture of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 warm water and then rinse with warm water.
4
USE LEMON FOR NATURAL TEETH AND BREATH TREATMENTS
As a natural breath freshener the citric acid from lemons destroys odor causing bacteria. You can quickly rid bad breath by squirting a few drops of lemon juice into your mouth, swish it around for about 15 seconds and then swallow it, or drink lemon water during the day, to freshen up your breath anytime!
Naturally whiten your teeth by rubbing half a lemon with table salt and a pinch of baking soda on the teeth or brush your teeth with a mixture of lemon juice, salt and baking soda.
5
USE LEMON FOR A BODY DETOX TREATMENT
Lemon water is also great for detoxifying for your body. In a glass, mix the juice from a lemon with warm water and sweeten with 1 tsp of honey. Lemon juice aids your liver in flushing out unwanted toxins, stimulates blood circulation, reduces arterial pressure, and activates bile and intestinal secretions. So it's a good idea to drink lemon water daily.
Read more: How to Use Lemon for Natural Skin Care and Beauty Treatment | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5058113_use-skin-care-beauty-treatment.html#ixzz1e1HsZ6yT
Plant a Banana Tree
Technically speaking, a banana tree is not a tree, since it has no woody boughs or trunk. The banana plant grows well in tropical regions, and cannot tolerate frost. The yellow fruit of the banana is common in the United States, but the leaves of the banana plant are used in some tropical countries to make baskets, mats and other woven objects. Before planting a banana tree in your yard, check with your local nursery and choose a variety that will be suitable for your region.
1
Plant the banana plant after the danger of frost has passed.
2
Choose a location that will be protected from the wind. If you are planting in a desert region, plant in an enclosed courtyard or by a south-facing wall. You will need an area that is several feet in diameter for each plant. The plant will need at least 18 inches below the soil level to accommodate its growth.
3
Prepare the soil by mixing in a bag of peat moss or compost. Add one cup of 6-5-10 fertilizer into the area.
4
Space the plants two to three feet apart for ornamental purposes, or nine feet apart for producing fruit.
5
Plant the plant in the prepared soil and water frequently, but do not over-water so that the soil is soggy.
6
Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season using a plant food that is water soluble. It will typically take over a year before the plant bears fruit.
1
Plant the banana plant after the danger of frost has passed.
2
Choose a location that will be protected from the wind. If you are planting in a desert region, plant in an enclosed courtyard or by a south-facing wall. You will need an area that is several feet in diameter for each plant. The plant will need at least 18 inches below the soil level to accommodate its growth.
3
Prepare the soil by mixing in a bag of peat moss or compost. Add one cup of 6-5-10 fertilizer into the area.
4
Space the plants two to three feet apart for ornamental purposes, or nine feet apart for producing fruit.
5
Plant the plant in the prepared soil and water frequently, but do not over-water so that the soil is soggy.
6
Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season using a plant food that is water soluble. It will typically take over a year before the plant bears fruit.
Olive Oil for Skin Care
Olive is an evergreen tree in the Mediterranean region. The tree grows to 9 metres tall and takes 15 years to bear fruit.
The oil has a heavy texture and can vary in color from a pale golden yellow to dark green. The purest form is from the "extra virgin" and it is lightest in color.
Olive oil has many antioxidant properties. Olive oil absorbs UV radiation and is very efficient in lowering metabolism rate of the body cells. Thus assisting in repairing cells and in preventing cell damage. Olive oil is soothing and healing to all skin types.
Olive oil is a fantastic source of vitamin E. Consuming olives or olive oil has been associated with such health benefits as reducing blood pressure, decreasing growth of some cancers,
Lessening the severity of asthma and arthritis and may actually help maintain a lower weight. Using olive oil externally on your body can also have benefits. Olive oil is now found in many skin care products. The vitamin E found in the olive oil is the key ingredient. Here is how 1 bottle of olive oil can meet your skin care needs.
2
Hair: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to your hair conditioner. Shake well before each use. Use conditioner as usual. Olive oil will provide not only a beautiful shine, but also manageability.
3
Eyes: Nightly, place a small amount of oil on your finger tips. Gently dab on the corner of your eyes, your eye lids and under your eyes. Use caution not to get in your eyes. You can also do this to your eye brows after tweezing or waxing to provide moisture and soothing relief.
4
Lips: daily, place a small amount of oil on your finger tips. Rub across your lips to provide moisture and shine.
5
Hands and Nails: Use nightly, take small amount and rub into nails and cuticles. This will give a beautiful shine to your nails and keep nail beds and cuticles soft. Make a sugar scrub (see recipe link below). Use sugar scrub on hands nightly to keep hands hydrated and soft.
6
Feet: Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a warm footbath. Soak for 10 minutes. A pat dry. You can also use sugar scrub on your feet, daily.
7
Full body: Use sugar scrub daily in shower for continued soft and hydrated skin, You can also use olive oil in a massage.
The oil has a heavy texture and can vary in color from a pale golden yellow to dark green. The purest form is from the "extra virgin" and it is lightest in color.
Olive oil has many antioxidant properties. Olive oil absorbs UV radiation and is very efficient in lowering metabolism rate of the body cells. Thus assisting in repairing cells and in preventing cell damage. Olive oil is soothing and healing to all skin types.
Olive oil is a fantastic source of vitamin E. Consuming olives or olive oil has been associated with such health benefits as reducing blood pressure, decreasing growth of some cancers,
Lessening the severity of asthma and arthritis and may actually help maintain a lower weight. Using olive oil externally on your body can also have benefits. Olive oil is now found in many skin care products. The vitamin E found in the olive oil is the key ingredient. Here is how 1 bottle of olive oil can meet your skin care needs.
2
Hair: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to your hair conditioner. Shake well before each use. Use conditioner as usual. Olive oil will provide not only a beautiful shine, but also manageability.
3
Eyes: Nightly, place a small amount of oil on your finger tips. Gently dab on the corner of your eyes, your eye lids and under your eyes. Use caution not to get in your eyes. You can also do this to your eye brows after tweezing or waxing to provide moisture and soothing relief.
4
Lips: daily, place a small amount of oil on your finger tips. Rub across your lips to provide moisture and shine.
5
Hands and Nails: Use nightly, take small amount and rub into nails and cuticles. This will give a beautiful shine to your nails and keep nail beds and cuticles soft. Make a sugar scrub (see recipe link below). Use sugar scrub on hands nightly to keep hands hydrated and soft.
6
Feet: Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a warm footbath. Soak for 10 minutes. A pat dry. You can also use sugar scrub on your feet, daily.
7
Full body: Use sugar scrub daily in shower for continued soft and hydrated skin, You can also use olive oil in a massage.
Glycolic Skin Care Products
Glycolic acid is an excellent way to fight acne, reduce fine lines, lighten discoloration and trigger collagen production in the skin. Glycolic acid works by loosening the bonds holding dull, dead, or discolored skin cells in place and encouraging them to slough off so fresh, new skin can rise to the surface. Glycolic acid also penetrates deep into the skin to counter aging with increased collagen production. Collagen is what gives the skin structure and its depletion causes sagging and wrinkling of the skin-Glycolic acid is one of few agents that can actually increase collagen production. Up until recently, professional grade glycolic skin care products could only be found in a doctor's office at a cost of several hundred dollars, but now there are high quality glycolic acid products available on the internet for home use. Home versions of glycolic skin care products are also much less expensive, however, it's important to know how to properly use glycolic acid products for optimal result
1
Determine what you want to achieve. The products required for an at home glycolic acid peel are different than everyday skin conditioning products. Know what your goal is. I would suggest going for a peel initially and then following it with maintenance products that can be used daily.
2
Start with a low concentration of glycolic acid. 10% is a good place to start and 10% glycolic acid solutions are sometimes found in brick and mortar drugstores. At the dermatologist's office patients typically start at 10 or 20% acid concentration and work up to 40 to 80% acid concentration depending on individual tolerance. The effects of glycolic acid are cumulative so plan to use increasingly stronger glycolic skin care products consistently over time for best results.
3
Do a chemical peel by buying a glycolic acid peel kit. Glycolic acid chemical peels consist of glycolic acid, a neutralizer, and a moisturizer/sunscreen. You must have a neutralizer and a sunscreen! Some products are sold separately, but make sure you have a neutralizer to avoid burning your skin! Sunscreen is important to protect newly exposed skin and prevent discoloration of new skin cells. See Resources section for links to some suggested products.
4
Read and follow the directions of the chemical peel kit carefully. Most peels have you apply the acid for 4 to 6 minutes followed by a neutralizer and then a sunscreen/moisturizer. Note that if, at any time, you feel intense burning that you should immediately neutralize the peel. In some cases it may take several applications to be able to tolerate the acid for more than a minute--it just depends on your own sensitivity. Peels may be done weekly, every other week, or monthly depending on the kit.
5
Expect to immediately see smoother, softer skin after the first treatment and some improvement in superficial discoloration. Breakouts brewing under the skin should be stopped in their tracks and stubborn pimples should dry up. With continued use, expect to see more drastic improvement in discoloration, as well as improvement in skin tone and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Cystic acne and large pimples should decrease drastically (but you may still need to use acne products in addition to glycolic acid).
6
Continue to use sunblock regularly to preserve the improvements in skin tone and texture. Make sure the sunblock has good UVA/UVB protection--Neutrogena's sunscreen with Helioplex is recommended by many dermatologists.
7
Use a toner containing glycolic acid between peels, but only if it doesn't irritate skin. The goal here is to freshen skin up between treatments, not burn it like a peel does. See the Resources section for a link to some suggested products.
8
Allow for enough time between peels that all redness and irritation of the previous glycolic acid peel has subsided.
1
Determine what you want to achieve. The products required for an at home glycolic acid peel are different than everyday skin conditioning products. Know what your goal is. I would suggest going for a peel initially and then following it with maintenance products that can be used daily.
2
Start with a low concentration of glycolic acid. 10% is a good place to start and 10% glycolic acid solutions are sometimes found in brick and mortar drugstores. At the dermatologist's office patients typically start at 10 or 20% acid concentration and work up to 40 to 80% acid concentration depending on individual tolerance. The effects of glycolic acid are cumulative so plan to use increasingly stronger glycolic skin care products consistently over time for best results.
3
Do a chemical peel by buying a glycolic acid peel kit. Glycolic acid chemical peels consist of glycolic acid, a neutralizer, and a moisturizer/sunscreen. You must have a neutralizer and a sunscreen! Some products are sold separately, but make sure you have a neutralizer to avoid burning your skin! Sunscreen is important to protect newly exposed skin and prevent discoloration of new skin cells. See Resources section for links to some suggested products.
4
Read and follow the directions of the chemical peel kit carefully. Most peels have you apply the acid for 4 to 6 minutes followed by a neutralizer and then a sunscreen/moisturizer. Note that if, at any time, you feel intense burning that you should immediately neutralize the peel. In some cases it may take several applications to be able to tolerate the acid for more than a minute--it just depends on your own sensitivity. Peels may be done weekly, every other week, or monthly depending on the kit.
5
Expect to immediately see smoother, softer skin after the first treatment and some improvement in superficial discoloration. Breakouts brewing under the skin should be stopped in their tracks and stubborn pimples should dry up. With continued use, expect to see more drastic improvement in discoloration, as well as improvement in skin tone and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Cystic acne and large pimples should decrease drastically (but you may still need to use acne products in addition to glycolic acid).
6
Continue to use sunblock regularly to preserve the improvements in skin tone and texture. Make sure the sunblock has good UVA/UVB protection--Neutrogena's sunscreen with Helioplex is recommended by many dermatologists.
7
Use a toner containing glycolic acid between peels, but only if it doesn't irritate skin. The goal here is to freshen skin up between treatments, not burn it like a peel does. See the Resources section for a link to some suggested products.
8
Allow for enough time between peels that all redness and irritation of the previous glycolic acid peel has subsided.
Start a Skin Care Routine
Developing a skin care routine improves the look and maintenance of your skin, your body's largest organ. Besides keeping you looking great, caring for the skin is a health issue, and one that can prevent signs of aging. Read on to learn how to start a skin care routine that keeps you looking and feeling great for years to come.
1
Know your skin type. Developing a skin care routine is completely dependent on oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or even sun-damaged skin. There are many online resources, including helpful quizzes, that allow you to understand which type of skin you have.
2
Cleanse well. The trick is finding a cleanser that works well for your skin. Once you have found one you love, stick with it. They can be tough to find. Liquid facial cleansers tend to work best. Shy away from bar soaps for your face; they are drying, and aren't designed to handle the delicacy of facial skin.
3
Exfoliate. Many people miss this step in their daily skin care routine, but it's an important step in refreshing the skin as it scrubs away the dead skin cells that can cause pore clogging, dry skin and even acne. For the cheapest, do-it-at-home fix, find a scrub at your drug store that includes exfoliating beads or particles. Exfoliate just once a week.
4
Skip using a toner. Some people swear by them, but many experts feel that a good cleanser should remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt. A toner isn't necessary, but if you really like yours, stick with it.
5
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. No matter what your skin type, it should be moisturized. Even oily skin can benefit from an oil-free moisturizer. The face and body should be moisturized, but special formulas should be used for the face. Your skin will indicate how often you need to complete this step. If it feels tight/dry, it needs a drink. Don't over-moisturize; it can lead to clogged pores.
6
Apply sunscreen. Dermatologists agree that sunscreen is the most important aspect of your skin care regimen. Choose a daily moisturizer with UV protection and get two benefits in one. Avoid moisturizers with sunscreen built in at night, as the ingredients aren't meant to be used 24/7.
1
Know your skin type. Developing a skin care routine is completely dependent on oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or even sun-damaged skin. There are many online resources, including helpful quizzes, that allow you to understand which type of skin you have.
2
Cleanse well. The trick is finding a cleanser that works well for your skin. Once you have found one you love, stick with it. They can be tough to find. Liquid facial cleansers tend to work best. Shy away from bar soaps for your face; they are drying, and aren't designed to handle the delicacy of facial skin.
3
Exfoliate. Many people miss this step in their daily skin care routine, but it's an important step in refreshing the skin as it scrubs away the dead skin cells that can cause pore clogging, dry skin and even acne. For the cheapest, do-it-at-home fix, find a scrub at your drug store that includes exfoliating beads or particles. Exfoliate just once a week.
4
Skip using a toner. Some people swear by them, but many experts feel that a good cleanser should remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt. A toner isn't necessary, but if you really like yours, stick with it.
5
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. No matter what your skin type, it should be moisturized. Even oily skin can benefit from an oil-free moisturizer. The face and body should be moisturized, but special formulas should be used for the face. Your skin will indicate how often you need to complete this step. If it feels tight/dry, it needs a drink. Don't over-moisturize; it can lead to clogged pores.
6
Apply sunscreen. Dermatologists agree that sunscreen is the most important aspect of your skin care regimen. Choose a daily moisturizer with UV protection and get two benefits in one. Avoid moisturizers with sunscreen built in at night, as the ingredients aren't meant to be used 24/7.
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