Kristen Fleming holds a Master of Science in Nutrition. Over her 8 years of experience in dietetics, she has made significant contributions in clinical, community, and editorial settings. With 2 years as a clinical dietitian in an inpatient setting, 2 years in community health education, and 4 years of editorial experience focusing on nutrition and health-related content, Kristen's expertise is multifaceted.
Whether we have a cold, or acne, lemon oil is said to be a gentle helpful extract that improves our body and skin. It might have a lot of qualities people rarely think about. Lemon essential oil is a refreshing substance extracted from the peel and the fruit of the lemon. Thanks its antimicrobial and other properties, this lemon oil can be used in cosmetics as well. It is often added to hair products, skin cleansers, and washes. Another amazing thing about this essential is that lemon oil is said to be rich in aromatherapeutic qualities. This means that if you have problems at work, you can’t concentrate on a single thing, or just desire to dive into a state of serenity then lemon oil extract is at your service. In this article, you will find out how the lemon essentials can be used in cosmetics and aromatherapy.
Is Lemon Oil Good For Your Skin?
The lemon essential oil is mostly obtained from the lemon peel and it has a sweet, sharp scent (6).Now it is widely used in the cosmetics industry, especially when it concerns skin issues. Due to its antiviral, antibacterial, absorbent, astringent, and other properties lemon oil is added to some cosmetic skincare products.The possible lemon oil benefits for skin care are:
Lemon oil has antimicrobial properties. It has demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal effects when diluted and applied to the skin (8).
Are you sick and tired of acne and acne scars? No worries because thanks to antimicrobial and astringent properties, it may reduce inflammation and bacteria that cause inflammatory acne. Moreover, astringents can help you get rid of dead skin cells that clog pores (10).
People sometimes add lemon extract to facial cleansers. It will freshen up and clean your skin. You can add a drop of lemon oil to your cleanser and wash your face with it. Still, it is recommended to do it no more than once per day because it can dry out your skin.
When using lemon oil on the skin, always dilute it in a non-comedogenic carrier oil and rinse it off after a few minutes. Do a patch test first and talk to your dermatologist before trying any new skin treatments if you have sensitive skin or any other skin conditions. Lemon and other citrus oils can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it may be better to use them at night and always follow with sunscreen the next day and avoid direct sun exposure.
Does Lemon Oil Lighten Dark Spots?
Before we discover whether lemon oil can lighten dark spots we need to understand how they occur.
Hyperpigmentation is when some parts of our skin are covered with dark spots or dots. The reasons for dark spots on your skin are:
Sunbathing. Those who want a nice tan spend a lot of time in the sun. Because of sun exposure, dark dots can appear on your skin.
Skin hyperpigmentation can appear from acne. Usually, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a side effect of a healed acne lesion which makes your complexion uneven (3).
The third more physiological reason is the overproduction of melanin. Melanin is what gives hair, skin, and eyes their color.
Lemon essential oil may help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. As mentioned above, lemon extract contains antioxidants and astringents that help remove dead skin cells. Lemon essential oil for skin lightening contains hesperidin which may help reduce the production of melanin. An excess of melanin in certain areas is sometimes what leads to uneven skin tone, acne, dark spots, or hyperpigmentation.
Talk to your dermatologist before trying home remedies such as lemon oil to treat hyperpigmentation. It is important to always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil such as rosehip, argan, jojoba, or pomegranate. A patch test is necessary before using the essential oil. The effect of essential oils might take weeks or months to show up, so try to stay patient and follow a regular skin routine (9).
Before applying any product with lemon oil on your skin make sure you keep in mind the following the safety information:
All plant essential oils are highly concentrated. You can use them only in small quantities mixed with other ingredients so that you won’t hurt your skin (6). So, it is rather harmful to apply lemon oil directly to your skin. Instead, dilute it within lotion, other oils, or moisturizers.
Before using lemon essentials it is recommended to take a patch test which will show whether you are allergic, or sensitive to lemon containing products.
If you are epileptic, pregnant, or have other health conditions, it is advisable to consult a qualified healthcare professional before using lemon extracts or any other home remedies.
Some of the ways people use lemon oil to fight hyperpigmentation, lighten dark spots, and even out skin tone include:
Face mask. This is a simplelemony, super-lightening face mask that will invigorate your skin. Whip up 1 teaspoon of orange peel powder, 4 drops of lemon essential oil, and 2 teaspoons of thick Greek yogurt(4).Once you apply this mask to your skin, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it off with water. The original poster suggests repeating this procedure up to two times per week.
Adding a drop of lemon oil to your regular facial cleanser
Diluting a drop of lemon oil in a non-comedogenic carrier oil, applying to the face and rinsing off after 2-5 minutes with your regular cleanser (10).
Is Lemon Oil Good For Hair?
Lemon oil is a wonderful essential that has many cosmetological qualities. You can dilute it and apply it to the skin, or diffuse it and inhale it as an exotic aroma. But is lemon oil good for hair?
Many of the same properties that may benefit the skin can also benefit the scalp, which can be good for hair health (7).
Here are the lemon oil hair benefits:
The antibacterial and astringent properties of lemon oil may help unclog pores in the scalp. This might help prevent scalp irritation and flaking.
Lemon oil might help regulate oil (sebum) production on the scalp.
How To Apply Lemon Essential Oil To Your Hair?
Even though lemon oil sounds like a magical essential that fights any problem you should still be careful with applying lemon oil to your skin and hair to avoid irritation.
To avoid unnecessary consequences you need to stick to a couple of os simple rules:
Mix lemon oil essential with other oils (castor oil, sesame oil, or almond oil) before applying it to your hair.
Add lemon oil to your shampoos for a better effect. Pour a couple of drops into it and massage into the scalp before rinsing out.
You can add lemon oil to your hair mask and massage your scalp for a couple of minutes.
Always rinse out thoroughly.
Which Is Better: Fruit Oil Or Peel Oil?
When it goes to purchasing lemon oil people mull over whether they should consider fruit oil or peel oil. The point is that lemon peel oil or citrus lemon peel oil is extracted from the oils in the peel which makes it highly concentrated (10).
It is derived from the rind of the lemon and can be used as a fragrance component in some products. hey are often targeted to fight skin problems, such as hyperpigmentation, acne, or wrinkles.
However, when exposed to air, this fragrance ingredient oxidizes. It can irritate your skin or make it more sensitive to irritation. There is the main compound limonene which is also considered to be a solvent. Unfortunately, it can toughly affect your skin (10).Most lemon essentials are used from processed peels which can affect our skin badly if we don’t use them properly. It may be better to use lemon oil which was extracted from cold-pressing. Add it to your hair conditioner, face wash, or shampoo.
We now know that lemon oil has some potential benefits for the skin and scalp. However, it is only the beginning because besides skin and hair care, lemon essential oil can be useful for aromatherapy, massages, and even more. Keep reading and explore other amazing lemon extract qualities.
Jazz up your laundry routine with a few lemon oil drops. It will not only freshen your laundry but also bring a great smell to your clothing.
Tired from work? Too stressed or overwhelmed with duties? No worries, you can relax your nerves by adding 2-4 drops of lemon oil to a room diffuser and enjoy a gentle aroma.
Summer is the insects’ time. They come alive and annoy us every day and night. Create a natural insect repellent by combining lemon with peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils along with coconut oil(1).
A lot of massage therapists use lemon oil extracts diluted in their massage oils. It softens the skin and relaxes when inhaling the fresh smell.
Conclusion
Lemon oil essential is a versatile component for your beauty routine, and as aromatherapy. Due to its antibacterial, antiseptic, antioxidant, and astringent properties, lemon oil is perfect for your personal wellness and health care routine.
It is used as an important component for skin and hair products: lemon oil may help fight acne, hyperpigmentation, and dandruff.
Also, your brain and body can relax when you smell a lemon scent in the air. People who stress out usually pour a couple of drops into the diffuser and enjoy the serene flow.
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