Lemon skincare product

When life gives you fresh lemon juice… Should you use it as an acne treatment?

Picture this: You wake up in the morning, roll out of bed, and take a closer look in the mirror to see that you have two brand new pimples on your face. Ugh. 

Panicking, you do the typical Google search "how to get rid of acne fast?", you start reading thousands of DIY tutorials... And there is it: Lemon for acne, the miraculous anti-pimple superhero ingredient that you can find in your house and apply directly to your face! 

But, wait, is it really safe to use fresh lemon juice in existing acne scars or active pimples? No! Put that lemon down right away!

Let’s get this straight: Lemon juice is a natural astringent and antibacterial agent, so it can help dry out pimples and get rid of bacteria, however, using this citrus fruit on your face is not as good as you think. 

So you want to know how to use lemon for acne? There's more to it than just squeezing the juice onto your skin! That’s why, in this post, we'll tell you everything you need to know about successfully using lemon as an acne treatment! 

Lemon juice on face: Yes or No?

We all have been tempted to use lemon juice for acne at least once in our lives, but what would happen if we tell you that it is not safe at all? 

Many scientific references consider that lemon can be good in treating acne because it’s a natural antiseptic and astringent. This means that it can help to kill bacteria, dry out pimples, and tighten pores. Moreover, lemons are a great source of vitamin C, which is essential for healthy, dark spots-free skin.

DIYs claim that lemon for acne is a godsend because it contains citric acid. Citric acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that can help to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and reduce acne scars. Additionally, lemon juice has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe the skin and reduce redness. 

However, it's important to note that while lemon juice can be beneficial for some people with acne, it can also aggravate the condition for others and even worsen other skin conditions they may have, that’s why it is better to avoid using fresh-squeezed lemon juice on your face. 

Just like oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits, lemon juice is citric acid, and when applied to your face it can cause skin irritation, redness, and dryness. In some cases, it can even lead to chemical burns. So, if you have skin sensitivity, or if you’re prone to acne, using lemon juice on your skin is a bad idea.

Then, why do many home remedies claim that applying lemon is so great? Because the fact that it is not safe, doesn’t mean that lemon doesn’t have amazing skin benefits! 

Does lemon help acne? Our fave benefits

Acne is the most common skin condition that people of all ages suffer from. If you're one of the millions of people suffering from acne, you understand how frustrating it can be to find a solution that works. You've probably tried every skincare product on the market, and while some may have helped, you're still struggling with breakouts.

That’s where lemon juice *properly used* comes in! Here are the most amazing benefits of lemon for acne:

1. Jam-packed with vitamin c

Vitamin C is something we are all crazy about. It helps to protect the skin from damage and also helps to brighten the complexion by treating dark spots and acne scars. 

On the other hand, vitamin C is an antioxidant that can fight free radicals and heal acne scars while evening out skin tone.

2. Astringent properties

Lemon is also an astringent, which means it can help to shrink pores and reduce oil production. These properties are awesome for people with acne because most pimples and blackheads are formed thanks to the excess oil in the skin. 

3. Antibacterial properties

The all-natural citrus acids in lemon have antibacterial effects, also known as antimicrobial properties, which can help to kill acne-causing bacteria. 

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Lemon Sparkling Peeling Pad - Asian Beauty Essentials
Physical Exfoliator SecretKey Lemon Sparkling Peeling Pad
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4. Anti-inflammatory effects

The anti-inflammatory properties in lemon juice are thought to help with acne by reducing the redness and swelling of pimples. 

5. Exfoliating

The acid in this citrus fruit can help to exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells and revealing new, healthy cells underneath. These positive effects can also help you to treat acne by getting rid of acne scarring. 

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Airy Fit Lemon Sheet Mask
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But, what would happen if you use lemon juice on face?

With so many benefits… What’s the worse thing it can happen if you apply lemon juice to your skin Well, a lot can happen when you use lemon on your entire face every day! 

Let us enlighten you: 

  • Lemon juice is very acidic, and it can get your skin dry if you use it too much 
  • If you have sensitive skin, you could be allergic to the acid and end up with irritation and redness instead of helping you to fight acne
  • Using lemon juice can make your skin sensitive to UV rays, which means that you can develop dark spots, blemishes, and even chemical burns during sun exposure. 
  • Yes, lemon can kill acne-causing bacteria, but it also kills the good bacteria that protect your skin from external damage.

So, do you really think that applying lemon juice is such a good idea? Cause we don’t! But that doesn’t mean you can’t add lemon to your skincare routine in other ways!

How to use *actually* lemon for acne scars and not die trying

Now that you know all the health benefits of lemon and understand why you shouldn’t be applying lemon juice on your bare face, it’s time to talk about how to include this ingredient in your skin care products. 

There are a few different ways that you can use lemon skincare products for acne. One way is to apply a lemon-based cleanser directly to your face. This will help to remove dirt and oil from your skin, while also helping to kill any bacteria that may be causing your acne breakouts.

Another way to use lemon skincare products for acne is to find lemon-based toners or moisturizers that have lemon essential oil and other antioxidants, like ascorbic acid *aka vitamin c*. They will help you brighten and moisturize your skin while fighting off acne-causing bacteria.

On the other hand, you can find acne treatments with benzoyl peroxide, aloe vera, or salicylic acid, which also have sliced lemon or lemon juice as one of the main ingredients. 

If you want to get the most out of lemon products for acne, be sure to use them on a regular basis. This way, you’ll see the best results in terms of clearing up your skin and preventing future breakouts.

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Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel - Asian Beauty Essentials
Physical Exfoliator Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel
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Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling - Lemon - Asian Beauty Essentials
Chemical+Physical Exfoliator Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling - Lemon
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What to do if you decide to apply lemon juice on face?

“Mix lemon juice with baking soda”, “add lemon and olive oil to a cotton ball for reduced redness”... And the list of DYI recipes goes on and on. But what can you do if you decide to ignore our warnings and use freshly squeezed lemon juice as an acne treatment? Here are a few tips: 

1. Dilute lemon juice

Since lemon is a citrus fruit, its acid can cause irritation and redness during any topical application. To avoid this, always dilute lemon in water or in non-comedogenic essential oils, like rosehip or jojoba oil, to counteract the drying effects of the fruit. 

After that, you can apply the mix to your skin with a cotton swab. 

2. Avoid hot water

What do you get when you mix lemon with hot water? A face as dry as the Sahara Desert! 

Both hot water and lemon juice have drying effects on the skin, which can worsen acne scars and active pimples, so it is better to wash your face with warm water before using lemon on your face. 

3. Don’t mix it with other drying ingredients

When used as a DYI spot treatment, many skincare influencers always recommend applying this acid with ingredients like bicarbonate, since they can dry out not only the pimple you want to get rid of but also your whole face. 

Instead, choose to mix it with aloe vera, honey, and essential oils before putting it in your skin.

Note: Always consult with a board-certified dermatologist or other healthcare professionals before putting any of these tricks into action!  

Lemon skin care products: Where to find them

So there you have it! Lemon is a great choice for your skin care routine, but only if you use it wisely. Be sure to follow all our tips and visit Asian Beauty Essentials to get some lemon-rich products for yourself. 

From acne-fighting products with lemon essential oil to products with lemon peel, we have everything you need to get clear, bright, and acne-free skin

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