The Beauty Myth: Lemon Juice Lightens Skin

True. The humble lemon is one of nature's greatest ingredients and it has been employed cosmetically for centuries. It is packed with antioxidants, has antibacterial and antiviral properties and is high in Vitamin C. However it is the alpha-hydroxy acids in lemon juice that lighten and brighten the skin and hair. The alpha-hydroxy acids in lemon juice have mild exfoliative effects which gently peel off the upper layer of skin, removing or lightening some age spots.

Ingredients: Lemon

Natural or Synthetic: Natural

Origin: A lemon is a citrus fruit that comes from a lemon tree

Location: Lemon trees are native to Asia, however they are now cultivated all over the world, from the United States and China, to Mexico and Italy.

Beauty Benefits: Lemon is often found in beauty products because it is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that improve our skin, hair and nails. The hero ingredient is most famous for its exfoliation properties. As with many citrus fruits, lemons contain alpha hydroxy acids that gently remove dead skin cells (stimulating surface skin cell renewal) and treat pigmentation. Lemons also have astringent, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that deeply clean the skin and remove excess oil, without stripping the skin. For these reasons, lemons are a great ingredient for fighting acne and blackheads.