Lemon essential oil is one of the most popular and versatile oils. The concentrated product is used not only to aromatize the air, but also to combat many pathologies. In addition, citrus oil has proven itself in cosmetology, where it is used to improve skin, hair and nails.
Natural disinfectant
Do you want to avoid chlorine- and spit-containing products to disinfect kitchen countertops and clean mold from showers? Take 40 drops of lemon oil and 20 drops of tea tree oil, pour into a 500 ml spray bottle, add 400 ml of clean water and 2-3 tablespoons of white vinegar, shake before use. So you have an excellent disinfectant. This natural cleaning product is used to kill toxins and bacteria in the home, especially good in areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
Lemon essential oil. Price
As I already said, when purchasing, it is better to check with a pharmacist or carefully study the instructions or reviews on the Internet to determine exactly how the oil was obtained. It is better to give preference to pressing - it is a more useful product. However, it cannot be cheap!
There is a lot of counterfeiting in the lemon oil market, since it is easy to fake the aroma and terpene fractions (simply waste from production) can be sold instead.
The price range is enormous: from 30 rubles per 10 ml to 1 thousand.
I would not advise focusing only on cost. Read reviews, collect information, because the main thing is to stay healthy, friends!
Be healthy and cheerful! Until new posts!
Weight normalization
Many people drink pure water with lemon in the morning, but lemon essential oil can be used for the same purpose, the application is simple: add 1-2 drops of natural essential lemon oil to 1 glass of water 200-300 ml. The components contained in lemon oil speed up digestion and metabolism and promote weight loss. Using lemon may be a more rational option for you: even in the refrigerator, lemon will be stored for the entire few days during which you need to eat it, and lemon oil, if properly stored, this ester can be used for months.
Interesting! Lemon oil has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 1,000 years and is valued for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Lemon essential oil for home cosmetology
For the treatment of cellulite
It helps both in the form of massage and in the form of wraps. It is best to perform a massage after a bath, where we have intensively worked on problem areas with a scrub or brush. Add 5 drops of lemon oil to 1 tablespoon of base and work thoroughly with your hands or a massager for at least 5 minutes. The skin should turn red.
You can also do a massage with honey: 10 drops per 1 tbsp. Using patting movements, distribute the honey mixture. We do this for at least 20 minutes until the honey turns white or gray. The procedure can be quite painful, so we carry it out no more than once every 2 days. But not less often. Regularity is important here.
The course takes 10 procedures.
Against brittleness and yellowness of nails
Baths with the addition of lemon ether will help us avoid this. For 450 ml of warm water we need only 8 - 10 drops. Dissolve them in 50 ml of milk and dilute with water. We hold our hands until the bath cools down. We carry out the procedure in a course every other day for a week. This will help get rid of not only yellowness and brittle nails, but also pigment spots on the hands and wrinkles.
Against acne and blackheads
Masks and lotions help a lot.
For example, in 1 tbsp of ordinary cosmetic clay, diluted with water to a creamy consistency, it is enough to add 2 drops of lemon oil and apply for 10 - 15 minutes all over the face or only on the T-zone. Wash off and that's it! Clean, renewed skin glows again. This remedy is good for any type.
For lotion for oily skin, we need a glass of filtered boiled or distilled water, 1 teaspoon of alcohol and 5 drops of essential oil. Dissolve the oil in alcohol and then add water. Wipe off before going to bed before applying fluid or serum.
Against freckles, age spots and wrinkles
For this we will also need lotions, especially if you have oily skin, and simply creams enriched with essential oil. Add to the base cream at the rate of 1 drop per 2 – 3 peas of the main product. Apply only before bed, keeping in mind phototoxicity.
Against brittle dull hair
It is enough to rinse your hair after washing with water and a few drops of ether (5 drops per liter). This also helps to easily lighten the strands by 1.5 or even 2 tones.
It is also good to use aromatherapy. To do this, apply 1 – 2 drops of oil to a wide-toothed comb and gently comb your hair for at least 3 minutes. In addition to shine, a wonderful aroma is also guaranteed, which has an anti-stress effect!
Using lemon oil to improve your mood
You can buy and use an aroma lamp or make an aroma pendant with your own hands, drop a drop into a bath of water or just on one of the napkins on the table in the kitchen or even in the office - lemon not only helps fight stress and depression, but also lifts and makes your mood cheerful , joyful.
Instructions for use
Study the nuances:
- lemon ether, like other active substances, is prohibited from being used undiluted for cosmetic purposes;
- the exception is warts, lichen, herpes on the lips, which need to be treated with a healing agent;
- It is undesirable to lubricate healthy skin around the source of inflammation: a burn to the epidermis is possible.
Oily liquid with a citrus aroma is not recommended for use:
- during a course of chemotherapy;
- if you are allergic to components;
- during pregnancy;
- before going outside in clear weather. The product makes the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation.
Lemon oil and its use for teeth whitening
Take a small clean jar, pour 1 tablespoon of coconut base oil and 2 drops of lemon essential oil into it, stir well. Coconut oil should be liquid in order to dissolve the ether well in it (just warm up the coconut oil a little in a water bath in advance or place a bottle/jar of oil in warm water). Next, stir in half a teaspoon of baking soda. Use this homemade paste once a day as usual, preferably before bed, and rinse your mouth after use.
Lemon essential oil in home medicine
For colds and flu
Inhalations with miracle oil come to our aid.
If we breathe the old fashioned way, covered with a blanket over a pan of hot water, add in proportions at the rate of 3 drops per 200 ml. If we use an inhaler, no more than 2 per glass. We add it not to boiling water, but to just hot water, to protect the respiratory tract. We breathe for 5 – 7 minutes.
Micro-inhalations are also suitable. Place just a couple of drops of lemon oil on a handkerchief and inhale for a few minutes. This helps not only to “breathe”, but also to disinfect the mucous membrane.
For muscle pain and varicose veins of the legs
If the muscles hurt after intense physical activity or as a result of a bruise, we lightly massage the aching area with oil or cream, adding 5 drops of our active product to 1 tablespoon of base. This can be baby cream or oil (olive, almond, macadamia, jojoba).
In the case of varicose veins, the movements should be from the feet upward, literally directing the blood flow upward to improve circulation. Together with blood thinning oil, massage will give good results.
For hypertension, urinary and cholelithiasis
Take a few drops orally twice a day. Remembering that essential oils do not dissolve in water, add 1 – 2 drops to 1 teaspoon of honey, dilute in a cup of warm water or tea and drink.
When used systematically, lemon essential oil can dissolve stones and sand.
With weakened immunity and anemia
Add 1 – 2 drops to freshly squeezed juice and drink in the morning. This method works in both cases, since lemon oil restores the vitality of both red and white blood cells.
For arthritis and rheumatism
We apply compresses to aching joints. Apply 4-5 drops of lemon oil to gauze or flannel folded in several layers soaked in warm water, apply and insulate. First with film, then with woolen cloth. Keep it for at least 2 hours, do it at least once a day.
Aroma baths will also be good. To do this, dissolve 10 – 15 drops of oil in milk or honey and add to a warm bath. The water temperature should be no higher than 38 degrees and should be taken for no more than 15 minutes so as not to overheat.
For stomatitis and periodontal disease
Compresses and rinses help equally.
In the first case, literally apply 1-2 drops to damp gauze, apply to the damaged area and hold for at least 30 minutes.
In the second, pour 2 drops of oil into ½ glass of warm water, shake well and rinse 3-4 times a day.
If you are overweight
Take 2-3 drops in honey water orally on an empty stomach. This helps not only normalize metabolism, but also rid the body of excess cholesterol. The main thing is systematic use.
But don’t forget about external use: we make wraps. As for massage, take 2 tbsp of base oil and add 5 drops of 2 – 3 types of essential oils. Lemon and juniper, sandalwood or cypress go well together. Mix them, apply to the skin with intense massage movements and cover first with film, then with a warm cloth.
This method also promotes skin regeneration.
Lemon oil is useful for allergies
To improve the functioning of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for cleansing the body of toxins, and relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies, sprinkle a few drops of lemon oil around your home or office. It is best to use a spray bottle, mixing up to 5 drops of oil with 100 ml. water, but be sure to shake the bottle before spraying.
Interesting! Lemon essential oil is obtained by cold pressing the zest of the lemon, not the pulp itself! Therefore, the properties of lemon oil differ from the properties of the pulp that we usually use.
Lemon oil: properties and contraindications
This vegetable fat has a number of unique properties that do not differ from other, more popular extracts isolated from the seeds of plant fruits, but along with the benefits, harm is possible if used incorrectly. Despite the balance of fatty acids, due to its high biological activity, cosmetologists do not recommend using it in its pure form over large areas. And on problem areas - acne, scars, cellulite, stretch marks, irritation - apply pointwise.
Before use in pure form or as part of mixtures, it is necessary to check for a tendency to an allergic reaction. To do this, you will need to drop the composition onto your forearm and leave for 20 minutes. The absence of discomfort, burning, itching, rash, and redness indicates possible use for its intended purpose.
Too frequent use can make adjustments to the functioning of the lipid layer of the dermis, which leads to drying, thinning, early wrinkles, and loss of effect. Therefore, you should not carry out procedures too often, and it is better to take breaks between courses.
IMPORTANT. A significant disadvantage of most products obtained from citrus fruits is phototoxicity. Application earlier than an hour before going out into fresh air, especially during periods of increased solar activity, can lead to burns on the body. In fact, everything can be fixed: for lovers of lemon flavor there is a solution: petitgrain. The ether is obtained from tree leaves, and the product has an antispasmodic, antiviral, and calming effect on the body.
Application to skin and hair is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, burns, open wounds, skin infections.
If there are diseases of the epidermis, therapy should be prescribed by a doctor, and self-medication may result in an increase in symptoms.
You should pay attention to the purpose indicated on the product label: “aromatic” or any other product is not suitable for cosmetic procedures. If the manufacturer has not indicated the method of production, it is most likely an extract with carbon dioxide or an organic solvent, which is of less benefit.
Precautions when using lemon oil
- Lemon oil may be very concentrated for you, do a sensitivity test before trying it. Apply a mixture of 1 drop of lemon and 2 drops of base oil to your hand and observe the condition of the skin and the sensations in your hand. If you do not experience redness or itching, then this oil can be used without fear in the standard recommended proportions.
- Lemon oil is photosensitive - this means that in the sun the skin on which the oil is applied becomes more sensitive, including to ultraviolet radiation. It is very important to avoid direct sunlight for several hours after applying such oils to your skin. That is why lemon ether is recommended to be applied in the evening.
Lemon essential oil is universal; it has found its use as a cosmetic component, an effective remedy for strengthening your health, and an effective component for maintaining antibacterial cleanliness in the house.
Lemon oil: application
Due to the huge number of unique properties that do not replicate the bases extracted from the seeds of plants of other families, the product is widely used in cosmetology. In addition to this industry, the cleansing and moisturizing characteristics have found application in music. Guitarists clean the neck of the instrument, which avoids cracking of the wood and eliminates dirt. A similar thing happens on the epidermis - this base adsorbs sebum on its surface, which clogs the skin pores, carefully cleansing it.
Above, we have already written more than once that it is quite difficult for buyers to get confused: manufacturers often call this ether, which is not used in its pure form, and it is generally difficult to find detailed information on the Internet about basic vegetable fat. In fact, the transport base contains small amounts of odorous substances, due to which it duplicates the properties of the peel concentrate.
These are two different products that differ in composition, but together they can enhance the wound healing effect (even in the fight against old scars) and anti-cellulite effect.
The lemon base is active, which is where you should start, but compared to volatile fat, it is safer, so it is not able to eliminate papillomas, warts and other tumors. Despite this advantage, cosmetologists still do not recommend using it in its pure form, like any other base, even a noble base (macadamia).
Directions for use and areas of the body:
- hair – inclusion in balms, conditioners, shampoos, industrial and home masks, use in its pure form for lightening;
- face and skin around the eyes - masks of various effects, scrubs, spot application to combat acne and inflammation, cleansing the pores of oily dermis, adding to creams and gels, lotions;
- areas with vascular mesh (varicose veins, rosacea) - adding moisturizing and nourishing effects to venotonic compositions, face masks;
- treatment of hair removal areas;
- areas with roughened dermis - baths, massage, application of creams;
- nails, cuticles, hand skin - scrubs, masks, baths, applied in a mono version, added to creams for accelerated absorption and imparting new properties;
- scars, stretch marks, wounds - treatment with a mixture with any base or citrus fruit essential oil, applied in its pure form;
- prevention of stretch marks on the abdomen after pregnancy;
- treatment of calluses, elimination of unpleasant foot odor - baths with sea salt and lemon oil;
- body – scrubs, wraps, anti-cellulite treatments, relaxing massage, preparing the dermis for tanning.
Regardless of the area of application, there are general rules:
- application to moisturized, cleansed epidermis;
- It is better to use at night in a mixture with other bases;
- indicated for oily and problematic dermis;
- phototoxic;
- add up to 10.0% to finished formulations;
- before adding to a homemade mixture or industrial composition, it must be heated to 40 degrees / Celsius;
- no more than once a week.
The brightening effect comes in handy at any time of the year, because every girl can unexpectedly stain the skin of her hands before an important event or simply ruin the manicure she has just done. In fact, most often the problem can be solved without leaving home. It is enough to pour warm water, sprinkle a little sea salt, pour in a little less lemon oil, if possible, drop a drop of lime, tangerine or other citrus ether, and immerse your hands in the solution. Sometimes it is enough to hold your entire fingers or hands in water for just five minutes to eliminate the deficiency.
For face
Lemon oil to cleanse pores, rejuvenate, and even out tone is applied for 10 minutes, then the residue is removed with a paper towel. It is recommended to perform the procedure two hours before bedtime. This will prevent swelling.