Lemon for age spots and freckles on the face: reviews

According to medical statistics, about 20% of the planet's population faces increased pigmentation of the facial skin. Birthmarks and freckles are accumulations of a coloring substance – melanin, which gives the skin its color. Women are concerned about the presence of darkening, especially on the face. Some of them consider melanin accumulations to be a feature that gives individuality, others see it as a problem. Freckles and spots on the face are effectively combated using folk recipes. Lemon for age spots is one of the most effective remedies. Indications and contraindications, types of compositions with lemon, reviews are in the article below.

What are the benefits of lemon for the skin?

Women know that lemon is useful not only as food, but also as an additive to masks, creams, and facial tonics. The fruit has the following effects on the epidermis:

cleansing the sebaceous ducts from dead particles, dust and impurities. The effect is achieved due to the presence of organic acids in the fruit;
removal of unwanted visible pigmentation from the skin surface occurs due to the presence of natural lightening substances in lemon;
normalization of the sebaceous glands is ensured through the influence of macro- and microelements: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron;
smoothing out fine wrinkles, accelerating collagen production, smoothing skin texture, and ensuring tone occurs due to the presence of vitamins B, C, E, PP and flavonoids in citrus;
Relieving inflammation and eliminating blackheads is ensured by the work of pectins contained in lemon;
activation of local blood circulation occurs thanks to riboflavin.

You can use lemon to restore elasticity, provide an antibacterial effect, and remove age spots and freckles.

Important! It is necessary to use citrus, whatever its desired effect, only on intact, intact skin.

When will the effect occur?

The most favorable time to use lemon juice for freckles is the beginning of spring. During this period, the sun's rays are not so active, so they still have their full marks on the skin of the face. Lemon has long been considered an excellent assistant in the fight against age spots, which is called an excellent cosmetologist; in addition, it is quite affordable and easy to buy at any retail outlet. Its effectiveness can be judged by the fact that even using a slice of lemon on the skin from time to time makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of freckles and helps even out skin tone.

Interesting: it should be noted that Egyptian and Greek women used lemon to whiten their faces back in ancient times, since the presence of various types of pigmentation on the skin was considered not very good form, so they resorted to this effective method. For this they used both lemon and cucumber juices.

The beginning of spring, when “sun spots” only show their first signs, is the best time to remove and lighten them.

How does lemon work against age spots on the face?

Freckles and unwanted age spots can appear in people of different ages and skin types. Main reasons:

hereditary factors;
hormonal changes (pregnancy, lactation or endocrine diseases);
pathologies of internal organs (for example, liver);
mechanical damage to the skin.

Whatever the reason for the formation of age spots, the trigger for their formation in most cases is ultraviolet radiation. UV radiation damages epidermal cells, and melanin is produced as a protective reaction.

The mechanism of action of lemon against pigmentation on the face is that ascorbic acid in its composition slows down the process of melanin production. Vitamin C in sour fruit is a non-aggressive, mild natural bleach.

Beneficial features

Lemon is a proven product for maintaining youth and beauty. It contains a huge amount of vitamins, flavonoids, pectins and minerals. Thanks to the high concentration of acids, citrus has a whitening effect and exfoliates dead skin cells .

Active substances ensure a complete supply of oxygen to cells, improve blood microcirculation and protect against the harmful effects of free radicals. Using lemon allows you to achieve impressive results:

metabolic processes in cells are enhanced,
pores narrow,
complexion improves,
the function of the sebaceous glands is normalized,
Spider veins and acne marks disappear,
Freckles and pigmentation are whitened.

At home, you can prepare effective facial care products not only from juice, but also from citrus pulp. All parts of the fruit are saturated with valuable elements and are indispensable for skin health.

What stains does lemon get rid of?

You need to know that you should not try to remove moles, congenital birthmarks, or formations of unknown nature and origin with lemon.

Lemon is effective against freckles and age spots that appear during life due to endocrine, hereditary (physiological) factors, and under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

Important! To avoid health problems, before lightening age spots, you should consult a specialist (dermatologist, cosmetologist or therapist).

Cosmetologists' opinion

Cosmetologists confirm that lemon helps against freckles. Essentially, lemon treatments are a soft superficial peeling that refreshes, cleanses and evens out the tone, eliminating pigmentation.

Cosmetologists warn that this product dries out the skin, so you should not get carried away with lemon compositions, especially if your skin is not prone to oily skin.

In addition, during the whitening course and after its completion, it is very important to protect the skin from the negative effects of sunlight. Therefore, it is imperative to use a cream with a high level of ultraviolet protection before going outside.

How to remove age spots on the face with lemon

If hyperpigmentation is pronounced and affects a person’s aesthetic perception of himself and others, you can use home methods to combat it.

You can remove age spots from your face with lemon by:

citrus juice in its pure form;
tonic;
compresses;
scrubs and peelings;
masks.

The choice of a specific product depends on the speed with which it is necessary to get rid of age spots, skin type and other circumstances.

Pure lemon juice

Lemon juice is considered one of the fast-acting remedies for age spots. It can be used in its natural form, without mixing with other components.

To remove hyperpigmentation, wipe the face with a cotton pad soaked in freshly squeezed citrus juice. This can be done no more than once a day; the procedure is recommended only for those with combination or oily skin. Using lemon juice you can remove not only stains, but also remove freckles.

Attention! If there is damage to the skin or if you have dry or sensitive skin, the use of juice for rubbing in its pure form is prohibited.

Tonic

For those with dry skin and those who have irritation or minor damage during the recovery stage, a lemon-based toner will help cope with the problems. It can also be used by those with oily or combination skin; in each case, the ingredients of the cosmetic composition will change:

For dry skin, the liquid is prepared as follows: take the same amount of water and 1 part glycerin to 2 parts freshly squeezed juice. The ingredients are mixed.
For those with normal-type dermis, the following tonic is suitable: mix 1 part juice and 2 parts honey and water.
For oily skin, the tonic is prepared as follows: take 2 parts of chamomile decoction for 1 part of juice. Instead of chamomile, you can take fresh serum.

Wipe your face with freshly prepared tonic: once a day for those with sensitive or dry skin, 1-2 times a day for those with combination and oily skin types.

Compress

A citrus compress for age spots is made in two ways. The first option is suitable for oily, normal and combination skin, provided it is intact. This compress is a good way to get rid of freckles using lemon:

The fruit is cut into thin slices.
Apply lemon slices to a cleansed face in areas with freckles or age spots.
The compress is left for 10–20 minutes, after which it is washed with warm water.

Important! If burning, irritation or other unpleasant sensations occur, the compress should be removed immediately and the face should be washed with cool water.

For those with dry skin due to age spots, this compress option is more suitable:

Juice is squeezed out of the lemon.
The juice is mixed with oil (jojoba, grape seed, chamomile) and water in a ratio of 2:1:1.
Soak a piece of gauze or bandage with the liquid and apply a compress to problem areas for 15 minutes.

If discomfort occurs, the pads must be removed without delay.

Scrubs and peelings

Lemon-based scrubs and peels in combination with other natural ingredients effectively remove age spots, renew the upper layer of the epidermis, making its color even and its texture soft and velvety. To prepare the scrub you will need:

sugar. It is preferable to use reed sand, but if it is not available, ordinary white sand will do; it is taken in the amount of 1 tsp. ;
Honey is a humectant and source of antioxidants. Both fresh and candied will do. It is used in a volume of 1 tsp;
lemon juice – 5 ml;
olive oil - to soften the aggressive properties of the composition, soothe the epidermis, ½ teaspoon.

The components are mixed and gently rubbed into problem areas of the face in a circular motion, avoiding the area around the eyes. This peeling is not recommended to be done more than once a week.

Who is it suitable for?

Cosmetologists recommend using lemon against freckles, especially for those with oily skin. The fact is that sour citrus juice has drying properties. Therefore, using lemon will help not only fade brown spots on the nose, but also eliminate oily shine, cleanse pores and make them less noticeable.

If your skin is normal or combination , then you can use lemon for whitening, but you need to be careful and constantly monitor the condition of your skin. If peeling or a feeling of tightness appears, it is better to temporarily stop using lemon and switch to other products.

Those with dry skin can also remove freckles with lemon, but they need to use special formulations that contain softening additives.

Important! It is recommended that those with very sensitive skin avoid using lemon to whiten freckles.

Lemon masks for whitening age spots

Whitening spots and freckles more gently, yet effectively, is done using multi-component formulations applied to the face.

A lemon mask for age spots may contain the following ingredients:

hydrogen peroxide;
castor oil;
starch;
parsley;
honey.

With hydrogen peroxide

The mask, the main components of which are lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide, provides whitening, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects. To make it you need:

50 ml lemon juice;
10 ml hydrogen peroxide 3%;
15 ml natural apple cider vinegar;
5 ml of diluted medical alcohol;
1 tablet of acetylsalicylic acid.

The ingredients are mixed, and the resulting liquid paste is carefully applied to the face with a brush or fingers, avoiding the area around the eyes. After 15 minutes, the remnants of the mask are washed off with warm water.

With castor oil

The combination of lemon and castor oil in one mask has a whitening effect. To prepare the gruel you will need:

1 tablespoon each of lemon juice and castor oil;
1 tablespoon of low-fat kefir;
1 teaspoon honey.

In addition to combating age spots, regular use of this composition reduces wrinkles and stimulates local metabolism in tissues.

With starch

The starch in the mask has a whitening and lifting effect. The product is suitable for different skin types:

1 part starch;
2 parts chamomile decoction;
1 part lemon juice.

The components are mixed, heated in a water bath and applied to the face (for 15 minutes), after which they are washed off and a soothing cream or serum is rubbed in.

With parsley

Parsley and lemon for age spots are a proven combination used in traditional medicine for many years. Recipe for making a mask:

A bunch of parsley is washed, dried, chopped with a knife or blender, then ground.
Add 15 grams of honey and 5 ml of lemon juice to the parsley and stir.
Apply the resulting paste to a cleansed face and wash it off after a quarter of an hour.

With honey

Honey and lemon juice are usually combined in a 2:1 ratio. Depending on the accompanying skin problems, the following ingredients are added to the named ingredients:

peach, almond, jojoba oil to nourish dry skin;
whey or kefir to moisturize oily skin;
hydrogen peroxide to combat rashes;
potato starch for a lifting effect.

Terms of use

Before you start removing freckles with lemon, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for using the product. Lemon juice should be applied to the skin in its pure form very carefully. First you need to dilute the juice in half with water. If the use of this product does not cause negative reactions, then next time you can take less water (a third of the volume of juice).

Do you like your freckles?

Oh yeah! Of course! No, nightmare!

Girls with oily epidermis with enlarged pores can simply wipe the freckles with a slice of lemon. But if the skin reacts poorly to such cosmetic procedures, then it is better to include lemon in cosmetic formulations with various additives.

Rules for preparing and applying homemade compositions:

to prepare bleaching agents, you can use fresh, strained juice or pulp crushed in a blender (without zest and film partitions);
If the composition is being prepared for the first time, then the juice must be diluted with water . If there is no negative reaction, you can gradually reduce the amount of water;
To dilute the juice, you can use mineral or simply purified water. It is not advisable to use tap water, even after boiling;
the remaining ingredients of the compositions must be fresh , of high quality and well crushed, then the composition will work more effectively;
if the recipe contains ingredients such as cosmetic oil, kefir and honey, then it is advisable to slightly heat the listed components before mixing. But, under no circumstances, do not overheat, the maximum temperature is 40 degrees ;

any oils can be used for preparing formulations , but they must be natural and unrefined;
all ingredients must be mixed very thoroughly, the finished composition must be homogeneous ;
The shelf life of the prepared formulations is minimal, so they need to be prepared immediately before application . Vitamins will quickly begin to degrade, so ready-made mixtures cannot be stored even in the refrigerator;
Whitening compounds are applied to the area where freckles are located using a brush or fingers. If the composition is liquid, then you can soak cotton pads in it and apply them to age spots;
if the composition contains emollient components, then they can be applied to the entire face; lemon masks are excellent refreshers;

The prepared scrubs are applied with massaging movements , the duration of the massage depends on the skin type. So, oily epidermis needs to be massaged for about 3-4 minutes, if the skin is dry, then a one-minute massage will be enough;
When applying any compositions with lemon, you should avoid the area around the eyes . The epidermis in this area is thin, and lemon compounds are too aggressive for it;
You cannot keep any lemon compositions on your face for more than a quarter of an hour , and the duration of action of some masks is only five minutes;
you need to immediately wash off the composition if there is a feeling of burning or tingling of the skin;
After washing off the composition, be sure to apply an emollient cream ;
the frequency of procedures depends on the type of epidermis. If it is oily, then you can apply lemon mixtures every three to four days. Those with dry epidermis should not use lemon to whiten freckles more than once every ten days.

Rules for applying masks

To achieve the optimal effect from applying masks, it is important to follow a few simple rules:

All compositions are applied to a previously cleansed face.
The skin must be intact; if there is the slightest damage, the application of the lemon mask should be postponed.
Before applying the mask, it is recommended to steam your face a little over an inhaler or a pan of hot water. The procedure can be carried out immediately after visiting the shower.
After washing off the composition, it is not recommended to expose the skin to temperature changes.

Important! Lemon masks should not be used too often, as the acid can have an aggressive effect on the epidermis.

Lemon essential oil for age spots

In addition to the brightening effect, lemon oil for the face against blemishes has the following effects:

antiseptic;
anti-inflammatory;
regenerating.

Important! Essential oil has an aggressive effect on the epidermis when used in significant quantities. It is not used in its pure form; only 1–5 drops are added to masks, creams and other products.

Lemon essential oil can be added to the masks described above instead of juice, replacing a tablespoon of juice with one drop of oil.

To eliminate age spots, make a mask:

2 tablespoons of white or blue clay;
1-2 drops of lemon essential oil.

Top 10 homemade whitening masks

Traditional medicine offers many options for getting rid of pigmentation using natural ingredients.

Infusions of medicinal herbs effectively lighten dark spots. Suitable for evening out skin tone: parsley, licorice root, yarrow, dandelion. It is good to wash your face with decoctions instead of the usual product in the morning and evening, or make a compress: soak a soft cotton cloth in the solution, apply to the face for 15-20 minutes.

You can make your own lightening agents from products that are in every kitchen. Suitable for cosmetic purposes:

onion;
cucumber;
Red Ribes;
aloe vera;
honey;
lemon;
strawberry;
potato;
dairy products.

Here are a few recipes for effective whitening face masks that you can prepare yourself.

Yeast

Pour 20 g of yeast with two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide (3%). Stir and leave to brew for 10-15 minutes. Place evenly on the face, cover with cling film with cutouts for the eyes, nostrils and mouth.

After 20 minutes, remove the plastic and wash. The mixture cleanses pores and eliminates greasy shine. After this, the skin looks smooth and radiant.

Kefir

Mix two tablespoons of kefir (fat) with 1 tsp. flour and rosehip or avocado oil (a few drops).

Wash off after a quarter of an hour. The mask effectively fights dark marks, relieves inflammation and moisturizes.

With turmeric and sour cream

Mix a teaspoon of seasoning well with the same amount of sour cream. Apply to the affected area and wash after 20 minutes. Can be used by girls with dry skin.

After removing the product, sometimes a slightly yellowish tint remains. It is easy to get rid of with a tonic.

Honey

Making a mask is very easy. You need to mix fresh liquid honey with lemon juice (1 tbsp each) until smooth.

The mixture will not only fade hyperpigmentation, but will also ensure that the deep layers of the epidermis are saturated with essential nutrients.

Cucumber

This vegetable perfectly refreshes and moisturizes the dermis. To prepare the mixture you need:

Grate a medium-sized cucumber on a fine grater.
Squeeze out excess juice through gauze.
Add honey and soda (0.5 tsp each) to the pulp.
Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon.
Pour in 12 drops of wheat germ oil.
Stir well.

If you are allergic to honey, replace this ingredient with beaten egg white.

Mustard

For the mask, you need to make applesauce, take 15 g of the resulting pulp, add 2 g of mustard powder and 5 ml of peach oil to it.

This mixture cleanses the skin well, tightens pores, brightens the face, and gently exfoliates dead epidermal cells.

With white clay

The cosmetic product is suitable for any type of dermis. To prepare it you need:

Dilute the clay (1:2) with water (preferably mineral).
Squeeze the cucumber juice.
Stir in 1 tbsp. juice into clay slurry.
Distribute the resulting mixture over your face.
After 20 minutes, wash with warm water.

In addition to reducing the severity of pigmentation, white clay destroys harmful microorganisms. Makes the dermis soft, smooth, velvety.

With parsley

Parsley is one of the most effective “whiteners” of the epidermis. To prepare the mask you will need:

chopped greens (1 small bunch);
1 tsp low-fat kefir;
1 tsp lemon juice;
10 drops of vitamin A.

All ingredients must be mixed well, distributed over the problem area, and washed off after 15 minutes. The mask is suitable for oily or combination skin. Those with a dry type of epidermis can also do it, but without lemon.

Rice

Rice has long been used for rejuvenation. The product made from it smooths out small expression wrinkles and evens out skin color.

To prepare the mask, you need to grind 2 tsp. pre-boiled, cooled rice with 1 tsp. milk until the consistency of thick sour cream, add 1 tsp. honey Apply to the problem area for 20 minutes. The mixture is suitable for any type of facial skin, as well as neck and décolleté.

With tomato pulp

Peel half a tomato, grate it, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.

Keep for a quarter of an hour. From such procedures, the skin will become smooth, even, silky, and take on a healthy appearance.

Precautions and contraindications

When removing age spots with lemon-based products, you need to follow safety precautions:

Before the first application of the composition to the face, testing is carried out on a small area of the body (the back of the hand) for allergic reactions.
Do not allow lemon juice or oil to get into your eyes or mucous membranes.
Do not apply formulations containing citrus to damaged skin.
The mixture can be applied to the face for no longer than 15–20 minutes, then be sure to wash with water.

Contraindications to the use of lemon-based formulations to lighten age spots are:

skin diseases;
rosacea (vascular network);
tumor formations;
any violation of the integrity of the skin;
individual intolerance to lemon juice (allergy).

Important! To avoid undesirable consequences, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist before lightening age spots yourself.

We prevent the occurrence

As you know, it is always easier to prevent any problem than to then eliminate the consequences. The same can be said for freckles. When you are definitely sure that as soon as the first rays of the spring sun touch your skin, it will certainly be covered with “golden spots,” then you should take care in advance to ensure that the appearance of freckles is minimal. The question arises: how to put all this into practice? There is nothing complicated about it!

The first step is to buy protective products in advance that will help you protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation. Various creams or sprays that have a high degree of protection may be quite suitable for this.
Try to “hide” your facial skin so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight. You can use various improvised means: sunglasses, hats, panama hats with wide brims or caps with a large visor.
If possible, try to avoid walking in areas without shade or trees, especially during the sun's peak hours. After all, it is during the daytime hours that the rays of the heavenly body are the brightest and mercilessly scorching.
It is necessary to strengthen your diet by including products containing many vitamins. There is no need to chase exotic fruits; for example, strawberries, Brussels sprouts and many others are quite suitable for this purpose.
You should make it a rule to wash your face with boiled water, adding lemon juice to it. You can make kefir masks or yogurt masks three times a week, but only low-fat ones. With similar procedures, you can, if not completely get rid of freckles, then certainly reduce their number. In addition, their color will not be so pronounced.