All About Skin Lightening: Skin Lightening Myth: Lemon Juice

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Skin Lightening Myth: Lemon Juice

Photo Credit: GracenGlamour

One of the very first posts I made when I started this blog was titled Don't Use Lemons. I suggest reading that if you haven't already, but it basically a caution against using lemons.

Using lemon juice as a skin lightener is something that has been around for ages. A lot of people who have read that blog article I made message me and tell me, "I use lemon juice all the time, and it works wonderfully at lightening my skin and fading my acne marks. I use sunscreen everyday so I know I'm not getting damaged'.

And they are absolutley correct. If you are wearing sunscreen everyday to protect your skin, using lemons can be effective and very inexpensive.

Lemon juice being a skin lightener is actually not a myth. It's true, it can lighten the skin.

I just think it's best exercise caution since it can be really strong. I wouldn't suggest using it straight on. Diluting it with water or witch hazel (or both) is probably the best way to apply it. Also rubbing an actual lemon wedge on your face is just asking for irritation. Use it with a cotton pad or clean fingers.

The truth is, lemon juice offers a source of pure, fresh L-ascorbic acid. The vitamin c itself evens out the skin tone and lightens/brightens it up overtime, as well as exfoliates the skin.

I would recommend making it fresh (as opposed to storing it as a toner, which can very effective but having it as fresh as possible is best). Depending on how much surface area you want to cover (whether it's just your face or your neck, arms etc.) using 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice to 1 cup of water can cover a lot.

If you do plan on making it into a toner, using a clean, empy spray bottle or a used up toner bottle can hold a lemon + water + witch hazel (or rose water) mixture.

It's best not to rinse it off, since it allows the vitamin c to infuse fully into the stratum corneum. Apply moisturizer (or your serum) on top. Lemons are best used at night. I know that kind of goes against what I usually say, but they can be very strong (especially in the beginning) so you might see some flushing, redness etc.

;)

Labels: antioxidant, skin lightening

12 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Mileena

Can i follow up with Bioderma White Objective Night gel after my MUAC Lactic Acid peel? i am not sure cuz it has Vit C and also gycolic acid i guess.

I ordered for Kose Herbal Esthetic Mask, it's on the way lol...can i follow it with my regular AM regime i.e. Vit C toner and makari day cream?

Thanks; June 2, 2010 at 9:36 AM
Mileena said...: Hi,

Yes you can use the Bioderma White Objective after a MUAC peel. Just be careful, apply sparingly.

You can use your regular regime of Vitamin C toner, and Makari Day Cream after the Herbal Esthetic Mask. The mask has nothing in it that will sensitize the skin, it's actually quite soothing. =); June 2, 2010 at 1:03 PM
Anonymous said...: What do you think about lemon baths? I've heard of someone doing that once, but it doesn't seem like such a good idea to be bathing in what is essentially acid :/

I'm really looking for an effective and hopefully cheap way to lighten my body as I lighten my face though, because having mismatched face and body skin tones is just unflattering, haha :P I'm debating between the DDF Brightening Cleanser you said you used, or the Makari Body Milk, or good ole lemons. What do you think? I don't really have any conditions on the skin throughout my body, although I have found that Likas did dry me out severely, but it was okay with a body butter.

Thanks for your input! :); June 2, 2010 at 7:20 PM
Mileena said...: I've never heard of anyone bathing in lemon, but lemon can work as a body treatment (and mild exfoliation treatment, since it is acid-based so kind of like a peel).

It's drying though. If you find the Likas incredibly drying (which it can be) lemons will be pretty much the same.

I would suggest (if you do plan on using lemons for your body) use it in a spray bottle, dilute it with water (or water and witch hazel) and spray your body with it everytime you step out of the shower. Make sure you are protecting your skin with a sunscreen though (so on arms etc.)

Makari Body Milk (which is a great lightener for the body) can be applied on top too so...it's worth a shot IMO. Vitamin C is found in lemons and if you are hydrating your body (preventing dryness) and protecting it with sunscreen, you may seem some great results.; June 2, 2010 at 8:01 PM
Anonymous said...: dear,
what is your opinion about 'Vaseline healthy white body milk' and 'olay white radiance'?I have bought these two and am wondering whether they are going to be effective or not...please help...thanks
<3; June 3, 2010 at 3:12 AM
Mileena said...: Hi ;)

The Olay White Radiance line is like an enhanced Regenerist line. I've heard of it, and for awhile I wanted to try it. It has a good amount of niacinamide (vitamin b3) I think around 5% which is enough to break up hyperpigmentation. The original regenerist I believe is only 3.

I think it's a good botanical skin brightening line. I wouldn't say the White Radiance will 'lighten' or 'whiten' skin but definitley fade some scars, discolorations and brighten up your complexion (glow).

I believe it's also very moisturizing, so if you have dry skin it's great.

I don't know much about the Vaseline Healthy white body milk. I believe it's active ingredient is also vitamin b3 (niacinamide) which can help with hyperpigmentation and more even in skin tone. I don't know much about it to give a sound opinion (need full ingredient list) but I am sure it can help with evening out some discolorations/uneven spots on your body. It'll take time though - around 5-8 weeks with niacinamide. ;); June 3, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Anonymous said...: thanks a bunch! i have just ordered Diana Stalder surely white papaya kojic acid soap and the Sofina perfect sunscreen lotion..thanks to ur blog ive learned so much about skin lightening!Can you tell me a possible time frame to see the desired results? Im Indian, so have a olive/tan tone..would like to loose upto 2/3 shades.. I know i have to wait a while and am in no hurry ,but still just out of curiosity :p... :); June 4, 2010 at 7:39 AM
Mileena said...: Generally 4 weeks to see visible results, sometimes sooner though depending on if you exfoliate regularily (the papaya soap has some exfoliating properties).

;); June 4, 2010 at 10:20 AM
RANDY said...: Hello mil!!

I love d diy vit. C so much! What i dunno: does the mg matter? I use 50 mg of vit.C in a form of a small tablet. I assume the higher d better :) but actually... i dont knw. Oi since it is EXTREMELY cheap -> Rp3500 or very less than $1, it has like orange color n flavor. Is it ok to use d flavored vit.C? Also i wanna knw whther using vit.C right after my bengkoang toner will delay even block d effect or not. I read dat there should be 30mins gap but dats insane (ph problem). Thanks to this blog! Thanks, mil :D; June 6, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Randy said...: Ive just tried mustika ratu's (queen's charm) traditional mask. Its just stupid coz it must be diluted n no fragrance (d aroma is very alien)! Inactive ingred. is just paraben, i used that while wondering d life in old Java... it's just combination of jicama, licorice, a sumtin dat i dunno, n derivative of vit. c. But in d how-to i should dilute it wth white rose water (increasing d feeling of Keraton fanaticism...) White rose water is another Keraton-ic product from em. If i use products from em, it's like i were possessed by d souls of Javanese Kings... boooo... I am not Randy... Surrender... Ha..ha..ha...!!!

--

Whoah, what was dat?? Whoaah!! See? I was possessed!! Run before i touch you!!

---

I gotta wash dis mask b4 anything happens. Anyway, do u think all d niacinamide prodcts r brightening instead of lightening??? I still wonder whether or not i should introduce another cement for my face... But cmoooon im still a high school student (still sophomore, next july will be senior, yay!) Im kinda tight when we r compromising about money!! :-/; June 6, 2010 at 5:42 AM
Mileena said...: Hi Randy,

Flavors don't really matter. If you are seeing results then it is definitley working for you.

And yes making a DIY vitamin c serum is very inexpensive which is awesome.

The 30 minute wait, that is quite long. Usually 15-20 is enough. You only wait if the toner has BHA or niacinamide in it. That's it. And even with those, 10-15 minutes is enough for the skin to neutralize itself back to it's 'original' pH level.; June 6, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Mileena said...: LOL @ souls of Javanese kings.

No, don't introduce anything else into your regimen. There is no point in doing so many things at once. It's hard to determine which ingredients work best for you if you are using tons at a time.

Niacinamide generally lightens hyperpigmentation, but can lighten the overall complexion.

and yay for becoming senior! ;); June 6, 2010 at 10:34 AM

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Skin Lightening Myth: Lemon Juice

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