5 Beauty Benefits of Lemon Oil for Skin, Hair, and Nails

The crisp, refreshing scent of lemon essential oil is hard to beat. If you’re looking to channel a sunny, summer day, the scent of lemon is an excellent option. In addition to its citrusy aroma, lemon oil offers many benefits for skin, hair and nails, that you might not have heard of before.  

 

Incorporate this oil into your daily beauty regimen and you may be surprised at its powerful benefits. From helping to fight nail fungus, to brightening your skin tone, lemon oil is incredibly versatile. We’ve compiled our top 5 favorite uses for lemon oil for skin, hair and nails plus a few super easy DIY lemon oil recipes you really need to try!

What You Need to Know to Get Started

Lemon oil, like all essential oils, should never be applied directly to skin. You should always properly dilute it with a carrier oil or other natural substance like aloe vera, witch hazel or castile soap (to name just a few).

As part of the citrus family, lemon oil can also cause photosensitivity in skin, meaning exposing lemon oil treated skin to the sun may cause irritation. Photosensitivity can easily be avoided by using with sunblock or in your nighttime routine.

Lastly, whenever using a new product on your skin, you should always do a small skin patch test to check for sensitivities or allergies— everyone’s body is unique!

Lemon Oil Helps Even Out Skin Tone

Now that you know the rules about using lemon oil safely, lets jump right into one of the popular ways to use “liquid sunshine” in your beauty routine: evening skin tone. Lemon oil is known for its ability to help brighten and rejuvenate skin.

The simplest way to harness the brightening benefits of lemon oil for skin tone is by creating your own serum to target dark spots and discoloration. One of our most beloved recipes, this DIY lemon oil serum is extremely easy to make and use!

Brightening DIY Lemon Oil Serum

Ingredients & Supplies

• 2 Tbsp jojoba oil

• 5 drops lemon oil

• Cotton ball

Instructions

• 1. In a small clean dish or bottle mix jojoba and lemon oil.

• 2. Use your cotton ball to apply to dark spots and discoloration. Avoid getting in eyes, nostrils or mouth.

• 3. Let sit for 5-7 minutes and rinse. Follow with your regular moisturizer.

Lemon Oil Ups Your Exfoliation Game

Not only does lemon oil help brighten skin, it also helps deep clean pores.  As a natural astringent, lemon oil helps clear dead skin cells from pores, helping to keep skin clear and blemish-free.

Lavender Lemonade Sugar Scrub

Ingredients & Supplies

• 1 cup granulated white sugar

• ¼ cup jojoba oil

• 3/4 tsp lavender oil

• 3/4 tsp lemon oil

• Mixing bowl/spoon

• Mason jar for storing

Instructions:

• 1. Add sugar, jojoba, lavender and lemon oil to your bowl. Mix until fully combined.

• 2. Scoop sugar body scrub into mason jar.

• 3. To use, scoop sugar scrub into hands and massage onto damp skin in circular motion.

• 4.  Let sit 1-2 minutes for a hydrating effect and thoroughly rinse.

Control Body Odor with Lemon Oil Deodorant

Unfortunately, many common deodorants include several harmful components such as aluminum and parabens. For a more natural and less toxic deodorant, try making your own with lemon oil. Not only does our homemade deodorant recipe smell great, but antibacterial properties of lemon oil help reduce odor causing bacteria.  

DIY Lemon Oil Deodorant  

Ingredients & Supplies

• ½ cup baking soda

• ½ cup arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)

• 5 Tbsp raw coconut oil

• 25 drops lemon oil

• Large mixing bowl

• Small microwave safe bowl

• Whisk (optional: handmixer)

• Mason jar for storing

Instructions:

• 1. In large bowl, mix dry ingredients until well combined

• 2. In microwave safe bowl, warm raw coconut oil in 15 second increments until softened

• 3. Add lemon oil to coconut oil and mix thoroughly

• 4. Add coconut and lemon oil mix to dry mix and thoroughly blend.

• 5. Store in mason jar. Lemon oil deodorant lasts 3-6 months. May last longer if kept refrigerated.

• 6. To use, apply a pea-size amount to each underarm, coating each armpit thoroughly.

  

 

Boost Your Shampoo with Lemon Oil

Lemon oil is very commonly used as a hair tonic. You may even have heard of people using lemon juice and the sun to lighten their strands. Lemon oil and lemon juice are not the same thing— but that being said, they do have similar properties when it comes to lightening powers.

What you may not know is that lemon oil does more for your hair than just boosting highlights. The main benefit of using lemon oil for hair care is actually to help control oil buildup, and maintain a healthy scalp.

The same antibacterial and astringent properties that make lemon oil great to use for skin are also how lemon oil benefits greasy hair. Adding just a few drops of lemon oil to your regular shampoo can help reduce bacteria on your scalp and cut down on oil buildup that causes greasy hair.

When using this potent essential oil to fight greasy hair, we recommend adding just 1-2 drops of lemon oil to about a tablespoon of shampoo, mixing in your palm and lathering as usual. Do remember, that using more lemon oil and going in the sun can lighten hair or affect color treated hair!

If you do have color treated or damaged hair, you should definitely test a small section of hair first before using lemon oil mixes all over or heading out into the sun.

Lemon Oil Helps Keep Nails Fresh

Keeping your feet clean and dry is the best way to help avoid toenail fungus. Its antibacterial nature makes lemon oil a great addition to your foot care routine to keep nails and feet fresh and comfy.

We love this applying this cream before and after the gym to help avoid picking up athlete’s foot and other icky stuff in the locker room. As a bonus, it’s also super hydrating so it keeps your feet soft and smooth. You can even use this DIY lemon oil cream to keep your fingernails fresh.

Honey Lemon Hand & Foot Nail Cream

Ingredients & Supplies:

• ½  tsp lemon oil

• 6 Tbsp argan oil

• 3 Tbsp beeswax pellets

• 1 Tbsp raw honey

• Microwave safe bowl

• 6 oz. balm tin

Instructions:

• 1. Combine beeswax, argan oil, and honey in bowl, microwave in 15 second increments until liquid.

• 2. Stir in lemon oil, pour into balm tin and let cool until solid.

• 3. To use, rub into hands, feet and nail cuticles as needed. Wash hands before and after applying to avoid contamination.

How Will You Use The Beauty Benefits of Lemon Oil?

Now that you know all about the benefits of lemon oil for hair, skin and nails you’re ready to start using it in your beauty routine. Which lemon oil recipe will you try first? Let us know, we’d love to hear about your brand new lemony fresh routine!

Get at us in the comments with how you’re using lemon oil, and any questions you may have.  You might just get your question answered next in one of our YouTube videos!

*Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information on this site is meant for educational and informational purposes only, it is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.