It’s hard to think of something that doesn’t look better thanks to lemons—a tall glass of water, a decadent dessert, and even your skin. This blazingly bright yellow fruit isn’t only easy on the eyes but it is also a powerful antioxidant that offers countless beauty benefits, making it a popular ingredient in skincare products.
Forget how acerbic lemons are to taste—people are certainly sweet on the the crisp and citrusy notes of this fresh fruit. “We use lemon in our products because it brings a smile to so many people’s faces, which is a great way to start the day,” says Nava Feller, founder of Nava Natural Cosmetics. “It’s just amazing what lemons can do for you. They uplift the spirit and can make you sing in the shower.”
According to Mette Gustavsen of Joia Beauty (Northampton, MA), it’s the lemon scent and action that grabs the customer’s attention in both the Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil and Lemon Body Moisturizer used at the spa. “It is just love at first sight, or whiff in this case,” says Gustavsen. “After clients smell the product, I usually remind them of the potent invigorating, cooling, and refreshing properties that lemons hold.” According to her, lemon-infused products are best suited for hot-natured people who need a little help cooling down or for those who just enjoy the revitalizing scent. “I incorporate the Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil when I give a décolleté massage at the end of the signature Dr. Hauschka Treatment, and I see that clients breathe deeply to take in the amazing scent,” she says. “Smiles appear and they often want to talk about how enlivened they feel.”
Danica Siegel, creator and president of I Am, also uses lemons in her line to help her customers beat the heat, as well as their stress level. “Lemon has the ability to create a positive mindframe and remove negative emotions,” she says. “It’s calming in nature and helps remove mental fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, and nervous tension.”
As far as skincare goes, the potent power of lemon cannot be ignored, and it helps lead to sunny dispositions. “Lemon juice has bleaching, regenerating, moisturizing, and toning effects, and it refreshes and rejuvenates the skin and increases its resiliency,” says Szilvia Hickman, senior vice president at Szép Élet, distributor of Ilike Organic Skin Care. “The pulp and the peel of the lemon contain fruit acids that lighten pigmentation and eliminate excess oil. Its essential oil is mostly used by the beauty industry for its pleasant, fresh fragrance.” According to Hickman, lemon oil is used in Ilike products because of its lightly hydrating, stimulating, astringent, detoxifying, antiseptic, and antifungal properties. The Spa at Aria (Las Vegas) features these products in its Organic Skin Nutrition Facial ($95, 25 minutes; $155, 50 minutes; $250, 80 minutes) to transform a regular facial into an invigorating aromatic experience.
The concentration of vitamin C in lemons is also a reason why it’s a skin-friendly resource and a useful weapon to fight aging. One regular-sized lemon has more than 50 mg of vitamin C, which amounts to a high number of antioxidants, especially for one small fruit. “We use lemon essential oil in our products to provide better benefits in preventing skin aging,” says Ken Simpson, founder, president, and CEO of Skin 2 Skin Care, which boasts the popular citrus-kissed Anti-Photoaging SPF 30. “The vitamin C in the product helps detoxify the skin and prevent sun damage.”
Not only is lemon good for the face but it also perfects the pout. According to Louise Peck, Ph.D., founder of HydroPeptide, lemon fruit extract, as seen in the brand’s Lip Plumper Fuller Smoother, helps maintain healthy capillary walls, resulting in better blood circulation to the lip area.
While tantalizing the senses and saving the skin are definite beauty boosts provided by lemons, the juicy fruit can also be used to treat and tone the body. La Bella Salon &
Spa (Albuquerque, NM) incorporates PINO Natural Spa Therapy’s Lemon Mint Massage Oil into its treatments to provide a refreshing and stimulating massage. “This vitamin C-rich product increases collagen synthesis, which helps thicken the skin and prevent moisture loss,” says Alma Bocanegra, PINO’s national technical manager. “It also provides an improved appearance in sun damaged skin and reduces skin damage caused by free radicals that are generated by pollution.”
Although this citrus fruit is perfect for reviving summer-worn skin, its crisp scent should not be ignored during the rest of the year. “I incorporate Lemon Bath compresses year-round in my facial treatments,” says Jaime Olander, on-staff esthetician at Dr. Hauschka Skin Care. “I recommend clients use Lemon Bath in water while cleaning their faces throughout the year, as it is both warming and uplifting to the mood in the colder months and refreshing in the warmer months.” Whether clients are interested in true results-oriented skincare, a relaxing massage, or just a little lift of the spirits, offering them lemon-laden services will give them just the twist they need to feel better from the inside out.
Main Squeeze
Boost the a-peel of your offerings with these lemon-loving products, which alleviate a range of beauty blunders.
Bioelements Quick Refiner: Blending glycolic and multi-fruit acids, this light gel clears pores and reduces fine lines, leaving skin looking younger. (800) 433-6650; www.bioelements.com.
Cuccio Naturalé Lemon Skin Lightening Serum: Formulated with kojic acid and natural lemon extract, this product gradually reduces and lightens skin pigmentation. (800) 762-6245; www.cuccio.com.
Decléor Instant Radiance Moisturizer: Containing grapefruit, petitgrain, and lemon essential oils, this hydrating moisturizer promotes cell renewal and rejuvenation. (888) 414-4471; www.decleordirect.com.
Éminence Organic Skin Care Lemon Cleanser: This hydrating cleanser features lemon and herb oils to preserve moisture while gently cleaning the skin. (888) 747-6342; www.eminenceorganics.com.
GlyMed Plus Men’s Essential Facial Scrub: Including lemon extract, this mild lathering, yet powerful cleanser gently conditions the skin while removing impurities. (800) 676-9667; www.glymedplus.com.
Gourmet Spa Essentials Lemon Drop Martini Gourmet Fragrance Drops: A clean and fresh aroma of lemon married with a hint of sugar emanates from this fragrance-free and colorless oil. (877) 944-9454; www.gourmetspaessentials.com.
Guinot Masque Nouvel Eclat: This dual-action mask, which contains lemon essential oil, offers a gentle fruit-acid peel to reveal clean, smooth skin. (800) 523-1030; www.guinotusa.com.
Hugo Naturals Lemon Verbena & Bergamot Handcrafted Soap: Made with all-natural, cruelty-free ingredients, this ultra-emollient soap is enriched with jojoba, shea butter, botanical extracts, and essential oils. (866) 576-4846; www.hugonaturals.com.
Ionithermie Pro-Metasysteme: This energizing body emulsion, which contains natural lemon extract, slims, contours, and tones the skin while leaving behind a smooth, natural citrus fragrance. (515) 418-9834; www.ionithermieus.com.
Jurlique Citrus Silk Finishing Powder: Lemon and tangerine essential oils are infused in this refreshing and uplifting facial powder that balances oily skin and helps reduce shine. (800) 854-1110; www.jurlique.com.
Kerstin Florian Enlighten with Vitamin C: Naturally lighten skin with this unique formula, which includes bearberry, licorice root extracts, and vitamin C. (888) 537-7846; www.kerstinflorian.com.
Prima Fleur Botanicals Lemon Chiffon Body Polish: Made with cold-pressed California lemon oil and other luxe ingredients, this refreshing body polish exfoliates, hydrates, nourishes, soothes, and softens. (415) 455-0957; www.primafleur.com.
Sanítas Skincare Lemon Cream Scrub: This fresh-scented facial scrub exfoliates dead skin cells and stimulates new tissue growth while delivering nutrients and antioxidants. (888) 855-8425; www.sanitas-skincare.com.
Sensuous Solutions First Step Sensuous Pedicure Soak with Lovage: In Lemon-Lime fragrance, this non-foaming foot soak works as a natural antiseptic while deodorizing and cleansing the feet. It softens corns, calluses, and cuticles and is safe for use in all footspas. (800) 578-1444; www.sensuoussolutions.com.
Skin 2 Skin Care Aging Intervention Cream: Increasing the skin’s luster, this cream rejuvenates dull skin, while controlling bacteria that causes acne and helping to minimize the look of scars. (877) 754-6790; www.skin2skincare.com.