When life gives you lemons, you slather them on your face!

There’s that overused lemon quote which doesn’t quite cover the assortment of benefits lemons have to offer. Lemonade is just the beginning. Right from marinating chicken and zinging up cocktails to strengthening nails and curing dandruff, lemons might just be the answer to most of your health problems.

Obvious things first, lemons can fulfill 88% of your daily Vitamin C needs. Its eye-wringing sourness might have been an inspiration for pranks and amusement during our childhoods, but from its peel to its pulp, lemons are bursting with nutritional gifts. They contain virtually no fats and absolutely no cholesterol. Vital minerals like magnesium, copper, potassium and zinc can be found in lemons. Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin are present in some quantities too.

The oils present in the zest of a lemon have various skin benefits. Coupled with ample Vitamin C, healthy looking skin is just one of the boons lemons have to offer. Lemon oil mixed with honey is an effective treatment against eczema, acne and blackheads. Hot water spritzed with lemon juice in the morning can work wonders against constipation. Soaking nails in a mixture of diluted lemon juice can harden them and impart natural sheen.

Consumption of lemon juice can strengthen your immune system and provide protection against flu and fever. Chewing a wedge can beat bad breath and the after taste of cigarettes. Green tea flavoured with lemon zest has a calming effect on the senses. Room fresheners and scented candles include citrus smells since they alleviate tension and are known to increase brain activity. (Read: What food items should my kid eat during winters to build immunity?)

Thus, we can see that lemon tends to improve anything and everything about the human body. However, leaving lemon juice on your skin for long periods of time can be harmful too. It increases chances of sunburn. The acidic nature can cause inflammation and irritation of the skin. Always use lemon juice mixed with water or honey to dilute its strength and prevent harm. Also, unmonitored consumption of lemon juice can erode teeth enamel and irritate mucus membranes.

Try granny's remedies, say goodbye to skin tan

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Cucumber juice-rose water pack: Apply a mixture of rose water, cucumber juice and a dash of lemon juice once a day. Lemon juice helps reduce the tan, while rose water and cucumber work as cooling agents.

Honey-lemon juice pack:
Mix two tablespoons of honey with a few drops of lemon juice and apply it on the affected area once or twice in a day. Apply the mixture for few minutes and wash it off with cold water. 

Turmeric pack: One can also prepare a paste adding a pinch of turmeric, lemon juice and raw milk. Apply the mixture properly and wait till it dries. Wash it off with cold water.

Oats-buttermilk pack: 
Buttermilk soothes and softens the skin. Make a pack by mixing a tablespoon of oats with buttermilk and apply it on your face or body to get rid of tanning from body parts. Since oats help in exfoliating the skin, the mixture can prove to be beneficial.

Curd and lemon pack:
In olden days, granny used to rely on a mixture of gram flour, lime juice and curd to get a glowing skin. But one needs to slather the mixture regularly to get rid of tanning. 

Lemon juice pack for body parts: To keep your knees, elbows and other patchy areas smooth and clean, apply fresh lemon juice. Keep it on for at least 15 minutes and wash it off.

Coconut pack: Fresh coconut water makes the skin soft and fair. Using it twice in a day on hands and face can prove beneficial.

Milk powder and honey pack: 
Prepare a paste adding equal quantity of milk powder, lemon juice, almond oil and honey. Apply it on the affected portions for at least 20 minutes. It will help reduce tan. One can also store it for a week. If you have time, use it thrice a day for better results.

Sugar-lemon pack:
Sugar is considered as the best cleansing agent. Apply the mixture of sugar and lemon juice on your face and wash it after 20 minutes. If you have dry skin, then add a few drops of glycerine to the mixture. 

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Here are a few easy recipes that you can use to eliminate skincare and hair issues on a domestic level:

Acne and Blackheads – Their antibacterial and antifungal properties make them a natural alternative to treat acne. Simply slice open a lemon and rub it across your face. Or you can add a few drops of honey to a lemon half before applying it directly to the area where you have blackheads. Wait five to 10 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. (Read:  Blackheads bothering you? Here’s some expert advice!)

Whitening Teeth – Lemon juice mixed with a little baking soda is a natural teeth whitener. Dip an ear bud in this mixture and apply onto teeth. Take care not to leave the mixture on for more than a minute as it can break down tooth enamel. Follow up by gently brushing your teeth afterwards.

Foot Scrub – For your next home pedicure, combine the juice of half a lemon, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Massage the mix on your feet thoroughly and leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off and pat dry. This mixture scrubs and moisturizes your feet and helps in eliminating the dryness. (Read: Manicures and pedicures – what your beautician won’t tell you)

Exfoliating Mask – The combined anti-bacterial properties of lemon and honey make this a great cleansing and exfoliating recipe. Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with ¼ cup of yogurt and 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix until a uniform paste is formed and apply onto a clean, make-up free skin. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Don’t hesitate to sneak a taste too.

Chapped lips – It is as easy as massaging lemon wedges onto your lips before you go to sleep. Leave it on overnight and wash off the next morning. Lemon juice works as an exfoliant and removes any dead skin cells resulting in softer, smoother lips. (Read: How do I treat dry lips?)

Hair Growth – We all know coconut oil works wonders for hair growth. Give it a boost with a few drops of lemon juice to get lustrous, thicker and healthier hair.

Dandruff – Probably one of the most well-known and proved benefits of lemon, it has been able to effectively eradicate hair problems related to dandruff and dry scalp. It is as simple as rubbing lemon slices onto your scalp and leaving the juice on for an hour or so. You can magnify the effect by adding 4 tablespoons of vinegar. Follow it by washing your hair with lukewarm water.

Conditioning – This might be a weird one, but it has proven to be an effective conditioner. Mix the juice of an entire lemon with ½ a cup of yogurt and a raw egg. Mix until it forms a thick paste and apply all over scalp and hair. Leave it long enough so that it dries and wash off using a mild shampoo. Regular, weekly conditioning with this recipe will yield lustrous, thicker, softer hair. (Read: Are you using the right hair conditioner?)

So, we can see how versatile lemon is when it comes to skincare, haircare and diet. But if you don’t need any of these DIY treatments, because you maybe endowed with inherently flawless skin and hair, you can always find some tequila!