This article originally appeared on Hellogiggles.
By now, it’s nothing new that celebrities and normal people alike tout the benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning – it’s reportedly an easy (and delicious!) way to kickstart your metabolism, boost your immune system, and keep your skin clear, all thanks to that citrus-y goodness.
The health claims of lemon water in the morning haven’t been solidly proven, but there’s really nothing to be lost by trying it out. Lemons are the cheapest (and most versatile!) beauty tool you can add to your arsenal, as if you needed yet another reason to play Beyoncé’s Lemonade on repeat for the millionth time.
And as much as we love Sephora, we’re all for using beauty tools from our kitchens, such as a lemon, that are cheap, effective, and yummy.
1It can brighten your smile.
Lemon juice paired with baking soda can create a gentle, natural teeth whitener, as the acidity in the fruit and the alkalinity of the baking soda helps to lift surface stains. To use, mix a bit of both in a small bowl and dab it on your teeth using a cotton swab or tissue, leaving it on for a minute or two before gently brushing it off with your toothbrush. Just don’t do this too often or you can risk weakening the protective enamel on your choppers.
2It can eliminate shine from your skin.
A good squeeze of lemon can reduce excess oil, which is perfect for those steamy summer days when your favorite blotting papers simply won’t do.
3It’s a great exfoliator.
Lemon juice acts as a gentle exfoliator by helping to lift dry, dead skin cells, revealing the baby soft skin beneath. You can make a DIY lemon face scrub or lip scrub, and even use it to exfoliate tougher skin on your elbows and knees. As an added bonus, you’ll smell like lemon afterward. Nothing bad about that!
4It can help clear your acne (no, really).
Drinking lemon water is widely believed to help clear your skin from the inside out, but using it on your skin might also provide numerous benefits. Lemon is packed with antibacterial properties, so it could help clear your skin and eliminate blackheads better than harsh drugstore cleansers. Using it as part of a DIY mask will also help moisturize your skin in the process!
5It can brighten your complexion.
While all that lemony goodness is working its magic on your acne, there are so many other crazy good benefits to using the citrus on your face. Dermatologist Marina Peredo, M.D. told Women’s Health in 2014 that because lemons are rich in Vitamin C and citric acid, they can neutralize free radicals, boost collagen production, and help lighten age spots and dark spots. Just make sure you are extra-vigilant with SPF usage since lemon can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
5It can work wonders on your mane.
Teens in search of at-home highlights have been using lemon juice for decades, but using a bit of lemon really is great for your tresses. If you apply lemon to your hair before going out in the sun, you can get subtle highlights, but we recommend using it as part of a DIY lemon hair mask for a myriad of reasons. Lemon juice can help fight dandruff and a dry scalp naturally, all while also stimulating hair growth. Double win!
6It can strengthen and brighten your nails, too.
If your nails are weak or brittle from too many gel manicures or spending your days typing away, you must soak your tired nails in a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil. The combo will help strengthen your tips while also naturally whitening yellowed nails. (Yes, it sounds ironic but it works!) All told, your cuticles will thank you, trust us.
7It can even treat warts and canker sores.
Yep, it sounds gross but it’s true: Lemon juice can help heal and dissolve warts on your skin or canker sores in your mouth. Who knew?!
So not only are lemons ace for your mixed drinks and morning lemon water, they offer so many incredible beauty benefits. Use ’em however you need ’em, and you may soon be saying “see ya” to some of your expensive beauty products.