Lemon peels are often discarded after using lemon juice, considered useless. However, it is known that the lemon peel contains more Vitamin C and antioxidants than the juice itself. Expensive Vitamin C serums available in stores oxidize quickly and may contain chemical substances. If you want to get rid of dark spots, pigmentation, and dullness without side effects and achieve radiance, you can make a 100% natural Vitamin C serum at home from lemon zest.
Ingredients:
To prepare, you need fresh lemon zest (2-3 lemons, grated or cut into small pieces), 4 tablespoons of rose water, 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel (fresh or store-bought), 1/2 teaspoon of virgin coconut oil or almond oil, 1 Vitamin E capsule, and 1 teaspoon of glycerin.
Step-by-step instructions:
First, thoroughly wash and clean the lemons. It is important to use only the yellow/green part of the peel, trying to minimize the white inner layer. Place the lemon zest and 4 tablespoons of rose water in a glass container. Then, heat the water in a saucepan and place the glass container over it to steam over low heat for 8-10 minutes. This will allow all the extract and Vitamin C from the peel to transfer to the rose water.
After the container cools down, strain the resulting extract through a thin cotton cloth or sieve to separate the lemon extract. Add 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, 1/2 teaspoon of almond oil, 1 teaspoon of glycerin, and the oil from 1 Vitamin E capsule to this ready extract. Using a spoon or whisk, beat the mixture for two minutes until a homogeneous serum is obtained.
This serum should be stored in a clean, dark glass bottle with a dropper. It can be kept in the refrigerator and used for 10-12 days. It is recommended to apply 3-4 drops of the serum to the face and neck daily after thoroughly cleansing and drying the face, gently massaging it in, and leaving it overnight.