How To Use Lemon for Dark Circles Under Eyes

Last Updated: April 6, 2018

As we age, the skin beneath our eyes becomes thin, allowing the blue veins underneath to show through as dark, shadowy circles. Lack of sleep, poor diet, and long hours in front of computer screens also contribute to dark circles.

But there are natural, affordable and effective home remedies that are able to get rid of dark under-eye circles once and for all. A great example is lemon juice. We’re about to tell you exactly how to use it and why it works. Let’s get started!

How Lemon Juice Erases Dark Circles?

• Lemon juice has natural bleaching properties that lighten skin with regular use over time.
• The vitamin C in lemon juice strengthens the immune system and the skin cells around the eyes.
• Lemon juice tightens blood vessels to reduce swelling and prevent the accumulation of fluids.
• Lemon juice moisturizes.
• Lemon juice is antiseptic and antibacterial. It fights germs that cause illness and allergies, which also contribute to dark circles.
• Lemon juice is an astringent. It keeps skin smooth and wrinkle-free.
• The citric acid in lemon juice detoxifies pores and removes dead skin cells.
• Lemon juice contains vitamin B, calcium, proteins, riboflavin, phosphorus, carbohydrates, and magnesium, all of which keep skin healthy.

How to Use Lemon Juice to Reduce the Appearance of Dark Circles

Lemon juice can be used alone or in combination with other natural ingredients that keep skin healthy, firm, smooth, and bright. Try all the remedies below until you find the one that works best for you.

1. Lemon Juice or Lemon Slices

• Juice fresh lemons.
• Use a cotton ball to apply juice to skin under eyes.
• Leave on 15 minutes, rinse with water, and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.
• For sensitive skin, mix lemon juice with water.
• If lemon juice and diluted lemon juice are both too strong, try placing lemon slices on the eyes.

2. Lemon Juice and Tomato

• Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon each of tomato puree and turmeric and ¼ teaspoon gram flour.
• Apply to clean under-eye skin and leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water and pat dry.
• Repeat 3 times a week.
• For added benefit, include ½ teaspoon of orange lentil flour.
• Note: You can use equal quantities of tomato juice and lemon juice.

3. Lemon Juice with Cucumber Juice

Cucumber acts as best astringent and skin lightening agent

• Peel and chop one chilled cucumber.
• Place cucumber chunks in blender and puree.
• Mix equal quantities of cucumber puree and fresh lemon juice.
• Use cotton ball to apply mixture to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily for a week.

4. Lemon and Mint

Mint cools and soothes the skin, tightens blood vessels, and detoxifies pores.

• Put a handful of fresh mint leaves in the blender and puree.
• Mix mint leaves with fresh lemon juice.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.
• Or blend tomato and mint leaves.
• Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 glass of tomato mint juice.
• Drink daily to reduce the appearance.

5. Lemon Juice with Almond Oil

Almond oil contains mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, which keep skin smooth, supple, and healthy.

• Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice with 1 tablespoon almond oil.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes or overnight.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.
• Almond oil can be replaced by almond paste.

6. Lemon and Potato

Potato bleaches skin with regular use over time.

• Peel and chop one white potato.
• Place potato chunks in blender and puree.
• Strain through cheesecloth to extract juice.
• Mix 1 tablespoon of potato juice with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
• Use cotton balls to apply mixture to clean under-eye dark circle skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.
• Refrigerator the leftover potato juice.

7. Lemon Juice, Glycerin, and Rosewater

• Mix equal quantities of fresh lemon juice, glycerin, and rosewater.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

8. Lemon Juice and Turmeric

• Mix 1 teaspoon of plain Greek yogurt, ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder, and ¼ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
• Apply mixture to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

9. Lemon with Milk or Cream

Process 1:

• Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of full fat milk or cream.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

Process 2:

• Or Grind sun dried lemon peel to make a powder.
• Mix 1 tablespoon each of powder and milk.
• Apply to dark circles and leave on until it dry.
• Wash with water and pat dry.
• Note: You can use almond oil instead of milk. Massage for 5 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

10. Lemon and Egg White

Egg white tightens skin to reduce swelling.

• Mix 1 egg white with ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
• Saturate 2 cotton balls with mixture and place them on closed eyes.
• Leave on 15 minutes.
• Remove cotton balls, rinse with warm water followed with cool water, and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

11. Lemon Juice and Honey

Honey moisturizes, nourishes, and detoxifies skin.

• Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice with ½ teaspoon of raw honey.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on few minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.
• You can add a teaspoon of sugar and place it in refrigerator for few minutes.

12. Lemon Juice and Jasmine Oil

• Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of jasmine oil.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on 10 minutes.
• Rinse with water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

13. Lemon Juice with Olive Oil

Olive oil restores the skin’s elasticity, keeping it firm and smooth.

• Mix ½ teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil with ¼ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on few minutes to overnight.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

14. Lemon Oil with Carrot and Other Essential Oils

Carrot prevents wrinkles and chamomile prevents inflammation and swelling.

• Mix equal quantities of lemon oil, chamomile oil, lavender oil, rosewood oil, and organic carrot juice.
• Use cotton ball to apply to clean under-eye skin.
• Leave on few minutes.
• Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

15. Drink Lemon Water

Drinking lemon water detoxifies the body from the inside, preventing illness, allergies, and skin problems that contribute to dark circles. Three times a day, mix 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice into a glass of lukewarm water and drink it.

Tips and Precautions:

For best results, follow the advice below when using lemon juice to treat and prevent dark under-eye circles.

• Always use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for these remedies.
• Include vitamin C in your diet by eating grapefruits, oranges, and other citrus fruits.
• If you experience burning, itching, or irritation, stop using lemon juice on skin.
• Lemon removes excess oil from skin.
• For added benefit, mix the oil from 2 vitamin E capsules into any of the above remedies.
• If dark circles do not begin to fade within 2 weeks, consult a doctor as they may indicate a more serious underlying health problem.
• Drink 8 glasses of water, plenty of fresh, organic fruit and vegetable juices, and herbal teas to stay hydrated.
• Eat a healthy diet, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes.
• Get regular exercise.
• Get 8 hours of sleep every night.
• Reduce stress through yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.

Have you tried using lemon juice to reduce the appearance of dark circles? Which methods worked best for you? Share your experience with us!

Rajee Datti

Hi everyone, this is Rajee!

I live the beautiful city of Baltimore, where my husband works.

I’m from India. I have been visiting India on and off for past few years and my mom was an inspiration for me to start this site. She has a wealth of knowledge on home remedies for a large number of health problems, and we grew up in an environment where frequent visits to the doctor just wasn’t logistically or financially feasible.

Despite this, she managed to raise a family of healthy kids, and my goal here at Home Remedies for Life is to pass on some of her knowledge of natural remedies.