Beauty Benefits And Hacks To Make With Orange Peel

Yes you read right, Orange Peel! As things have evolved today, nothing is ever going to get wasted and that is why the least expected thing will be very useful. When it comes to skin care and beauty treatments, there are tons of natural, sweet smelling items, wither sitting in the corner of your kitchen or that you are trashing that you can take advantage of – one of them is the item for today.
One very important thing to note of caution before we begin though is that citrus (orange family) can irritate sensitive skin and amplify UV damage if not diluted properly, so be smart and always patch-test your DIYs beforehand. That said, this fruit’s acidic properties and Vitamin C punch make it an excellent candidate to make it to your beauty routine. Let’s see 10 hacks you can make from it and its benefits.
1. Natural Lightening Agent: Orange peel is very rich in Vitamin C, which helps to lighten dark spots and blemishes on the skin. Simply rub the skin right onto your skin or mash it into a paste instead with water then apply on the skin. Leave for some minutes to dry then wash off with warm water.
2. Body scrub: the peels can also be a great scrub for the skin. Simply wrap up some orange peels in gauze pads and rub them on your skin while having your bath. This will help to brighten your skin and give it a great smell. Another way round, you should make the peels (very dried ones) into powder and mix with a little bit of coconut oil if you’d like to make a paste and apply to your skin. Wash off and use regularly and see the remarkable difference in your skin. You can also combine coconut oil, raw sugar and the orange peel powder for a clean body scrub that will exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin! Simple enough, rub the inside of a peel on your skin to tighten it.
3. Skin Smoothener and Blackheads removal:  as the face skin is more sensitive than the rest of the body, so it is important you deal with it sensitively and delicately. For blackheads removal and fresh, smooth face, mix equal quantity of powdered orange peel and Gram flour with a few drops of coconut oil (if your skin is dry) or milk (if your skin is greasy/oily) and blend thoroughly. Apply a layer on the face, neck and de-colletage (lowneck) area, let it dry and then slough it off with your finger tips. As a matter of fact, mixing equal proportions of milk and orange powder to form a paste and applying to the face for about half an hour helps to remove dead skin cells and excess oil from your face. Homemade facial pack of Greek yogurt, oatmeal, orange peel and honey will bring moisturize and radiance to your face, plus, it’s edible, so you can feel comfortable licking the excess off.
4. Acne Treatment: for acne treatment, mix two tablespoons of orange peel powder with honey until it forms a paste that can be applied to your face! Let the paste sit on your skin for about 10 minutes then wash out with water. Pat dry and repeat process till your desired effect manifests.
5. Cool deodorant for the win! A few peels of orange in your wardrobes or shoes can give you a lovely smell you will appreciate. All you need do is place the dried peels into a small bag and tuck them in your wardrobe or leave them in the shoes where you’d like a nice orangy-clean smell!
6. Teeth Whitening: rubbing orange peels on your teeth without any other ingredients is said to whiten the teeth in a short space of time. You should give that a trial but be careful as the compartments inside the peels carry an oil which is highly inflammable.
7. Bath Oil: Orange oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its ability to improve skin tone and texture. A few drops from squeezing the peels into your bath water is a big step to having a beautiful skin. You may also extract the oil by grinding up the peels and ferment with alcohol for about 3 days.
8. Hair Care: not to be left out, you can also use orange peels for your hair care!!! The peel juice (oil) can be used on the scalp to reduce dandruff and oily conditions. It helps to condition the hair and cleanse the scalp. Oranges contain a high amount of antioxidants which makes it act as a natural conditioner. It also helps in treating the damage caused by the pollution. Mix a blend of olive oil, orange zest and lemon juice and apply into the hair to treat scalp-related issues (do not leave in, wash off after about 5-8 minutes). You can as well apply the outer part of the peel to your scalp after washing the hair, allow to dry and then wash off. Use this remedy frequently for the desired results.
Read also: 6 Beauty Hacks To Help Make Your Braids Last Longer
Also, Take 3-4 tablespoons of Orange peel powder and mix it with lukewarm water till you get a mud like consistency. Apply this mixture on your hair and make sure you it covers the roots of the hairs most importantly. Let it rest on your scalp for an hour and rinse off with thoroughly with warm water. Use this remedy twice a week to prevent hair fall and for proper care of the tresses. For Peel powder and yogurt hair pack, take two tablespoons of orange peel powder and 1 cup of yogurt and mix it till you get a thick paste. Apply the paste on your hair and scalp using your fingertips with a gentle massage and let it remain for two hours. Wash off with lukewarm water and a conditioner. Repeat process twice a week to part ways dandruff and hair loss owing to the same in an effective manner.
9. Tan Removal: orange peel is also an effective item in battling sunburn, tan and skin discolouration. A very effective pack to use is the Orange Peel and Lime pack. Take 2 tablespoons of orange peel powder, add in a few drops of lime and to this add a tablespoon each of fuller’s earth and sandalwood powder till you get a smooth paste. Apply it on the tanned part and let it dry for 30minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and retake process twice a week till satisfied result is achieved.
10. Glowing skin: who doesn’t want a healthy, glowing skin, be it melanin glow or the fair one? A facilitator of the skin you so desire is a mixture of orange zest,  dried neem leaves, pomegranate peel and lemon juice, and mix it all together. Rub mixture on your skin, and wash off after sometime. Then sit back and admire the results.
NB: When using orange peel,
• Wash first before drying to ensure it is clean and hygienic enough to use.
• Never store unpeeled oranges for an extended period of time.
• Orange peels should not be stored in a refrigerator either, but in a cool, dry place instead.
• Always choose oranges that have thin skin for the best results.Photos Credit: Getty