We all know how delicious and nutritious lentils can be as an accompaniment to fresh salmon, in a warm salad, or in your favorite dhal, but do their nutritional benefits extend beyond your best-loved recipes? In my helpful article, we will discover 12 uses of lentils for the skin and 8 face pack recipes!
Keeping your skincare simple and of course cheaper without the markup of brands, coupled with a more ethical and sustainable way of caring for your skin is becoming more and more important to anyone looking for natural skincare.
In this article, we are going to explore and focus on the uses of lentils for the skin. Let’s first start with the mini takeaway.
Uses of lentils for the skin:
- Prevents rapid aging
- Skin lightening agent
- Removes dry patches
- Maintains blood sugar levels for clear skin
- Remove unwanted hair
- Gives a natural glow with an oil-free skin
- Freshens and rejuvenates the skin
- Gives a flawless look to the skin
- Removes stubborn tans
- Helps with pigmentation and scars.
- Tightening of pores
- Remove blemishes
Ok so now we’ve given you some ideas, so we can more easily understand the many uses of lentils for the skin, let’s first start by exploring a little lentil background.
Lentils are a staple food in many countries
Red lentils also are known as Masoor dhal in India and are a very popular nutritious food along with being one of the mainstays of the Indian diet.
It’s interesting to discover that lentils are a staple food of many other countries with Canada leading the way in lentil consumption, followed by Nepal, Australia, Turkey, and India.
Lentil health benefits
The popular consumption of lentils across the globe, of course, comes with the numerous health benefits they have, which is only going to bode well for anyone looking to use lentils for the skin.
Lentils are an excellent source of:
- B vitamins
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Zinc
- Phosphorous
- Protein
- Manganese
They’re also a super-efficient and pocket-friendly source of both insoluble and soluble fiber.
Used in Ayurveda medications, which is a traditional Indian system of medicine and often referred to as ‘the mother of all healing’ this is one of the oldest known holistic or ‘whole body’ healing systems.
While many of us are somewhat familiar with the health benefits of lentils, one of their major important properties is that they benefit the skin in many different ways.
This means that lentils can also be a part of your natural skincare routine.
So let’s further explore the health profile of lentils so you can understand how lentils can be a power source for your skin.
Health Profile of Lentils
For anyone who wants to discover the benefits of lentils of the skin, its worth knowing that approximately 100 grams of lentils have 116 calories. Within these 100 grams, lentils have a total fat of 0.4 g.
When we break that down even further, 100 grams of lentils have:
- 0.1 grams of unsaturated fat
- 0.2 grams of polyunsaturated fat
- 0.1 grams of monounsaturated fat.
This clearly shows the low-fat content lentils have when compared to most other grains.
This low-fat content alone gives several benefits to the skin, from avoiding fat deposits and even the building up of thick looking skin, which can also result in skin looking dull and lifeless.
Too much fat on your diet directly impacts the texture of your skin.
The same applies to the amount of sugar in your diet. Eating foods loaded with sugar is likely to harm your skin.
When we examine the sugar content in lentils, 100 grams of lentils have about 20g of carbohydrates, out of this 8 grams are dietary fiber and only 1.8 grams is sugar.
They have a considerably low glycemic index (GI), which may also help you manage your diabetes successfully by keeping blood sugar levels under control.
So this helps us understand that with their very low fat and sugar content, lentils are ideal for the maintenance of your skin and overall body health.
So now we’ve seen how the health profile of lentils is perfect to maintain soft, supple, and healthy-looking skin, let’s get into details of the specific uses of lentils for the skin.
“with their very low fat and sugar content, lentils are ideal for the maintenance of your skin and overall body health.”
Which lentils are better for the skin?
There are four main categories of lentils:
- Brown
- Green
- Red/yellow
- Specialty such as black lentils
Although any lentils you have in your kitchen will have super properties for using face packs and scrubs, red lentils are best for beauty purposes. This is because they break down more easily into a paste form.
This makes them more convenient for pounding into your favorite lentil beauty hacks and for anyone looking for uses of lentils for the skin and face pack recipes!
“red lentils are best for beauty purposes. This is because they break down more easily into a paste form.”
Benefits of lentils on your face
So now we are sure that lentils can be used on your face and in fact are a low-cost addition to your DIY beauty regime, let’s discover how they work their magic in a little more detail.
Prevents rapid aging
One of the most unbelievable uses of lentils for the skin is that they prevent rapid aging. This is possible because according to Harvard Medical research, lentils are full of antioxidants that help in minimizing cell and tissue damages.
Cell and tissue damage are some of the leading causes of rapid aging.
So by minimizing the cells and tissue damage, and by using on your face, lentils can help to prevent aging of the skin.
Pop over to find out why geranium oil is one of my favorite oils to mix with lentils for smooth, soft skin.
Skin lightening agent
Lentils combined with turmeric may help to lighten skin quickly without any side effects.
As we’ve seen previously, there are so many uses of lentils for the skin. One of its major benefits is the numerous benefits is improving skin texture, as turmeric is an antiseptic, it can help to heal acne and pimples.
Combined with turmeric, lentils can also fight off free radicals that cause infections. To find out my favorite oils for boosting the immune system, head over to discover diffuser blends, balms, massage blends, and more!
As turmeric is also known for its skin lightening properties, regular use in any kind of face pack can help to give your skin radiance and a lighter appearance.
Lentil and turmeric face pack
Ingredients:
- Two tablespoons lentils
- One teaspoon turmeric powder
- Few drops of Rose Water
Method:
- In a mixer, grind two tablespoons of lentils ( either puy or red lentils) to a fine powder
- Add one teaspoon turmeric powder
- Add a few drops of your favorite rose water
- Mix well to form a paste and apply on your face and neck
- Leave for 20-25 minutes or till the pack has dried
- Wash it off with cold water and repeat the process at least twice a week for the desired effect
Removes dry patches
One of my favorite uses of lentils for the skin is helping to remove dry patches.
When lentils are applied daily, they can also help to moisturize and nourish your skin literally from the inside out!
This will also help in keeping your skin naturally moist and glowing all through the day.
Milk and red lentil face pack
- Soak two tablespoons of red lentils overnight. The next day makes a thick paste by pounding either in a pestle and mortar with a tablespoon of water ( add more if needed), add to a grinder, or use a mini food processor.
- Add the pasta to your favorite bowl and add milk, (organic is best)
- Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil ( tea tree, rosemary, or lavender)
- Mix well.
- Apply the pack to your face and leave it for 10 minutes before rinsing off with cold water and lightly patting your skin dry
Lavender is one of the best oils to use for skin, so head over and discover the benefits of mixing lavender with ylang-ylang! and if you are wondering if your lavender oil has gone off, find out here!
Maintain blood sugar for clear skin
For anyone wondering about the uses of lentils for the skin, it’s good to learn that lentils are packed with protein and fiber. These are two nutritional elements that help to maintain blood sugar levels.
Many of us might not be aware of the connection between blood sugar levels and our skin. So let’s find out!
Fluctuating or unstable blood sugar results in insulin spikes.
This can cause skin breakouts such as acne and pimples.
So as lentils can help to maintain blood sugar, they will help to keep your skin clear and blemish-free.
Red lentils, orange and cucumber face pack
Make a fine paste either in a pestle and mortar, grinder, or small food processor of:
- 1 tablespoon red lentils
- 2 tablespoon orange peel
- 5 drops orange essential oil
- 1 tablespoon cucumber juice
Orange essential oil is a beautiful fresh citrus oil perfect for a wealth of benefits, so head over to find out which oils mix best with orange oil,along with blend recipes for diffusers and more!
Gives a natural glow for an oil-free skin
Lentil paste mixed with rose water has a wonderful special magic of leaving your skin naturally glowing.
We all know there’s a fine line between a soft glow and oily!
The specialty of lentils is they give a beautiful soft glow to your skin without the oiliness you might get from some skincare brands.
For this, it’s recommended to soak the lentils overnight before mixing them with rose water and forming a paste.
I always recommend always using organic essential oils on your skin, so don’t forget to check out my other article, where you can out about fragrance oils are and why you shouldn’t use them on your skin.
Rosewater and red lentil skin bloom recipe
- 5 teaspoons of red lentils
- 2 tablespoons glycerin ( available at most chemists)
- Rosewater ( the cheapest rose water is usually rose water sold as a ‘food product’ rather than one for beauty. So head to the world food section of your favorite store )
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil or vitamin E oil
- 1 teaspoon Aloe vera gel
- 5 drops of either rosewood, rose, or geranium essential oil
Blend all ingredients and apply to a freshly cleansed face or after your evening bath or shower.
Splash off with cold water or toner made from 2 tablespoons of witch hazel.
Geranium oil is such a powerhouse for the skin, so head over to discover which oils geranium oil blends with, along with diffuser blends, pillow sprays, massage blends and more!
Freshens and rejuvenate the skin
Lentils are a power-packed natural exfoliator.
The nutrients present in red lentils makes it one of the best organic exfoliators that help in getting rid of dead skin cells, leaving the skin smooth and dirt free. As we’ve seen above, lentils also help in fighting acne and blackheads too.
When combined with honey with its natural moisturizers, lentils can bring a fresh rejuvenating glow packed full of natural benefits and also help you to save money rather than buying expensive beauty creams!
Honey is antibacterial, hydrates the skin, and helps to lock in moisture in the lipid barrier of the skin.
Honey and red lentil face pack
- Mix 2 tablespoons of organic red lentil powder (homemade) and add a spoonful of raw organic honey.
- Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil ( lavender, tea tree or chamomile works beautifully)
- Mix everything well
- Apply this face pack evenly on your face and leave it for 20 minutes.
- Scrub off the pack using your fingertips before finding off with warm water
- Follow with your favorite essential oil moisturizer
Gives a flawless look to the skin
We’ve all experienced dull, pale, and damaged skin. It could be due to lifestyle habits, diet, or dead skin cells which might give our precious skin a sallow or uneven look.
Lentils teamed with orange or citrus works wonders in kick-starting your flawless skin regime!
Orange and red lentil skin glow mask
- Make a paste of red lentils and orange juice
- Add a couple of drops of sweet orange, bergamot or mandarin essential oil
- Apply to your face and neck for around 20 minutes
- Wash off with cold water, and you will see straight away dull and damaged skin looks fresh and flawless!
Why not head over to my other helpful article to find out whether you can use orange essential oil as a replacement for orange juice!
Removes stubborn tans
Over tanning is never a good look! Whether you’ve spent too much time in the sun or if your DIY home tan has not worked out how you planned!
Some suggestions can be to use lemon juice or baking soda.
However, with the lentil’s natural exfoliation benefits and its skin lightening properties, this lentil blend is perfect to remove stubborn tans.
Tomatoes act as a natural bleaching agent, due to the vitamin C and power-packed anti-oxidants.
Lentil and tomato tan removing paste
- A thick paste of soaked lentils mixed with tomatoes, twice a week on the skin, will help to remove those tanning mistakes or tan lines
- Use 2 tablespoons of ground lentils and 2 medium-sized tomatoes with the pips removed.
Unwanted hair removal
Papaya and lentils can really help to remove unwanted facial hair. Remember of course to make sure you don’t over scrub as you could damage the delicate areas of skin.
Their exfoliating properties really are one of the best uses of lentils for the skin.
Raw Papaya contains an enzyme called papain which helps in restricting the growth of hair by breaking down the hair follicles.
Their exfoliating properties really are one of the best uses of lentils for the skin.
Papaya and lentil hair removal scrub
- Make a paste of 2 tablespoons ground lentils and ½ ripe papaya.
- Spread evenly over anywhere you will need to remove hair and leave for 20 minutes.
- Using your fingers gently rub the mix into your skin
- Rinse off with warm distilled water ( boiled and cooled from a kettle)
And finally…
I hope that’s given you some amazing uses of lentils for skin and 8 face pack recipes to try!
Don’t forget to pack some extra red lentils in your shopping bag and start exploring more uses of lentils for your skin.
As a natural exfoliator, packed full of antioxidants, and an organic cleanser with skin lightening properties, lentils are the go-to DIY pocket-friendly skin.
To find out more of my helpful articles such as how to use essential oils for your garden, my curated list of diffuser blends for the immune system, and 21 of the best essential oils for calm and relaxation with blends, massage recipes and pillow sprays, head over to discover more!
