How to Use Onion Juice for Wrinkles
Quick summary:
- If you can stand the smell, onion juice for wrinkles is a surprisingly powerful natural treatment
- Full of vitamins and naturally high in sulfur, onions help smooth skin and increase radiance
- Chop it up, soak up the juice, and apply! Details below.
Onion Juice on Wrinkles… huh?
Onions smell, onions sting… onions combat wrinkles?? There are definitely more pleasant things you can apply to your face, so these bulbuls veges better pack a hefty punch in the results department.
Results: why onions work and what they do
The humble onion is very high in vitamin C, which is one of the best antioxidants you can use on your skin. This vitamin mops up skin-aging free radicals, lightens pigmentation, gently exfoliates, and gives you that coveted glow.
Onions are also naturally high in sulfur, which is a great acne fighter. So if you battle breakouts plus aging concerns, stock your fridge.
Great for:
- Wrinkles, fine lines, and anti-aging: the vitamin C strengthens skin and stimulates collagen production.
- Pigmentation and uneven skin tone: the vitamin C also helps lighten skin, and the natural exfoliation action helps speed up skin cell turnover
- Acne and breakouts: the sulfur content in onions fights acne breakouts
>>> see FAQs below for more uses
How to Use Onion Juice for Wrinkles
Here is how to apply onion juice the right way to ensure you get the most benefits:
First, what kind of onion should you use for skin?
You can use yellow, white, or sweet onion. Yellow onions have slightly more sulfur so are perhaps better for acne. But honestly, whatever is the cheapest that day! They keep for about a week in the fridge so buy a few at a time.
Step by Step:
- Halve and chop finely—this releases the juice
- Dip a cotton ball into this juice, onion bits on the cotton are fine, and dab onto your face
- Concentrate on wrinkle prone areas, fine lines, or pigmentation patches
- Leave for about 20minutes, then rinse off with cool water
- Repeat 3-5 times a week for best results (daily is good too if you have the time and onion supply!)
What about stinging eyes??
Yep, this is no fun. When you chop an onion sulfur is released and this is what causes that burning sensation. Bring on the tears.
This is temporary, so you can get through it by gritting your teeth. Or, try wearing glasses/goggles!
Chopping onions can also leave a smell on your hands—combat this by wearing disposable gloves or cleansing your hands with lemon juice afterwards.
Can you leave this on overnight?
Yes you can, but is isn’t necessary. Most active skin care treatments—natural or otherwise—do most of their work in the first several minutes. Leaving them on for longer creates diminishing returns, like dryness or the simple fact that sleeping with onion on your face is not pleasant.
Step Up Your Results by Mixing Onion With…
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is also high in vitamin C and is a natural skin lightener, so this is especially good for patch treatment of pigmentation. Mix about half and half. This is stronger than onion-only so you might find it drying. Use caution, keep an eye on your skin, and rinse off early if needed.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is great for dry skin. Mixing it with onion juice can help your skins tolerance as it will take away some of its bite. You can even use this mixture for a facial massage to improve skin texture and tone (if you can stand the salad smell!).
FAQs:
How long does chopped onion juice last?
If you have juice left over, put it in a sealed container in the fridge. It should be okay for 24hours, but the juice might dry up and lose potency. So if you can, chop a small amount at a time. Lemon juice acts as a preservative, so if you’ve used this mixture it should be okay in the fridge for a day or two.
Are there benefits to eating onions for skin?
Let’s not even talk about drinking onion juice… unless it’s a cocktail onion, in a cocktail. But eating onions daily, whether red chopped in salad, or the one you can barely taste in your casserole, does have benefits for skin and health. It’s those vitamins again.
Onions are also full of fiber, which helps your body eliminate waste—don’t underestimate the power of fiber for healthy, younger-looking skin!
Is onion juice good for acne?
Onions are naturally antibacterial and anti fungal. They also contain a large amount of sulfur, which is an excellent traditional acne treatment. Follow the steps above. You might mixing it with lemon juice is particularly effective for pimples and whiteheads.
What about for acne scars?
The same reason onion juice is good for pigmentation also makes it good for acne scars. The vitamin C helps exfoliate and brighten skin. Mixing it with lemon juice will help fade the scars further. For more on acne scars see this page.
Summing Up Onion Juice for Wrinkles:
With this treatment, what really matter is whether you can stand the smell and the need to chop. Sometimes over the counter skin care products are really easier! But if you are interested in this natural anti aging remedy, go ahead and try it—onions are powerful things, and not just taste-wise!