How Orange Peel Powder Benefits Your Skin

Skincare is a very delicate affair. We all have different skin types and thus we must choose products which cater to our specific needs.

We usually discard the peels of fruits thinking them to be mostly useless. But that is far from the truth. In this article, we’ll tell you all about orange peel power- how to make it, its benefits, methods of application, potential side effects and other FAQs about it- so that you can make an informed decision for yourself and reap the benefits of this wonder fruit.

 

What is Orange Peel Powder?

It is a herbal powder made by crushing the peels of oranges. It is highly nutritious and beneficial for your skin.

 

How to make orange peel powder?

You need to look for oranges with a relatively thin covering and wash them well. Get a sharp knife and slice away until the oranges are completely peeled. Make sure you do not peel away the white stringy stuff (called orange pith) since they taste bitter and take a lot of time to dry. Cut up the peels into tiny bits (preferably strips).

Spread them evenly on a lined baking tray and bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. You could even sun-dry them for a couple of days to achieve the same results. Once they have cooled down you can add the peels to a mixer-grinder in order to obtain a fine powder.

 

7 Benefits of orange peel powder

Orange peel powder has a number of benefits. Let us start with 7 of them-

1. Gives you glowing skin

Orange peel powder contains a lot of vitamin C; it helps form elastin and collagen which add a certain degree of youthfulness to your skin. Start adding orange peel powder to your home-made face masks and observe the difference in a couple months.

 

2. Unclogs skin pores

People with oily skin have a lot of clogged pores on their face. Blackheads and whiteheads also develop on oily skin over time. To combat this, you could use a mask of orange peel powder (which acts as an exfoliator) and yogurt. This will help you get rid of your blackheads, pull excess oil out of your skin and hydrate your skin.

 

3. Removes tan and reduces dark spots

The citric acid present in orange peels acts as a very mild bleach and helps diminish your tan. It also helps reduce your dark spots. You can make a mask by using the powder with lemon juice and since that has vitamin C too, it further improves the nutritional quality of the mixture.

 

4. Reduces blemishes and scars

As was just mentioned, orange peel powder has vitamin C which helps diminish the starkness of skin blemishes and scar marks. It might not make them completely disappear, but it will certainly make them appear less pronounced.

 

5. Has an anti-aging effect

Oranges are excellent sources of antioxidants. They help break the chain reactions in our skin and prevent free radicals (they are chemical compounds present in our body, an excess of which is linked to the manifestation of various diseases) from accumulating in our bodies. The effect of this is that our body ages at a slower rate than normal.

 

6. Has an anti-inflammatory effect

Orange peels are very rich in PMFs (polymethoxyflavones) which are basically methylated flavonoids. PMFs are known to have strong anti-inflammatory effects on your skin and hence orange peel powder can be used with a base (like yogurt, honey or lemon juice) to reduce irritations on your skin.

 

7. Scents your bathwater

Orange peel powder smells very fresh and fruity. Add a little bit of it to your bathwater and soak yourself in it for an hour or so to rejuvenate yourself after a tiring day!

You can apply orange peel powder on your skin by blending it with other natural products.

 

DIY Home Made packs with orange peel powder

With Honey

Ingredients-

• 1 teaspoon of orange peel powder
• 1 tablespoon of honey (preferably organic)
• Few drops of lemon juice (optional)

How to use-

• Mix the ingredients together to form a smooth paste.
• Apply on your skin and leave for half an hour.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.

This pack is perfect for lightening your skin.

 

With Olive Oil

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons of orange peel powder
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

How to use-

• Mix the ingredients together to form a paste.
• Leave it on your skin for 20 minutes, then wash off with cool water.

This pack is effective against acne scars.

 

With Yogurt

Ingredients-

• 2-3 tablespoons of orange peel powder
• Yogurt (as per requirement)

How to use-

• Mix the ingredients together.
• Apply this on your face and leave for an hour.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.

This pack acts as a good exfoliator. The lactic acid present in yogurt has a very soothing effect on your skin.

 

With Turmeric and Milk

Ingredients-

• 1 tablespoon of orange peel powder
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• Milk (as per requirement)

How to use-

• Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and blend it to achieve a smooth consistency. Constantly stir the mixture while adding milk slowly to ensure that no lumps are formed.
• Apply this pack to your face and leave for half an hour.
• Wash off with cold water and pat your face dry.

This pack will reduce inflammation of the skin, add a glow to your face and even lighten scars and blemishes.

 

With Multani Mitti And Rosewater

Ingredients-

• 2 teaspoons of orange peel powder
• 2 teaspoons of Multani mitti (also called Fuller’s earth)
• Rosewater (as per requirement)

How to use-

• Mix the ingredients together to form a gritty paste.
• Remember to add a little bit of rosewater at a time in order to avoid lumps.
• Wash your face with warm water in order to open up your skin pores so that the paste can work better.
• Apply this paste on your skin and let it sit for a couple of hours.
• Wash off with lukewarm water and then moisturize your skin.

This paste is a wonderfully efficient way of getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads because the Multani mitti acts as an exfoliator. The rosewater also helps reduce acne due to its anti-bacterial properties and improves your skin’s complexion.

 

Side effects of using orange peel powder which you might experience

If your skin is sensitive, using orange peel powder might irritate it and cause mild rashes.

Bitter orange peel also consists of synephrine, a naturally occurring organic compound that is basic in nature. Synephrine is known to cause certain cardiovascular problems like hypertension and palpitations, weakness, headaches, stinging and so on.

These side effects are usually not triggered by the synephrine in orange peels, (seeing that it is present in a very tiny amount) but it would be recommended for you to consult a doctor before using orange peel powder, especially if you have problems like high blood pressure.

 

FAQs

Can you use orange peel powder every day?

While dry skin types require orange peel powder only a few times every week, oily skin may call for daily application of the same.

Can I crush the orange peel manually?

While achieving a powder-like consistency is extremely difficult when you are working manually, it is possible. However, it will be extremely time-consuming. It is better to use a blender.

Can I mix orange peel powder with water to make a pack?

Yes, you can definitely mix the two together. Make a smooth paste out of it, add a couple of drops of lemon juice to it and voila! Your face pack is ready.

Can I leave orange peel powder on my face overnight?

A. Yes, it is safe to leave it on overnight. Just make use to wash your face clean before applying it and retiring to bed.

Can orange peel powder be consumed externally?

Yes, you can use orange peel powder to make yourself a nice cup of tea or milkshake. You can add it to salads or even consume it with yogurt.

Does orange peel powder expire?

Commercially processed orange peel powder does not expire, but it may lose its flavor and some of its nutrients. Hence, it is best to consume it within the given ‘best before’ date.

 

Conclusion

Orange peel powder is a very versatile product that has been used in India for hundreds of years for skincare. It is only right for us to follow in our ancestors’ footsteps and keep this tradition alive.

Try out these remedies for yourself and let us know which one you liked the best in the comments down below!