Of all the things I know about onions, the offensive breath part is definitely the one I've had the most experience with. They are a staple in homemade salads, DIY curries, and, of course, make for an amazing pizza topping. As an avid onion lover they go in almost any dish I'm making which of course plagues me and my dinner guests with onion breath for the entire evening. The bad breath isn't all for nothing though: onions have an amazing amount of health benefits that can fight disease, infection, and boost our immune system. They are known to regulate blood sugar and improve digestive problems, plus incorporating onions in your diet is a sure way to add some important nutrients in your life.
Onions are rich in sulfur, B-complex, vitamins A, C, and E — this means they're an amazing addition to your beauty game. Onions can rejuvenate an otherwise dull complexion, improve blood circulation, and protect our bods from UV rays and free radicals that age us, while keeping us wrinkle-free. One of the biggest reasons that onions are the answer to youthful, glowing skin is the presence of a plant pigment known as quercetin, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature. Quercetin is part of a group of flavanoids that are constantly on the hunt to neutralize free radicals and protect our body from disease.
Like any natural ingredient worth putting on your face, onions are supreme at fighting acne. They are anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, antiseptic, AND have amazing anti-inflammatory properties. Applying onions topically for healthy skin is going to come at a low, yet smelly cost: I keep my onion skincare habits in the evening because trust me, the scent of this pungent veggie WILL seep out of your pores for a bit.
Here are some great ways to introduce onions into your skincare routine that are totally worth the slightly stinky trade-off.
1. Skin Pack
An effective skin pack doesn't have to cost you: you can make your own with raw onion juice, gram flour, and yogurt (or any lactic acid of your choosing) for a rejuvenating skin mask that will restore balance and moisture to dull skin. Start with a tablespoon of raw onion juice and just a half teaspoon of yogurt. Add enough flour to get a nice paste that you can apply directly on your skin for about 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
2. Acne Face Mask
If topical treatments are just not doing it for your most recent breakout, try using a raw onion juice, neem oil, and tomato juice mixture in the evening. These ingredients are powerful pore cleansers and although it's not going to take your makeup off FOR you, it's definitely going alleviate redness of pimples and lighten acne scars quickly and with little to no skin irritation.
3. Hair Thinning
Hair thinning is not just for people worrying about getting older; it happens prematurely from over-processing or over-styling hair. If your hairline is getting pissed by all the pulling and tugging, try adding raw onion juice to olive oil to strengthen hair follicles and stimulate healthy hair growth.
Image: Maria, Melanie Allen, Erich Ferdinand, Micolo J, dollen/Flickr
