5 Surprising Uses For Cinnamon

This isn't some "gotcha" moment to lure you into a risky cinnamon challenge. After spending the past few weeks uncovering amazing new ways to use common household goods like tea, lemons and honey, we've decided to revisit the controversial spice and its beauty benefits.

Cinnamon has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Ayruvedic medicine to remedy illnesses, including the flu and indigestion. The fragrant spice contains calcium, fiber, iron and manganese, and within its bark are healing essential oils. When organic ground cinnamon is combined with ingredients such as olive oil and brown sugar, it can make for quite the homemade beauty recipe. Here are five surprising uses for cinnamon.

1. Lip plumper. You don't have to go the cosmetic surgery route to get a plump pout à la Angelina Jolie. Simply apply a little Vaseline onto your lips and gently pat a pinch of cinnamon on top. Rub the mixture on for a few seconds and then allow it to sit for a minute. You will feel a slight tingly sensation from the spice -- never apply dry cinnamon directly to your skin as it can cause irritation. Add another coat of Vaseline and you'll have much fuller lips.

2. Anti-acne face mask. Get down and dirty to your pores with a homemade acne treatment made out of 3 tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Whip into a thick paste that will resemble chocolate and smooth onto your face. The cinnamon will stop the acne-causing bacteria, and the honey will work to reduce redness and restore moisture. Leave on for about ten minutes (or until it starts to burn), then wash off and pat face dry.

3. Hair growth treatment. Hair loss can be a horrific experience no matter the cause. One way to stimulate hair growth while giving your scalp some TLC is by using a weekly cinnamon mask. (Be sure to consult with a doctor before trying this alternative treatment, especially if you have a sensitive scalp.)

Mix two tablespoons of cinnamon and honey into a half cup of warm olive oil. Add one egg to thicken the mask. Comb the solution through wet hair and set for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash out with a shampoo.

4. Breath freshener. Got bad breath? Chew on a few cinnamon sticks or gargle with warm cinnamon water to sweeten things up.

5. Dry skin scrub. No one likes to walk around with "alligator skin." To slough away dead skin cells and restore shine and softness, consider this do-it-yourself scrub made out of sea salt, almond oil, olive oil, honey and ground cinnamon.