How will you use honey in your beauty routine?
Whether it’s spread on toast, a topping on a yogurt or used as a natural sweetener in herbal tea, nature’s golden nectar has just as many uses outside the kitchen as it has inside. Produced by bees from the sweet nectar of wild flowers, honey’s beautifying and healing properties have been documented for centuries.
Early Greek, Roman, Vedic, and Islamic texts all praise the natural soothing qualities of honey, and today’s scientists are well aware of its antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory powers, using it to treat wounds and burns.
Uniquely versatile, we can all harness the power of honey in our beauty regimes too. Rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphate, sodium chlorine, potassium, and magnesium, raw honey can help us feel good inside and out.
From softening your skin to repairing damaged hair, it’s no wonder that celebs like Scarlett Johansson swear by honey products too. Here are some tried and tested uses for nature’s little beauty secret, and some tips on how to buy the best quality honey out there.
Save dry skin
Honey is a fantastic moisturiser, and works wonders on patches of dry skin. Use it to soften up those knees and elbows, and it will even work wonders on chapped lips too. Just rub on some honey, leave it to work on your skin for up to 30 minutes, and then wash off.
Boost your energy!
Forget your coffee fix, and ditch the energy drinks. It’s time to say goodbye to the sugar high that so quickly leads to an energy crash and burn. For a natural energy boost that will release energy at a more stable level for longer, use honey in place of sugars and sweeteners in your tea, baking and cooking - you’ll soon notice the difference in your energy levels.
Rescue damaged hair
Looking for a naturally moisturizing conditioner? Honey provides a moisturizing hair and scalp cleanser that leaves locks silky smooth without stripping them of natural oils. Simply add a teaspoonful to your usual shampoo to soften your hair, or combine with olive oil for a deep conditioning treatment – leave to work on damaged locks for 20 minutes before shampooing out.
Pamper and relax
When it’s time to soak in the tub after a hard day, give your body an added treat by pouring in a few drops of raw honey. The honey helps to soothe tired muscles and moisturise your skin, while adding other essential oils like lavender oil will help you relax even more.
Cure a hangover
Overindulged a little last night? Never fear, honey is here! A few tablespoons of fructose-packed honey – fructose is nature’s natural sweetener – will help speed up your body’s metabolism of alcohol.
For a fab facial
There’s no need to splash out on expensive spa facials when you have some honey in the cupboard. Give your skin the benefit of honey’s powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and ultra-moisturizing properties and use it as a face mask. You can use it alone (around 2 tablespoonsful) or combined with 2 teaspoons of milk - just cover your face, let the skin soak up its natural goodness for 10 minutes, then rinse off. For a naturally exfoliating facial, just add some sugar to create a moisturising scrub.
Super honey products
Manuka
While all raw honey is beneficial, Manuka honey is really something special. Produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the native Manuka bush, its antibiotic qualities are more potent than other honey varieties – so it’s no wonder it has a large celebrity following, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Katherine Jenkins and even Novak Djokovic being big fans.
What makes it so special? Often referred to as ‘liquid gold,’ Manuka honey contains far higher levels of the antibacterial component methylglyoxal (MG) than other honeys. Honey producers now rate Manuka potency according to its Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) - the higher the MG concentration, the stronger the antibiotic effect, and the higher the UMF. For Manuka to be considered potent enough to be therapeutic it needs to have a minimum rating of UMF 10. So you want to look for a high quality honey, such as Comvita’s Manuka Honey UMF 15+ to really reap the benefits.
As one of the world's most nutrient-rich substances, royal jelly is packed with 134 nutrients, including essential amino acids, B and E vitamins. Look out for this jelly made by worker bees if you’re looking to treat stretched or stressed skin.
Bees also collect propolis from tree buds and products containing this fantastic ingredient shouldn’t be discounted from your beauty regime. Used by bees to repair their honeycombs, it works wonders for your skin and can be used to repair your skin too. Lather on one of the propolis creams and oils or take it in the form of a supplement to feel the benefits inside and out.
Can you share any more beauty uses for honey?
Tagged in Beauty Tips skincare