“Turn all things to honey; this is the law of divine living.”

 Sri Aurobindo

Honey, the sweet treat, that tastes so yummy, honey a food that is often found in our kitchen cupboards,  but Raw honey has been used as a remedy, throughout history,  for a variety of things.  This is not a new beauty craze.  Honey is the oldest skin-care ingredient.  It has been used extensively for both medical and skin-care purposes, due to its many health benefits. Call Honey the Queen B of the Beauty World! Seen regularly as a key ingredient for so many beauty brands.

So what are these Beauty Benefits in honey that make it such a sought after ingredient?

Honey bees naturally produce honey,  they consume pollen and nectar from a variety of flowers and store it in honeycombs to create the well-known,  sweet, thick liquid that we all love. This liquid is full of roughly 300 ingredients that help oily, dry, and sensitive skin. Some of them include vitamin B, zinc, calcium, iron, and potassium. Honey is rich in antioxidants; it’s antibacterial and has enzyme activity that helps make your skin glow. So if you have skin issues,  unpasteurized honey is a great go-to, as it tackles so many.

Hydrating for the skin
Honey works miracles for moisturizing.  Honey is moisture-grabbing because it is a super-saturated solution, (the bee’s mix a lot of sugars into a little bit of water), This means it’s always trying to grab water from the air to balance out the sugar, resulting in your skin absorbing loads of moisture,  keeping your skin hydrated all day long.  Honey fights free radical damage and pollution with its antioxidant properties,  so if you’re prone to dry or itchy skin,  applying honey will do wonders for hydrating,  leaving a soft soothing effect to your complexion.

Treating acne.
Honey nurtures the skin as the bees do honey.  The sweet slave for breakouts due to its low PH,  lots of bacteria cannot survive in honey, preventing the bacteria manifesting in pores which causes acne. Its anti-inflammatory benefits help remove excess oil from the surface.  For autoimmune skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, it can provide relief, and the healing properties in honey help the skin repair damage faster. Try using honey to open your pores and get rid of those pesky blackheads.

It’s anti-aging
Did you know honey can make your skin glow and look younger?
It retains and rebuilds moisture without making the skin oily.  The probiotics, antioxidants, nutrients, and enzymes in honey work together to nourish and plump the skin.  This can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The antioxidants help reverse any damage, like age spots, making the skin look younger and radiant in the process.

Are these benefits in all Honey?
These benefits are specific to raw or unpasteurized, honey,  as most of the honey you find in the supermarkets is pasteurized which extends the shelf life, but many of the beneficial nutrients are also destroyed in the process.
So if you want to spoil yourself, honey, with raw honey, buy it from a trusted local producer.

What is the best kind of Honey for your skin and what sets it apart from other honey?
Manuka honey, collected from Manuka flowers with a flowering season of just 2 – 6 weeks a year, making it rare.  Manuka honey is unique for its healing properties, for treating wounds, fighting acne, and healing the skin, which is what sets it apart from traditional honey.  This is due to its antibacterial properties. As it’s antibacterial and a natural antibiotic.  Manuka honey leaves fewer bacteria to infect pores which cause acne.

Consistency is key.  When it comes to honey, the more often you incorporate honey into your beauty routine,  the greater the chances you’ll see the results.
So go spoil yourself, honey 🍯 🐝

 

If you want to make some Beauty recipes using honey, please check our article “Three key ingredients to make a range of Amazing Face Masks”.

 

Article by Sophie Gell

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