Let us face it; honey actually has a really good reputation, and so it should. Many people even go as far as calling it a superfood. Perhaps it is, but I do not like referring to any food as being a super food because I think it can be a very misleading term. It is also a term which is routinely used by people or businesses that are trying to peddle their next new “miracle” product. I will be using the term “honey beauty” instead, because in this post I will be talking about how honey can be used as a natural beauty product.
In a previous post, I shared some tips on how honey can be used for treating oily skin, so today I will be discussing a few other “honey beauty” hacks. The great thing about honey is that it can be really good for you from a dietary point of view, and it can also be excellent in terms of beauty and skin care. Let us take a look at some of the things honey can do for you, from the hair on your head, all the way down to your feet.
What Does Honey Do For Your Hair?
If the thought of using honey on your hair terrifies you, do not worry because you won’t be the first one. We all know just how sticky honey is, so the thought of pouring it on our hair really does not seem like such a good idea, right? Well, I am about to share some honey beauty facts which will hopefully allow you to see honey and hair in a whole new light:
Treatment No. 1 – Honey Is Great for Conditioning and Nourishing Hair
We all like our hair to be soft and shiny, which is why most of us always have a bottle of conditioner standing alongside a bottle of shampoo. Nearly all conditioners are primarily designed to restore lost moisture in your hair, and then trap that moisture in. Good quality conditioners will usually also contain a few different vitamins and minerals.
Well, honey does everything a good conditioner can do, and more. Not only is honey an excellent moisturizer, but it also contains a bunch of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Unlike most conditioners, honey is also packed full of antioxidants and different amino acids.
If you are not convinced, I strongly recommend that you try the following homemade conditioner:
- 2 tablespoons of pure raw honey
- 4 tablespoons of good quality olive oil
Mix the above ingredients together in a small bowl and then apply evenly to your hair. Massage thoroughly and then leave it on for about half an hour. You can also cover your hair with a shower cap for added convenience. Finally, wash with a mild sulphate-free shampoo, and then dry your hair gently with a towel. I would recommend doing this once a week or once every fortnight.
As an added bonus, the honey can also be very beneficial for your scalp due to its well-known antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This in turn could help to promote hair growth and also help to reduce hair loss.
Treatment No. 2 – Honey Beauty for Hair Removal
Mix some honey and some lemon juice together, and you have got yourself a nice and gentle hair remover. Okay, this is nowhere near as effective as beeswax, but it is great for removing fine hairs, such as those which many women get on their upper lips. If you want to give this a try at home, simply mix one tablespoon of pure honey with half a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.
Apply the honey and lemon juice mixture to the area you want to treat, such as your upper lip for example. Leave the mixture on for about 20 to 25 minutes, and then wipe the area clean with a warm wet cloth. If you have very sensitive skin, you can dab the area with some cold water in order to prevent or reduce any irritation resulting from the lemon juice.
Make Your Own All-Natural Honey Face Scrub
There are all sorts of recipes out there for making homemade face scrubs with honey. One of the most popular is a honey and sugar scrub. I have seen a few articles online in which the authors have advised against the use of sugar because they felt that sugar was too abrasive for use on facial skin. To be honest, I don’t really share their concerns.
Yes, the sugar granules are abrasive, but that is largely the reason why a honey and sugar scrub is such a wonderful exfoliator. The important thing to remember when using these scrubs is that they are meant to be used gently. After all, you only want to remove dirt, grime and dead skin cells.
As I have said, I really like honey and sugar face scrubs, but whether you want to try them or not is your call. So, rather than me only sharing one recipe with you, I will also share a second one which does not involve using any sugar.
Treatment No. 3 – Honey Beauty Facial Scrub with Sugar
For this super-duper honey and sugar face scrub that cleans, exfoliates and nourishes your skin all at once, you will need the following ingredients:
- Two tablespoons of pure honey
- Two tablespoons of fine baking sugar
Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl, and then use the mixture in the same way you would a regular store bought facial scrub. Ideally, you should gently massage the mixture into your skin for about one minute, and then leave it on for a further five minutes. By the way, you can also use this to exfoliate your lips.
Treatment No. 4 – Honey Beauty Facial Scrub with Oats
If you are concerned about sugar being too abrasive, or you are worried that the granules might cause microscopic cuts in your skin, then simply use oats instead of sugar. For this scrub, you will need the following ingredients:
- ¼ cup of pure honey
- ¾ cup of whole oats
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup of water
Add the honey, oats and lemon juice to a bowl and stir everything together. Gradually add the water while you are stirring, and then once everything is thoroughly combined, you can use the mixture in the same way you would with the honey and sugar scrub. If you are concerned about using whole oats, then you can grind them in a food processor or in a coffee grinder.
Treatment No. 5 – Good for Acne Sufferers Too
The two above mentioned scrubs are also suitable for people who have acne. However, if you suffer from acne, I would rather recommend that you use only honey on its own instead of mixing it with sugar or oats. I would also recommend using it as a sort of scrub and mask combination. In other words, apply the honey just as you would with one of the scrubs, but then leave the honey on for at least 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it all off with some lukewarm water.
Honey has been used medicinally for more than 8,000 years already to treat wounds, including cuts and burns. It is just as effective as, and sometimes even significantly better than some pharmaceutical treatments. I will not go into it now, but honey is a really effective wound healer. If you want to, you can read more about this on the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website.
Not All Honey is Equal
I should have mentioned this earlier, but rather late than never. Whenever I share honey beauty tips, the honey I am referring to is unpasteurized raw honey. Many health food stores stock it, or alternatively, you can order it online.
One of the biggest differences between raw honey and processed honey is the fact that raw honey which comes straight from the hive will contain several beneficial things which are typically removed in the case of processed honey. Two examples would be bee pollen and propolis. You can read more about the health benefits of bee pollen on the National Institutes of Health website. There is also a good article about propolis on the same website which you can access here.
Honey Allergy – What Is It, and How to Test for It
Although it is very rare, there are some people who can experience an allergic reaction if they eat honey, or even if honey comes into contact with their skin. In reality, however, it is not the honey itself that causes an allergic reaction. Instead, the allergic reaction is typically caused by pollen and/or other substances that might be present in the honey.
As I have said, consuming honey very rarely causes any sort of allergic reaction. The risk of experiencing an allergic reaction from the topical application of honey is even smaller. For the vast majority of the world’s population, honey is an incredibly healthy substance.
By the way, you should never give honey to babies until after 12 months of age. In 1976, it was discovered that certain spores which may be present in some honey can cause a disease known as Infant Botulism. This disease is rare, but it can be fatal if not treated quickly. Most cases of Infant Botulism are actually caused by exposure to contaminated soil, rather than from honey.
To be on the safe side, I strongly advise against using any of my honey beauty recipes on children below the age of 18 months. I also recommend that you do an allergy test before using any of my honey based treatments on yourself. You can do this simply by applying some honey to a small area of skin, and then leaving it on for about an hour or so.
If you do not notice any itchiness or skin irritation during that hour, then you are good to go ahead and reap the benefits of honey beauty. In the unlikely event that you do experience an allergic reaction, you do not need to be overly concerned because the symptoms will generally disappear within one to two hours.
Treatment No. 6 – Say Goodbye to Dry Skin
Is honey good for dry skin? Are you kidding me or what? Honey is FANTASTIC for dry skin. Honey will not only get rid of your dry skin, but it will also help to restore that lovely natural glow that most of us long for. I will say it again: honey is a fantastic natural moisturizer. In addition to its outstanding moisturizing qualities, it is also full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can benefit your skin in other ways as well.
You can use a honey-based facial cleanser or a honey-based facial mask, and then finish up with a honey-based skin lotion. Alternatively, you can just spread raw honey over the areas you want to treat, and then leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing it all off with plain lukewarm water.
Treatment No. 7 – Honey Beauty for Cracked Heels
Honey is such a good moisturizer, that you can even use it to treat and repair cracked heels. Cracked heels are mostly caused by severe dryness or by bacteria. Honey effectively tackles both of these problems, and it does so very effectively. You only need four things for this amazing treatment:
- 1 cup of raw honey
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk
- Fresh juice from a half of a large orange
- Pumice stone
To make your work easier, I would recommend that you warm all your ingredients slightly before mixing them together. Once you have combined the honey, milk and juice together, thoroughly coat the areas you want to treat, and then leave it on for about 45 minutes to an hour before rinsing your feet with clean water.
I also recommend using a pumice stone to remove some of the dry and/or dead skin before applying the mixture. Ideally, you should do this twice a day. If time does not allow for this, then you can apply the mixture shortly before bedtime and then allow it to dry before climbing into bed.
Treatment No. 8 – Honey and Lime for Face Beauty
Before I finish up with this post, here is one more really good honey beauty treatment that you can use on your face. Simply mix one tablespoon of raw honey with one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice. Next, wash your face with a good quality all-natural facial cleanser, and then dry by patting your face with a clean cloth or towel.
Apply the mixture evenly to your face and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse it off with plain lukewarm water and then dry you face again. For best results, I would recommend applying a good quality moisturizer once you have finished rinsing and drying your face.
Well, that’s it for today. I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, and I really do hope that you will try some of the beauty tips which I have shared. Be sure to visit my site again soon for more beauty tips and tricks.
