The secret skincare solution you probably have in your cupboard
Not just the perfect addition to your cup of tea, nutrient-packed honey is also a great ingredient in your skincare routine. With hydrating, anti-inflammatory, bacteria-fighting benefits, plus antioxidant properties, honey can help you fight acne, minimize wrinkles, and soothe and moisturize your skin.
Get a gorgeous glow from silky smooth honey, and clarify your pores as well. This natural miracle ingredient opens up your pores, making it easier to unclog dirt, grime, oil, and makeup that can be trapped in your skin. There are enzymes within honey that will help keep those pores clean, too! Honey has been used in beauty routines for a long time, and as you can see, there are plenty of reasons why it's still being used today. No matter what skin concerns you have, this sweet ingredient is the perfect addition to your beauty routine!
Selecting Honey
When shopping for honey to use in your skincare routine, look for varieties with a thick, gel-like consistency, such as Manuka honey from New Zealand or raw honey from your health food store or local farmer's market. These honeys offer the best nutrients and antioxidants, says Jeannette Graf, a dermatologist based in Great Neck, New York.
Recipes to Try
To give your skin a healthy glow any bee would be envious of, try the following honey-based skincare recipes to help you look and feel your best. They're easy and fun to make, smell super sweet, and best of all, have great results. Just decide which one you want to try first, and mix up a fabulous new skincare product!
Candied Pumpkin Body Scrub
Jenny Duranski, creator of this recipe and owner of Lena Rose Natural Beauty, a green beauty boutique and organic spa in Chicago, IL, reports that this body scrub contains several healing and moisturizing vitamins, such as A, C, and E, as well as skin-soothing minerals zinc, potassium, and magnesium.
What You Need:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon almond oil or grapeseed oil
- 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon organic pumpkin powder or pumpkin puree (if using puree, add 1 tablespoon more of cane sugar to make sure your scrub is not too wet)
- 1 teaspoon ginger granules or crystallized ginger
Instructions:
Hand mix ingredients to make your body scrub. You want the consistency of cookie dough—not too wet and not too dry. Apply in quarter size amounts in the shower using circular motions to stimulate blood flow. Be careful, though, as the oil will make the shower slippery.
Honey Face Mask
According to Cecilia Wong, celebrity facialist and New York City spa owner, this Honey Face Mask is helpful in decreasing inflammation, hydrating your skin, relieving redness, and increasing circulation. Plus, the ingredients are chock-full of skin-loving nutrients!
What You Need:
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of turmeric
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients well together in a bowl. Apply to face for 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.
Honey Body Scrub
Use Wong's Honey Body Scrub to promote blood circulation, break down cellulite and stretch marks, and hydrate dry patches.
What You Need:
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 2 tablespoons organic raw sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Juice of half a lime
Instructions:
Mix well in a bowl. Apply to body in the shower and massage gently in a circular motion. Rinse thoroughly.
Exfoliating Honey Face Mask
Also from Wong's collection of sweet skincare ideas, this Exfoliating Honey Face Mask decreases inflammation and redness, cleanses pores, and lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With Omegas 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, it's a great way to provide nutrients for your skin.
What You Need:
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 2 tablespoons rose tea (brew a cup of rose tea and let it cool)
- 1/4 cup oatmeal
- 3 drops rosehip oil
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix to a paste. Apply to face for 10 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.
DIY Lip Mask
Joanna Vargas, celebrity esthetician, likes to use this DIY lip mask. It has just two ingredients, and chances are, you already have both items at home!
What You Need:
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions:
Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Massage on and around lips, and leave on for 5 minutes.
This moisturising and antibacterial balm can help sooth dry chapped lips by restoring the lipid layer of your skin, plus it's anti-inflammatory properties ease irritation.
Wrinkle Reducing Eye Mask
Yogurt is a great anti-inflammatory and pineapple provides enzymes for exfoliation, which makes this mask particularly gentle. Plus, the addition of hydrating honey helps to soothe tired eyes. Vargas recommends applying this mixture around your eyes and on crow's feet, but not on your eyelids.
What You Need:
- 1/2 cup blended pineapple
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon yogurt
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together (using your hands works best) and apply around your eyes, avoiding the lids. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse.
Pre-Event Mask
Exfoliation and hydration are the key to glowing skin. And with this mask, your skin will feel revived and refreshed and ready for your big event. Vargas calls on hydrating honey, the anti-inflammatory properties of milk, and the gentle exfoliation of brown sugar to create this scrub, which can be used on your face or body.
What You Need:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together by hand and gently scrub into the skin. Let sit for 3-10 minutes. Then rinse off.
This article originally appeared on www.bhg.com
