Is Honey Really Good For The Skin?
Ah, honey. The sweet golden syrup that's dubbed as the Nectar of the Gods. Honestly, how can a little bee make such glorious stuff? Since ancient times and up to this day, honey is still widely used for a ton of things -- cooking, hair care, skincare, health, and more. It's definitely great for making our food and drinks sweet. And for many of us, we're all about that honey skincare, of course!
So, is honey good for your skin?
Honey is not new to you; you've seen it on the shelves of every shop and supermarket. You may think it's overrated, but it just works so well that it's hard not to like! In fact, the skin benefits of honey are so real that it's highly likely for you to have at least one product in your dresser that's got honey in it. If you have dry skin, you've probably used honey for face masks, face wash, or as an ingredient for other skin concoctions. You can even use it as a hair treatment! If you haven't really tried honey on your body at all, then now would be the perfect time to do so. Honey is filled with antioxidants and has healing properties that work very well for almost every skin problem.
Here are some of the new ways you can incorporate honey in your skincare routine:
Hydration
With honey's rich texture, it's no surprise that hydration is one of the things it does best. But what makes it so? To put a term to it, honey has hygroscopic traits. It simply means that it absorbs and retains moisture from air, and it uses that environmental water to moisturize the skin. In addition, honey's got enzymes that seep deep into the skin, hydrating and nourishing it from within.
How to Use:
A facial mask with honey is the best way to get your hydration fix. For an extra boost, you may add coconut oil and create a highly hydrating coconut honey face mask. While you can use raw honey alone, you can try masks with other natural ingredients as well like this honey and lavender face mask. First, gently clean your face with your favorite cleanser. Apply a spoonful of your honey mask and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and continue your usual skincare routine. Do this once or twice a week.
Acne
If you've been struggling with acne for a while now, maybe it's time to ditch the chemical products and make the switch to a natural option. The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties found in honey fight pimple-causing bacteria and promote healing. Plus, its high viscosity creates a protective barrier that calms red skin and prevents further inflammation.
How to Use:
For those with acne-prone skin type, apply as a cream to the affected spots. It doesn't really matter what brand of honey you use, but try to look for raw honey as it has all the original nutrients retained. Feel free to make a thick layer for that extra punch. Leave it on overnight and try repeating a few times a week. With honey, you can definitely get your clear skin back!
Anti-aging
Thanks to the bees, we can preserve our youthful beauty without all those expensive anti-aging creams (I know, they're such a pain in our pockets). Honey is a super-effective natural ingredient for keeping wrinkles and fine lines at bay. The enzymes present in honey help improve elasticity and skin cell function to keep you feeling and looking young!
How to Use:
Honey on face masks would be the best way to maximize the anti-aging benefits honey provides. Feel free to mix raw honey with ingredients such as avocado and lemon for extra nourishment. If you want, you can look for your own natural anti-aging ingredients to create a new personalized beauty mask. Apply the mask a few times a week after using your cleanser. Your complexion will get noticeably soft and younger-looking when you use a face mask with honey.
Exfoliation
Face scrubs are good for exfoliation. However, using these scrub products too often may cause micro-tears in the skin. Honey gives you exfoliation with care as it contains gluconic acid, an amazing organic exfoliant. Scrubbing harshly may cause skin irritation especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. You don't have to do that with honey, as the gluconic acid gently accelerates the shedding of dead skin cells.
How to Use:
Mix honey with ground oats or baking soda to create a soft scrub. These ingredients can be easily found in your local shop or supermarket. Gently massage the mixture on your wet face or body for 1-2 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Wounds
As previously mentioned, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties found in honey help treat inflamed skin. With that, honey is also great for treating wounds and sunburns. It helps clean and calm damaged tissues and it also protects from further inflammation. So the next time you stay too long in the sun, just reach for your jar of honey.
How to Use:
Simply apply a layer of honey into the areas of the body that need treatment. It's kinda like using any topical cream. You can leave this overnight. If you're specifically treating sunburns, you can try adding aloe vera gel for a more effective product, as aloe is another superstar in healing wounds.
