The secret to healthy skin and hair might be in your kitchen cupboard. Honey has many properties that can help in your beauty routine. For the best results, use raw honey, such as the kind you can get at a farmers’ market or Whole Foods.
Honey has anti-aging benefits. It is a humectant, a substance that pulls moisture from the air to the skin. Honey can help you keep your skin soft. The alpha hydroxy properties of its sugar base make it useful as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. Honey can also improve skin’s elasticity and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Honey can relieve dark circles under your eyes and make you look younger and refreshed. It pulls moisture to the skin and causes a plumping effect that can reduce the appearance of dark circles and soften fine lines. Wash your face and then apply honey while your skin is still damp. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse your face.
Honey can reduce inflammation caused by sunburn or a minor irritation because of its soothing, antibacterial properties. It can reduce pain and swelling from minor burns and help prevent scarring. Honey softens, soothes, and hydrates skin and promotes wound healing.
If you have acne, you can treat it with honey. Wash your face first and then put a dab of honey or a product that contains honey on your blemish. Leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes to allow it to sink in and reduce any swelling or redness, then rinse.
Honey can provide hair with extra moisture. Dilute it with water or aloe and work it into shampoo or conditioner. If you use a product containing honey, rather than raw honey, look for a product that says it contains beeswax on the label.