How to Use Honey to Improve the Quality of Skin and Hair

The valuable properties of honey have been known for thousands of years, dating back as far as the legendary beauty, Cleopatra. Not only does honey have nutritional benefits for the body's interior, it also has ingredients that are important to its exterior components, such as skin and hair. Honey is packed with Vitamin B6 and calcium. It also contains valuable minerals like copper and iron, along with magnesium, potassium, thiamin and much more. And that doesn't even address the powerful antioxidants it holds that help to bond vitamins and nutrients together to form a stronger overall immune system. While the debate rages on over the medicinal value of honey, few question the product's impact within the area of beauty. Hundreds of new products hit the shelves every year--many of which contain honey as a major ingredient.

Things You'll Need

• Honey Water Towels Olive oil Milk Lemon Chestnuts Facial sponge Unflavored yogurt Buttermilk Cinnamon Ground orange peel Mixing bowls Whisks

Instructions

1. Choose conditioners that contain honey for dry and damaged hair. Honey contains natural humectants, which are scientifically proven to draw moisture into the hair. But that isn't all. It pushes water molecules deep into the hair shaft to allow the product to work from the inside out. If you can't find a honey-based conditioner, make your own. Mix together a 1/2 cup of honey with 3 tbsp. of olive oil. Apply to the hair after shampooing. Wrap the head in a hot wet towel and let sit in place for no less than 15 minutes and no longer than 30. Rinse and style as usual. The result will be softer, shinier, healthier looking hair.

2. Increase the elasticity of hair by using equal parts of honey together with milk as a final rinse. As honey's properties attach to the hair shaft, it moisturizes and softens it to make it less prone to break or snap as the hair is styled.

3. Use a mixture of one part honey and five parts of water as a leave-in hair treatment. The honey will hold in the hair's natural moisture to give it a healthy looking shine.

4. Lighten hair naturally time by using a mixture of honey and lemon as a final rinse. Lemon has a natural bleaching power that lightens the hair while honey counteracts any of the harshness that raw lemon bleach might cause--adding vitamins and minerals into the shaft and locking in moisture.

5. Use honey to kill skin bacteria. Honey contains anti-microbials that make it a wonderful natural anti-bacterial ointment for minor cuts or certain types of skin blemishes. Use it on zits or blackheads to pull the bacteria to the surface to eliminate it. Use its soothing qualities to treat itchy rashes or other minor skin irritations, including taking the sting out of minor sunburns. Finally, it has also been found effective in treating certain types of fungi like athlete's foot.

6. Exfoliate the skin naturally with an equal mixture of finely ground chestnuts, honey and lemon. Gently rub the mixture into the skin with a soft sponge. Wash away with warm water to uncover new layers of healthy, glowing skin.

7. Make a skin mask out of natural, unflavored yogurt and honey in equal parts. Gently apply it to the face and let rest for 15 minutes. Rinse with luke warm water.

8. Use honey like Cleopatra did, as a luxurious bath product. Pour a cup of honey into hot bath water to soothe and soften the skin. Add milk, or better yet buttermilk, for a decadent experience that will give the skin a beautiful healthy glow.

9. Make a natural skin lotion using one part honey with one part olive oil along with a few drops of lemon. Use the lotion anywhere on the body where the skin is extra dry. Let the lotion remain in place for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it away with luke warm water.

10. Recreate an old Asian skin cream using one part honey, one part cinnamon and one part ground orange peel. Use the mixture anywhere on the body where skin discoloration occurs. This natural skin bleach will diminish the appearance of the blemishes to decrease early signs of aging.

Tips & Warnings

• The purer the honey, the better the treatment. Therefore, sugar-free honey may not work as well as standard honey comb. Olive oil can be regular, virgin, or even extra-virgin and work well as a skin and hair treatment. The more lemon used in a hair rinse, the quicker the bleaching time. Almonds can be used to replace chestnuts for skin exfoliation. Egg white can be substituted for yogurt to make a different type of facial mask; one that will tighten as it soothes and softens.

• Make certain that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients chosen to make an at home skin or hair care product.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• More information about honey
• Different uses of honey for beauty
• Everything you want to know about honey