Honey has long been praised for its high nutritional value and amazing topical benefits. From ancient Egyptian queens to today’s most renowned beauty queens, all subscribe to honey’s exceptional benefits!
Is your skin feeling dry after the long winter, or do you notice a patch of the spring’s pollen-driven dermatitis? Or are you worried about acne breakouts come summer? We’re not kidding when we say honey is the solution to all that! So check out these homemade honey recipes for healthy skin throughout the year!
The History of Honey in Skincare
Honey has been in written records dating back to 2100 B.C. Its most prominent skincare use goes back to ancient Egypt. Egyptian queens bathed in honey and milk, which kept the body’s skin soft and supple all year round. There are records of Cleopatra and her chambermaids using raw honey to protect their skin and hair from the harsh sun and sand.
Going centuries to the Ming Dynasty in China, women used a mixture of honey and orange seeds to keep their skin blemish-free and hydrated. Greek empress Poppaea used honey and milk lotion to wash her face. King Louis XV’s mistress Madame Du Barry had chambermaids apply honey on her face and body for a tightening and brightening mask.
Indian skincare regimens for centuries have praised honey as a facial cleanser, leave-on mask, and moisturizer. Even today, honey is used as a key ingredient in the most renowned skincare products in the world. With its perpetual legacy, it’ll be a while before honey is knocked off its well-deserved throne.
The Best Honey For Your Skin
Unprocessed and unfiltered honey is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, all great for the skin! Raw honey contains magnesium, vitamin B, copper, amino acids, iron, and potassium. So, if you have a beehive in your backyard, you have the best type of them all!
What Beehive Gets You The Most Honey?
While most species of bees can make honey, not all beehives can support the production of your desired honey. You may not be aware, but choosing the right type of beehive is essential when it comes to producing the most honey. Let’s take a look at the three common types of beehives,
- Langstroth Hive
- Warré Hive
- Top Bar Hive
Among these three types, the Langstroth and top bar hive go head to head when producing the most honey. However, top bar hives are more suitable for small spaces and backyards.
Home-made Honey Recipes for Healthy Skin Throughout the Year
Take a look at some DIY skin care recipes you can make using homemade honey! Of course, always do a patch test before trying these out on the face.
1. Acne Mask
Take one teaspoon of raw honey, a tablespoon of baking soda, and a few drops of lemon juice. Baking soda’s antibacterial properties powered by honey’s antioxidants and moisturizing characteristics make this a foolproof remedy for acne. Avoid lemon if you have sensitive skin.
Mix it in a bowl until it is creamy, then apply evenly on a freshly cleansed face. If your skin is dry, you should use it on damp skin. Avoid the eye contour area. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Apply this weekly to minimize acne and a smoothened texture of the skin. You can also use it as an acne spot treatment.
2. For Even Tone Skin
Combine equal parts of honey and yogurt (1 tablespoon) with ¼ tablespoon of turmeric powder to mix and form a creamy paste. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, while yogurt helps gently exfoliate the skin. Apply on tanned areas or areas with hyperpigmentation on the face or body 2-3 times a week. Wash off with lukewarm water and follow up with sunscreen.
3. Deep Cleansing
Mix 1 tablespoon of oats and honey with rosewater or water. Stir until a paste forms and apply evenly. Repeat 2-3 times a week and reveal clean, smooth, and rejuvenated skin. Ground oats aid in gentle exfoliation, while honey moisturizes and hydrates skin.
4. Leave-On Mask for Soft Hair and Glowy Skin
Take raw honey and apply it all over the face (do a patch test to see if you’re sensitive), and leave it on for 5-10 minutes to reveal an instant glow on the skin. For the body, you can make honey bath bombs and soak in their goodness while moisturizing and brightening the skin. After shampooing, you can combine the hair with milk or yogurt for a deep conditioning treatment. Honey moisturizes the hair strands, from root to tip, and prevents easy breakage.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article informative and will try one of the homemade honey recipes for an instant skin fix! You won’t be disappointed if you want to use raw honey in your diet or incorporate it into your skincare regime. Believe in the power of honey because it’s real!
FAQs
1. What Are Some DIY Homemade Honey Skincare Recipes For Mature Skin?
Ans: Whether you’re 19 or 90, honey has got you and your skin issues covered! Here are some practical DIY recipes to use,
- Combine ¼ tbsp of raw honey and ½ tbsp of coconut oil for the ultimate moisturizing face and body oil.
- Mix 1 tbsp of raw honey, 2 tbsp ground oatmeal and ½ tbsp fennel seeds, and 2 tbsp yogurt for a gentle yet effective exfoliating mask.
- Massage raw honey into your skin in a circular motion every day for 5-10 minutes, enabling lymphatic drainage along with honey’s moisturizing properties.
2. Is Honey Good For Color-Treated Hair?
Ans: Yes! Honey is great for color and/or chemical-treated hair. When you color your hair, you’re exposing it to a lot of harmful chemicals. Experts recommend deep conditioning color-treated hair 2-3 times a week, and it doesn’t get any better than using honey as a deep conditioner. Honey being an emollient, makes it an excellent natural conditioner for hair. Honey can be used as a scalp cleanser for dry and coarse hair to rejuvenate strands from root to end. Just mix it with some water to make it less sticky. Experts also suggest adding a few drops of honey to your regular shampoo or conditioner to enhance the hair-washing experience.