HONEY AND SKIN CARE

Honey has been consumed and used as a natural remedy and in skin care for centuries. Bees have been in our planet, for around one hundred and fifty million years. There are several references to the consume of honey by humans in Egyptian hieroglyphics, Old Testament and the Coran.

Greeks, Persians, Egyptians and Romans, all new about the nutritional properties of honey, and just to use it on rituals and ceremonies. Celtic tribes just to elaborate an ointment with honey, for skin care and to alleviate pain.

Honey's main composition is 80% sugar and also minerals and trace elements such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, amino acids...It also contains vitamins C, B and water.

Honey and skin care benefits

Honey is not only used to improve health, it has many benefits for the skin, too

* Regenerates the skin, due to its antioxidant power.

* Honey acts as an humectant, moisturizing the skin and leaving it soft and supple.

* Is still used in some places to help heal skin wounds.

* Honey is being incorporated by skin care companies, to many cosmetic products in order to diminish wrinkles and hydrate the skin.

* Apart from honey, other products produced by bees such as wax, pollen, and royal jelly are also used in skin care products.

* Honey is also used to heal cracked lips.

Honey and skin care recipes

1- Feed your skin mask

Mix one banana with one spoon of cream, one egg yolk and one spoon of honey. Apply this mixture over the face and neck. Leave it on for twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

2- Rejuvenate your skin

Mix one spoon of lemon juice with one spoon of honey. Apply it over the face and neck. Leave it on for twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

3- Diminish under eye bags

Mix one spoon of honey with four spoons of water. Wet some cotton with this solution and place it over the eyes for ten minutes. Rinse off with cold water.

4- Good for acne

Place five spoons of warm honey over the affected area. Leave it on for fifteen minutes and rinse off with warm water. Avoid oily skin care products and use natural toners such as rose water.

5- Honey and skin care exfoliator

Mix one spoon of honey with chopped almonds. Rub the skin gently with this mixture. Rinse off with warm water.

6- For fine lines and acne

Mix two spoons of honey with one spoon of almond oil. Massage the skin with this mixture for three minutes. Then, leave it on for twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water, and then cold water.

7- Hair mask for dry hair

Mix few spoons of honey (depending on the length of your hair) with warm olive oil. Massage the hair, specially the scalp and ends with this mixture. Cover the hair with a plastic bag or foil paper. Leave it on for about twenty minutes. Wash as normal, adding some lemon juice to the last rinse.