Do you know that honey—that natural sweetening agent produced by bees—is actually good for your skin?
The ancient Greeks were probably one of the first to enjoy the beauty-enhancing benefits of honey. They discovered that this nature-based sweetener left the skin soft and looking young. Probably unknown to them, honey is a humectant that attracts and keeps moisture inside the skin, making it supple and elastic.
Over the years, scientists discovered honey’s other benefits. They found out that honey is a natural antibacterial and antiseptic agent.
Honey contains amino acids and enzymes that do wonders to the skin. It’s also a natural cure for acne because it cleanses the pores and prevents microbes from growing on the skin.
You’d be surprised to know that honey is a natural sunblock. Its antioxidant properties protect the skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays. The darker the honey, the more antioxidants it contains.
With all of honey’s skin-improving properties, why go for the expensive skin creams and moisturizers when you have a natural anti-aging element right in your own kitchen? By simply combining honey with other natural skin-enhancing ingredients, you can create your own honey masks, which are great for skin problems like acne, scars, and dark spots.
Making honey masks
There isn’t any single recipe for honey masks. You can add anything to honey—lemon, milk, oatmeal, basically anything that’s naturally good for the skin—and voila, you get your own natural, inexpensive honey masks.
For example, combining a tablespoon of raw honey with 3 drops of lavender oil produces a mask that you apply on your face for 15 minutes. Do this regularly and you’ll be surprised at how this simple skin care regimen will improve your skin.
Half a tablespoon of raw honey, when mixed with half a banana, a quarter-cup of cooked oatmeal with milk, and egg produces natural honey masks that are great for sensitive skin.
Have a bad case of acne? Make it go away by making honey masks a part of your regular routine. Simply combine 2 tablespoons honey with 2 tablespoons milk, a lemon, 1 tablespoon yogurt, and some lukewarm water. Apply this mixture and leave it on until it dries up. Do this often and you’ll find that your acne will clear up. That’s because of honey’s miraculous properties, coupled with lemon and milk’s cleansing elements.
Another anti-acne remedy is a honey mask that contains tea tree oil. Just add a few drops of tea tree oil in honey and apply on the skin. Tea tree oil has antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties. Combine that with honey and you get a strong acne-curing mixture.
Aloe vera—with its moisturizing, soothing, toning, and smoothing effects—combined with honey produces honey masks that are great for people suffering from redness, inflammation, and itchy skin. Just combine a tablespoon of aloe vera with honey to come with honey masks. Prepare this fresh every day, and leave it on for 10 minutes. Do this regularly and people will surely notice the improvement.
Tips for creating honey masks
To get the most out of your honey masks, make sure you prepare them fresh, and preferably with organic ingredients.
Remember to filter the honey before you use it. Raw honey that has not been filtered can contain dust, pollen grains, and other foreign elements that may harm your skin.
Always test your honey masks on a patch of skin. Not everyone takes well to honey, and if you are the type with sensitive skin, you’d better make sure your homemade concoction does not make you break out.
So if honey masks are great for the skin, why aren’t they a part of everyone’s beauty regimen? People are obviously turned off because honey masks are sticky and messy. Besides, who has the time to sit down and prepare fresh honey masks every day when they need to get out the door in a jiffy?
However, if you want to say goodbye to acne-prone skin and hello to a soft, supple, younger-lookin compexion, why not
make honey masks a part of your beauty ritual? The results will make everything worth it.
