Legend has it that honey was Cleopatra’s preferred weapon in her beauty arsenal, and it is not surprising that her beauty was the talk of town then! Honey, especially raw or unpasteurized, is a fabulously versatile and all-natural ingredient to use on skin. It’s full of antioxidants, which are good for wrinkles and aging skin. It is antibacterial, which helps with acne treatments and prevention. It clarifies skin by opening up and unclogging pores. It’s also a great moisturizer that soothes irritation and blemishes, and it leaves a lovely afterglow. Honey’s benefits for skin care work in a few different ways. Here are the seven benefits of using honey on skin:
Anti-acne: Honey reduces pimples especially the red ones due to its anti-bacterial properties. You can either put raw honey directly on pimples at night or try this supper-effective honey based anti-acne spot treatment.
Anti-ageing: Honey attributes its anti-ageing properties to skin repairing action, exfoliation, the amino acids and vitamin content. You can avail anti-aging benefits of honey by using this easy to make rejuvenating face pack; choose the recipe based on your skin type:
Exfoliation: The organic acid in honey like gluconic acid accelerates shedding dead skin cells and tan from your face and body just like a scrub but without mechanical rubbing. Due to tanning and aging, dead cells stick to skin surface giving dull and patchy look because their shedding is delayed. Hence, honey helps in improving the dull, patchy look of your skin with regular use.
Cuts and Burns: Honey is used as an antiseptic, especially Manuka honey has been used in the patient of burns and resistant bacterial infections. You can put raw honey on minor burns, cuts, abrasion, boils, ringworm, etc. twice a day until they heal. Kindly note if honey has already absorbed moisture, it is unlikely to work as antiseptic.
Anti-fungal: Honey especially Manuka honey can be used to treat fungal infections of skin commonly called as ringworm.
Moisturizer: Honey is hygroscopic like glycerine. Honey moisturizes your skin by absorbing water from the environment. Therefore, it should not be used alone especially in dry weather because it might extract water from your skin making it drier.
Skin Repair: Honey helps in skin repair with the help of antioxidants that remove free radicals. These free radicals are produced in the skin on exposure to dust, pollution, stress, lack of sleep, the sun, disease, etc.
A rarity in its own right, honey is nothing short of wonderful. It’s sticky, a full-flavored substance not only tastes amazing, but it’s medicinal and therapeutic advantages are almost too good to be true. Use honey to the optimum and see the blissful benefits for yourself.