Honey Helpers...

Honey – can be found almost anywhere, comes in many forms and varieties…and has TONS of uses. I’m sure you’re all aware of all its cooking and sweetening properties, but did you know that there are a lot of uses for honey in beauty regimes? Serious…you can use honey in a variety of ways to improve your face, hair and skin! I’ve tried several over the years, and these are a few of my favourites (in no particular order):

Face:
Honey Moisture Mask – Mix two tablespoons of honey, one teaspoon of lemon juice, one teaspoon of powdered milk and three tablespoons of ground almonds (alternatively you can use almond meal as well). Smooth mixture over skin and let it dry…as it dries, rub off mixture gently in circular motions and rinse off the residue completely with lukewarm water.

Honey Apple Toner – Peel and core an apple, then mash until mushy. Mix this with five tablespoons of honey and apply anywhere on your face, arms or neck that you want to tighten up and restore elasticity to.

Honey Facial – Mix two egg whites, four tablespoons of honey and just enough flour to form a thick paste (usually about 2-3tablespoons). Apply liberally all over face, allow to dry and rinse off with lukewarm water.

Lazy Girls’ Shortcut – This is the simplest of them all…apply honey directly on your skin. If you have rough, scaly or sensitive skin, apply honey over these areas and leave to dry before rinsing off with warm water. I’ve gotten some really good results with this option (and yes, I’m one of the lazy girls!)


Hair:
Brittle Hair Fix – Mix a cup of honey and ½cup of olive oil (if your hair is naturally oily, reduce to ¼cup olive oil) and massage into scalp. After massaging it in, cover with clingwrap or a shower cap and leave in for half an hour (or longer if possible), then shower and wash your hair as usual.

Shiny Mane Spray – To get rid of dull lacklustre hair, get a spray bottle with a thick and open nozzle. Using two cups of very warm tap water, mix in two tablespoons of honey and shake well to mix. Spray this in your hair and brush through thoroughly. Leave to dry or blow dry, after which your hair will be much shinier. Can be used on colour treated or permed hair as well.


Body:
Honey Bath – For a real treat, add two cups of honey to your bubble bath that will soften your skin and relax your muscles. Personally, I like to mix a bit of honey with my body scrub since I don’t have a bathtub. Be careful not to dilute it too much, or you won’t get the full effects.

Dry Skin Miracle – For overly dry skin, mix four tablespoons of honey and three tablespoons of powdered milk together. Apply to the areas where you feel your skin is dry or tight, leave to dry slightly and rinse off after a few minutes for immediate improvement.


The important things to remember are that honey has a natural ability to retain moisture and is a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals (not to mention antioxidants for that oh-so-important anti-aging effect!), so it’s perfect for combating dry skin and hair. Other than that, the freedom to mix up your own concoctions is in your hands. :D

Give these beauty recipes a try, and let me know how they work for you…happy experimenting!