Enchant Your Honey With Honey

Honey's charm goes deeper than the sweet delight that has many culinary uses. Honey is also part of the beauty arsenal of any experienced cosmetologist.

Go no further than your pantry when looking for one of the oldest ways to beautiful hair and a radiant complexion. Honey is perfect for those looking for an all-natural, organic way to look beautiful without chemicals. The word honey comes from ancient Hebrew that translates "to enchant". Honey certainly is enchanting and valued for its culinary, healing and beauty properties. A secret of ancient beauty, Cleopatra was known to prize honey for its moisturizing and nourishing properties, casting an enchanting spell on many.

Honey's beauty properties are no longer a secret of ancient past. It is a highly valued and prized ingredient in many beauty recipes. It naturally contains many vitamins and minerals including potassium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin,and zinc. The great thing about making cosmetics with honey is that you don't need your own chemistry lab or even a mixing bowl to make good use of this golden elixir. Honey is packed with beauty uses straight out of the jar. Whether you mix up a potion, lotion, bar of soap or all by itself I am sure you will agree that honey is a natural beauty must-have.

Honey for the skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is one of the first things that people notice about you. It is important to keep your skin looking its best and honey is your golden ticket. Raw honey has been used for centuries as a natural cleanser for the skin. Used daily it can prevent and treat acne. Honey is also very moisturizing, deeply hydrating the skin and is especially useful on dry or damaged skin. Honey is known for its rejuvenating properties, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In its purest form, honey is suitable for all skin types and is usually safe even on sensitive skin. It is actually used to freshen dry, sensitive skin. Honey helps heal minor skin wounds because it draws excess water from the tissues, thus reducing swelling. Honey is an antibacterial, containing a germ-killing substance called inhibine, helping to prevent infection.

• Give a healthy glow to your face and body by patting honey directly onto skin. Rinse after five minutes or ten minutes. This is great for circulation and it will give you beautiful, glowing skin.
• Add a spoonful of honey to the bath water for sweet, luscious, soft and supple skin.
• Mix three parts honey with one part milk or cream. Apply to clean face. Rinse after ten minutes. This is very moisturizing for the skin. Your complexion will thank you. Prepare yourself for compliments.
• Mix three teaspoons of rosewater with a quarter cup of honey. Apply mixture to face and neck. Leave on for a few minutes before rinsing. This will make your skin very soft.
• Disinfect and help heal minor skin wounds by applying a thin layer of honey directly to wound.
• Apply to chapped lips to moisturize.

Honey for the hair

• Honey is great for the hair. It is a natural humectant making it a great conditioner, especially if your hair is very dry. Honey not only conditions but will give your hair natural highlights over time.
• Add a teaspoon of honey to a teaspoon of shampoo, or use honey by itself to condition.
• For severe dry or damaged hair apply honey straight out of the jar and leave on for two hours.
• Mix one teaspoon honey with about four cups of warm water. Pour honey/water mixture into hair after shampooing. Leave in hair and dry as usual.

To make a deep conditioner, combine one part extra virgin olive oil to two parts honey. Work into damp hair and scalp. Put on a shower cap to utilize your body's natural heat. Allow this solution to remain on hair for one half hour before shampooing. This will make your hair very shiny and silky smooth.

Closing Notes

When it comes to honey, these suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of beauty recipes and uses of honey in circulation. Once this natural beauty wonder spills its stickiness into your day I am sure you will be stuck for life. Enjoy!

Sources

1. Freeman, Sally "Every woman's Guide to Ageless Natural Beauty" (GuildAmerica Books, 2000)
2. Cox, Janice "Natural Beauty From The Garden: More Than 200 Do-It-Yourself Beauty Recipes" (Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 1999)
3. http://www.honey.com/