A dab of honey is the perfect way to sweeten tea (hot or iced!), the only way to eat cornbread, and an effective scratchy throat soother. The sticky substance also offers a host of skincare benefits. Here’s how to sweeten your beauty routine with honey for skin.

September is National Honey Month. No better time to deliver the buzz on honey and learn more about honey bees.

Honey bee hives are diminishing and taking more than sweet honey with them. Bees pollinate our plants, and fewer pollinators mean fewer fruits and veggies. Chocolate and coffee would take a hit, too. Experts believe they could be decreasing due to pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency lists ways we can help to protect honey bees.

Not only is the thought of fewer honey bees sad, but who wants to live in a world without honey? We know it tastes delicious, but let’s dive deeper into what honey can do for your skin.

6 Beauty Benefits of Honey for Skin

1. Soften: There is nothing like a honey mask to leave skin ultra soft. The moisturizing effects of this ingredient are due to honey’s humectant properties, which helps skin to retain moisture and prevents moisture loss.

2. Heal: Ayurveda uses honey as an antiseptic, to speed healing of cuts and burns. Try using honey as a chapped lip fix to repair raw skin on your pucker. It also helps to fade scars and dark spots.

3. Soothe: Natural anti-inflammatory properties make honey a super skin soother. Use to treat irritation or redness. Also makes a calming treatment for inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema.

4. Clear: Honey is a natural antibacterial. A study by the University of Wales showed that honey is effective in slowing the growth of MRSA. If it can tackle a skin infection that nasty, think what it can do for acne. Use as a honey facial mask to clear pores and spot treat for stubborn flare ups.

5. Exfoliator: The gluconic acid in honey makes it a natural exfoliant. Use to accelerate the sloughing of dead skin cells for smooth, healthy skin.

6. Radiance Enhancer: Need a glow booster? Honey to the rescue! The ingredient revs up circulation and gets skin glowing.

Different Types of Honey for Skin

Raw Honey: Many honey aficionados feel raw honey is the best type for use on skin because it isn’t stripped of natural nutrients and enzymes. Raw honey is unpasteurized and never heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and contains the naturally occurring live antioxidants and bacteria that are beneficial to skin. Most raw honey is lightly filtered to remove impurities.

Organic Honey: As with food, organic honey is produced without pesticides and GMOs. The problem with organic honey is that its makers, the honey bees, can pick up pesticides from non-organic crops, so it is often difficult to determine if a honey is truly 100% organic.

Manuka Honey: Made only from the manuka tree in New Zealand, this honey contains live enzymes, is high in antibacterial properties, and is thought to hold powerful medicinal qualities.

Acacia Honey: A lightweight and transparent honey, it is made from the nectar of the acacia flower. Lower in antibacterial properties, Acacia honey isn’t as effective in treating acne but is soothing to dry or chapped skin.

Buckwheat Honey: Made from nectar collected from the buckwheat flower, this type of honey is loaded with antioxidants. A good choice for protecting the skin against signs of aging and environmental damage.

Neem Honey: A popular Ayurvedic remedy, neem honey helps to clear the skin, improves skin tone, and evens out pigmentation.

Sweet Products With Honey for Skin

Honey can be used on its own, as part of a DIY beauty treatment, or in a prepared product. It’s good for all skin types and works on most skin conditions.

If you decide to go the DIY route, try combining your choice of honey with a bit of organic milk to make a skin smoothing face and body exfoliator. Check out how to make honey face masks for every skin type by Hello Glow.

UMA Absolute Anti-Aging Face Mask: Refine pores, smooth skin, and soften lines and wrinkles with this honey-based face mask.

The Beauty Chef Beauty Fix Balm: A honey-infused skin fixer that heals, moisturizes, and soothes the skin.

La Bella Figura Purifying Manuka Honey Mask: Detox skin and clear up breakouts with this raw manuka honey mask.

May Lindstrom The Honey Mud: Cleanse, nourish, and revitalize the complexion with this gentle, yet intensive, honey cleanser.

Osmia Organics Honey Myrrh Lip Repair: A fast acting lip balm that softens, smooths, and moisturizes dry, rough lips.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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How much are you paying for the lotions, creams, and face washes you use to keep your skin fresh and healthy? It’s not cheap, especially when you’re buying natural and organic products. But instead of shelling out for pricey natural skincare products, why not try using things that you already have around the house? You need look no further than the kitchen.

1. Coffee

Aside from being a morning must-have, coffee doubles as both a skin and hair care product (the latter if you’re a brunette, that is). You can use leftover brewed coffee as a hair rinse to add luster and more intensive color to your locks, then save the grounds and use them as a natural exfoliant. Some studies show that the caffeine in the coffee can add a bit of extra lift to your skin too.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer, but it does triple duty as a makeup remover and skin cleanser, too. Dab some coconut oil onto a cotton ball to remove eye makeup, and apply it to the rest of your face as well just before bed. Not only will it moisturize your skin, but its antimicrobial properties have been shown to keep acne at bay in some cases.

As with any new product that you’re using on your face, apply some first to a small area, like next to your ear, and wait 24 hours to make sure that your skin tolerates it before applying the product to your whole face.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw apple cider vinegar is a great replacement for over-the-counter toners. With natural antimicrobial properties, it’s great for clearing up blemishes and pimples and isn’t nearly as abrasive as many store-bought products, as long as you use it properly.

Don’t wash your face with straight-up vinegar; instead, dilute the vinegar with water — some swear by a 50/50 ratio, but those with sensitive skin might want even more water — and use the mixture as a rinse before bed. Be sure to moisturize as usual or risk drying out your face.

4. Eggs

Eggs are great for your skin, but you’ll want to separate the yolks from the whites first.

The yolks make a great nourishing mask for dry skin; the natural fats are a fantastic moisturizer. To use, rub raw egg yolk into your skin and let set until dry. Then rinse off with warm water, and pat dry.

As for the whites, their astringent properties can help shrink the appearance of your pores and control oiliness. Combine egg white with a touch of lemon juice, and whisk very well until frothy. Apply to your whole face, allow to dry, and rinse.

5. Honey

Honey is a superstar for skin — it’s a natural humectant, making it a great moisturizer, and its antibacterial properties make it a great cleanser as well. Combine it with coconut oil to make a moisturizing face wash that’s easy to use and smells positively fantastic. Be sure to choose raw honey to make sure that you’re getting the most out of this face wash.

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Image: Breville USA

The post 5 Kitchen Items You Can Use for (Yummy!) Natural Skincare appeared first on EcoSalon.

Mmmm. The nectar of the bees can be used for more than sweetening your tea this summer. Honey benefits for skin are pretty sweet too.

Honey holds superfood status and is widely used as a more nutritious sweetener option over processed sugar. The powers behind this sticky substance have been used for centuries.

Ancient Egyptians made honey offerings to their gods and even used it as an embalming fluid. The syrupy sweetener is no longer used by morticians, but doesn’t stop at high tea either. Used on skin, honey holds a veritable smorgasbord of benefits for all skin types.

Honey Benefits for Skin

For Dry Skin: Honey is a natural humectant, drawing moisture to the skin. When wind and sun have had their way with your complexion, bring it back to life with raw honey. Use May Lindstrom Skin The Honey Mud to cleanse skin and restore hydration. Follow with Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer for moisture retention and luster inducing qualitities.

For Mature Skin: A favorite amongst green beauty experts looking for a little skin revitalization? A honey mask. Full of antioxidants, the sweet treat seems to tighten skin and add a healthy glow. La Bella Figura Bio Active Healing Mask is made with raw Manuka honey and Barbary Fig Seed oil to nourish and exfoliate skin, while neutralizing free radicals that cause premature aging.

For Acne Prone Skin: Yes, honey even holds acne taming abilities. Its antimicrobial properties prevent the growth of bacteria on skin, clear pores and ward off breakouts. It is also anti-inflammatory to help calm upset skin. Added bonus? Honey won’t dry skin out like benzyl peroxide acne treatments. Ditch the harsh chemical scrubs and try HollyBeth Organics Grits & Honey Scrub to exfoliate and clear the skin.

For Treating Spots: If you are dealing with occasional pimples or trying to make dark spots or scars disappear, try using honey as a spot treatment. An excellent option is Wedderspoon 100% Raw Organic Manuka Honey. Hydrogen peroxide is produced in Manuka honey, which draws impurities out of pores and lightens spots.

For Lips: If you’ve yet to be called Sweet Lips, let’s change that pronto! Honey has an amazing softening effect on skin, but applying straight from jar to lips can be a bit too sticky. Suvana Beauty Paw Paw & Honey Organic Lip Balm is organic-beauty-famous because it goes on like petroleum jelly but is free from nasty stuff. Your pucker will be deliciously soft and smooth.

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Image of bees on honeycomb via Shutterstock

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