Oh Honey!!
Honey!! First of all, honey goes on everything. Fight me! But to find out that honey can go on my skin, hair and body!?!?!
Sis was floored!! I’m here to tell you all the wonderful ways honey can benefit your outsides and break your little heart about the cute little teddy bears in the supermarket.
Let’s talk types of honey:Raw Honey vs Regular Honey is simple to explain and it’s easy to see why I’ve made the switch. While raw honey can be more pricey, it’s worth it!! No added sugars, all of the nutrients and vitamins because it’s only strained before bottling. Regular honey is processed in a variety of ways that cause the honey to lose many of it’s valuable nutrients and benefits. We don’t want that!!I am partial to Raw Buckwheat Honey and Raw Manuka Honey for my beauty needs because they are of the darker variety which means there are more antioxidants and a higher level of nutrients. (The darker the honey, the more good stuff in it!). Buckwheat honey has a higher amount of antioxidants that Manuka honey and is known more for it’s anti-bacterial properties. However, both are phenomenal for skincare, hair care and body. Benefits/Ingredients
Antioxidant Rich
Anti-Inflammatory
Anti-Bacterial
Anti-Microbial
Humectants
Emollients
Moisturizing
Wound Healing
Niacin
Riboflavin
Pantothenic Acid
Calcium
Magnesium
Manganese
Potassium
Phosphorous
Zinc
Put Some Honey On My……
…Skin
So for my skin, honey and honey based products have proven to be the magic I needed!! I use products from Asali Organics, a MD based skincare company created by Camille Jeanine, for the majority of my skincare and have seen a definite change in my skin. When I’m not using that I just use fresh out of the jar honey to cleanse my face, add it to green tea and jojoba oil for a cooling, hydrating sheet mask or mix with honey powder and vitamin e oil for a gentle exfoliator. You can also add honey into your favorite gentle cleanser for an added boost of goodness!! …Hair
Adding honey to my shampoo & conditioner is a fairly new trick but so far, I’m in love!! My hair smells so yummy after mixing honey in with my Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner and has more softness, bounce and density. Plus the shedding is slowing down!! Honey has cell-regenerating/reparative properties that are said to help with hair growth, hydration, protein and scalp cleansing. The emollients and humectants in raw honey are a magical ingredient that makes it a great addition to your regular routine or solo treatment for hair as a protein treatment (massage from midshaft to ends and leave under a plastic cap for 15 to 20 minutes, add low heat from a dryer for kicks and giggles). …Body
I love a good spa bath at home. (See my next blog about DIY baths) Adding honey to your bath allows all of its goodness to sink into your skin and really give you something great!! My favorite way to spa bath is a hot shower with eucalyptus and my coffee scrub (recipe below) followed by a warm bath with whole milk, epsom salts, dried flowers, honey, lavender oil, coconut oil and whatever other oil I feel like throwing in. If your skin is inflamed or irritated (sunburn, excema, etc.) you can put some raw oats into a stocking or a mesh sachet and toss that in too!! The magic of a hot bath with honey and oil is that your skin is already hydrated and lubricated so you can just hop out, pat dry (leaving a little moisture on your skin is good, especially after an oil bath) and get dressed. *If you are allergic to pollen, bees or any honey related allergies do not do these things!! Check with your doctor if you are unsure!!!
DIY Coffee Scrub Recipe
3 to 4 K-Cup Pods or 1 cup of coffee grounds (I love the K-Cups)
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
Jojoba Oil
Vitamin E Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil or Lavender Oil (optional)
Lavender Essential Oil (or your favorite essential oil for skin (I’ll tell you more about those later)
Raw Manuka or Buckwheat Honey (Or your choice of Raw honey) as wanted
Mix coffee and brown sugar together into a bowl.
Warm carrier oils (DON’T COOK) in microwave or double boiler and mix until well blended. Warm honey and add in. Mix until well blended.
Add honey and oil blend into coffee mix slowly until it begins to form almost a sludgey, muddy type texture. Tap in up to 8 drops of essential oils (as many as desired but more than 8 can be overkill and might not be balanced enough for your skin).
SCRUB!!!!!! Not for use on the face, body only.
Grab some of the items mentioned here from my store and on Amazon!!
My Favorite DIY Sheet Masks
A sheet mask is my favorite thing ever!! It’s so convenient and if you do it right you can do one everyday!! I’ve done some research on skin friendly ingredients and the magic they work on your skin. Why not share with my favorite people!? So here are some of my favorite skin combos along with their benefits and ways to use them!
I bought these sheet masks from Amazon to use with my homemade honey masks and found a few recipes for other masks that I’ve come to love!!
With these masks you simply make the tea the way you would a normal cup of tea and blend all liquid ingredients together with a small whisk in a bowl while the tea is still warm to make sure that the oils blend well. I store mine in tightly sealed tupperware containers in the fridge so I can easily grab one and go!! Each recipe makes approximately 25 to 30 masks if you use the suggested sheets as they are very thin and absorb a lot of liquid.
Green Tea & Honey
This mask is intensely hydrating, anti-inflammatory and acne reducing. I use this sheet mask once a week but it can be used daily for more irritated skin. It leaves skin bright, soft and firm.
8oz Organic Green Tea made with Distilled Water
2 Tablespoons Raw Honey dissolved
1 Teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
1 Teaspoon Jojoba Oil
1 Teaspoon Tea Tree Oil
Milk & Honey
Honey on it’s own is an incredible addition to any skin care routine for all skin types. Milk is hydrating and exfoliating and helps to improve complexion.
3 Tablespoons Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Raw Honey dissolved
1 Tablespoon fresh Aloe
Lavender & Chamomile Tea
With this mask, relaxation is a must! I use this after a day in the sun when my skin is thirsty and irritated. It heals my skin while giving it a soft, hydrated glow.
2 bags Lavender & Chamomile Tea
8oz Distilled Water
1 Teaspoon Rosehip Seed Oil
1 Teaspoon Lavender Oil
Roses
Great for aging skin that is begging for replenishment! It feeds hydration into the skin.
4oz Organic Green Tea made with Distilled Water
2 Tablespoons Raw Honey dissolved
1 Teaspoon Rosehip Seed Oil
Green Tea & Honey
This mask is intensely hydrating, anti-inflammatory and acne reducing. I use this sheet mask once a week but it can be used daily for more irritated skin. It leaves skin bright, soft and firm.
8oz Organic Green Tea made with Distilled Water
2 Tablespoons Raw Honey dissolved
1 Teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
1 Teaspoon Jojoba Oil
1 Teaspoon Tea Tree Oil
Just Honey
Daily use. This baby is great for daily use. Raw Honey is great for balancing your skins pH levels, removing dead skin, decreasing acne inflammation and helps to remove acne causing bacteria. I spread the honey all over my skin and place a plain sheet mask right over it and relax my nerves for at least 20 to 30 minutes then rinse with warm water.
Raw Honey
I’ve got a million more but I’ll stop here for now!! Feel Free to add in your favorite therapeutic essential oils to any of these masks for an added boost!!
*The shelf life for these masks in the fridge is approximately 2 to 3 months. Always check the smell of the liquid before use to be sure.
*Allergy Warning - Please be aware of any food allergies when using these masks, do a patch test to be sure your skin won’t be irritated.
**If you are allergic to bees then honey is not a good idea and should not be used on skin.