Raw Honey: A Golden Treat For Your Skin

For the ultimate natural all round helpful skin potion, try Raw Honey. Today I cut loaves of some seriously yummy smelling unfragranced soap: Our Oatmeal, Milk & Honey and our Honeycomb soap. Yes, you read that right: yummy smelling unfragranced soap. They smell sweet and delicious all on their own because of the fact that they each contain Raw Honey. And the Honeycomb soap also contains raw beeswax too. We only clean out the bee and bug bits and leave the propolis.

Whether I soap cold or hot, no matter how well it's mixed, raw honey will give me the most interesting and beautiful patterns at the end. This is because of the heat created by honey's sugar content. The Oatmeal, Milk & Honey also has the sugar factor (lactose) of the whole milk.

You can see the light and dark demarcation areas in the soaps from the honey. I love this! I never know what honey heat patterns I'll get. Last 6 batches I got spiral-ish patterns, this time both of these batches are marbled.

We get our honey from either an Amish family or a fellow Greater Polk County Farmers Market beekeeper, both of whom are less than 5 miles from our farm. Our fellow market member also keeps hives on our farm, too. Makes for a double benefit: Local Raw Honey and bees for my garden! Between the soaps and the bees buzzing outside, I thought it fitting that today I'd write a bit about Honey in skincare. Honey has become a favorite with one and all to be used in skin care. From ancient times to present, there has been many historical writing on the use of honey in skin care, both beauty and medicinal. Honey is an indispensable ingredient in skin treatments. Pollution, dirt, and other irritating agents in the air can make the skin lose its ability to retain water, making it look dry, wrinkled and making a person look much older than they are.

The natural hydrating and antioxidant properties of honey trap and seal the moisture, can help rejuvenate the skin and raw honey can also help cleanse the skin leaving it soft and supple. Raw Honey is the purest form, it's suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. Many Estheticians suggest using honey abundantly for radiant complexions. Many natural and natural based skin care products like soaps, shower gels, face creams, skin lotions, moisturizers, body scrubs, masks and even baby care products contain honey. In the last 10 years, the western medical establishment has rediscovered the ancient uses of honey. There's been a serious resurgence in the medical applications of honey in wound care. [1] When making skin care for yourself at home, a label that says Raw Honey is pretty much the only way to have a decent guarantee you actually have REAL honey and not honey that has been watered down with a sugar water syrup (the USDA allows honey to be watered down up to 18% and still be called honey) or highly filtered to remove all the pollen -which then means the origin of the honey can't be traced. [2] If you can get USDA organic or know a beekeeper or 2 in your area or at a local farmers market that's a big plus for you. Raw honey will look, smell, taste and even feel completely different from diluted or dead honey. It has a bright and sharply sweet smell. If it's saying it's a varietal honey, you may smell traces of the clover, wild flowers, orange blossoms, etc. but not always. If it's Buckwheat honey, it will be dark, thick and have a musky scent to it (okay, I am so trying to be polite describing Buckwheat honey's scent). Almost any type of Raw honey will be good for your skincare.

Treat your skin at home with some simple skin care remedies with Raw Honey

Skin Care: In your bath water: 1/4 cup of Raw Honey in your bath water keeps your skin soft and supple. For an added boost of natural alpha hydroxy acids, add 3 tbls of whole milk or goat milk powder. After gently cleansing your skin, try some of these honey combination masques. I'm putting skin beneficial essential oils in parenthesis as a suggestion for those who utilize them for skin care. Throw out any leftover masques as these cannot be kept longer than 24 hours, not even under refrigeration! Dry skin: 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp of a vegetable oil like grape seed, almond or camellia, or rice bran and 1 egg yolk. Whisk it together with a fork, then massage the mixture on dry areas of your skin, leave for 10 mines and rinse with water. If using on your face (keep out of eyes), leaving it on while soaking in the tub is a great way to help soften and moisturize dry facial skin. The warm steam of the bath will help with penetration. (Recommended Essential Oils: 1 drop each of Rose and Lavender; OR 1 drop each Rose hips oil and Helichrysum (italicum); OR 1/4teaspoon of Calendula infused oil (made by steeping Calendula flowers in a oil for at least 3 weeks). Combination Skin: A balancing mask with 1 tsp of honey, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 tsp lemon juice OR orange juice and 1 tsp yogurt. Apply on your face (keep out of eyes), neck and décolleté. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse off with water. You skin will feel moisturized and polished with tightened pores. (Recommended Essential Oils: 2 drops Lavender; OR 1 drop each Lavender and Chamomile; OR 1 drop each Neroli and Chamomile) Breakout Prone Skin: Open the pores on your face by placing on it a cloth dipped in warm (not hot) water. Massage 1 tbls honey mixed with 2 tsp Witch Hazel on your face, then leave on for 10-20 minutes. Rinse first with warm water and then cool water. Try this 2-3 times a week for occasional to mild breakouts. (Recommended Essential Oils: 1 drop each Bergamot (begapten free) and Sage; OR 1 drop each Bergamot (begapten free) oil and Pink Grapefruit (paradisi);

For silky-smooth skin: Mix 1 tsp of honey and 3 tsp of either rose, lavender or chamomile hydrosol. Apply to face (keep out of eye area), neck and décolleté. Massage well and then rinse with lukewarm water and enjoy the sensation of softened skin.

For a gentle exfoliation: Mix 1 tsp of honey, 1 egg, 1 tsp glycerin and 1tbls ground oat meal. For about 2 minutes gently massage it on your face and throat in circular motion (avoiding sensitive areas around the eye), then wash it off with warm water. Your skin will feel and look much smoother, more refreshed and rejuvenated. Do not use on broken skin or skin with active whiteheads or breakouts.

If you don't feel like making your own exfoliation mix, you can use our dry Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Herbal Clay Face Masque.

It contains honey powder and you can add liquid honey to it also, along your fluid of choice. Instead of letting it sit and dry, massage it on your face for 2 minutes and then wash off with warm water. No muss, no fuss and double honey care for your beautiful face.