A taste of honey: Mother Nature's moisturizer, honey is a natural and effective skincare treatment

Natural Health, Nov, 2007 by Olessa Pindak

THE HONEY you use to sweeten your tea or spread on your morning toast can also be used to soften and hydrate your skin. It turns out the qualities that make it such a powerful nutritional source (honey is full of amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, and has more protein per ounce than some meat) make it good for the skin, too, says Fran E. Cook-Bolden, M.D., clinical assistant professor in the department of dermatology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons.

A natural moisturizer, honey also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which act to protect the hive from bacteria. Plus, honey is used in skincare just as it's found in nature: "It's not pressed, steamed, or extracted," observes Celeste Lutrario, director of research and development at Burt's Bees. "The honey that goes into our products is exactly the same as what you would buy in a jar at the farmers' market."

Part of honey's ultra-natural appeal is that it's manufactured not by humans but by bees. "Female worker bees carry nectar from flowers in tanks next to their stomach and store it in honeycombs," explains Ted Dennard, beekeeper and founder of The Savannah Bee Company. "Then they fan the nectar with their wings to dry it out." Beekeepers collect honeycombs and remove the honey (bees make far more honey than they can eat), which is sold to beauty companies eager to use more natural ingredients. To sweeten your skincare, try one of these honey-infused products.

Moisturizing

Because of its high sugar content, honey is a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture from the air into the skin, helping to keep it hydrated and plump.

Try:

THE BODY SHOP SPA WISDOM AFRICA SPA HONEY BUTTER ($19; thebodyshop.com) softens dry patches like elbows with shea butter and honey.

KISS MY FACE HONEY & CALENDULA ULTRA MOISTURIZER ($4; at Whole Foods Markets) combines the natural hydrators honey and calendula, making it an ideal remedy for dry or chapped skin.

BURT'S BEES THOROUGHLY THERAPEUTIC HONEY & BILBERRY FOOT CREME ($10; burtsbees.com) contains bilberry extract to exfoliate rough calluses and honey and jojoba butter to moisturize.

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Antibacterial

"Honey's low pH makes it acidic, which provides a mild antibacterial effect," says Cook-Bolden. The cleansing properties that have made honey a traditional treatment for cuts and scrapes also make it a great skin cleanser.

Try:

TACT BEAUTY CARE PURE OLIVE OIL SOAP WITH PURE HONEY ($3.50; tactbeauty careusa.com) is made with Greek olive oil, honey, and calendula, and fights inflammation as it cleanses the skin.

L'OCCITANE HONEY & LEMON FOAMING JELLY ($20; usa.loccitane.com) is a hardworking, two-in-one shower gel for body and hair.

NUXE FAMILY BALM ($40; nuxe.com) works as an elegant first aid salve to treat chapped cuticles, lips, cheeks, and noses--it has honey to help heal, plant oils to nourish, and shea butter to soften skin.

Anti-aging

"Honey's antioxidant properties fight free radicals from the sun and pollution that can age skin," says Cook-Bolden. "It's also a great treatment for sun-damaged skin."

Try:

KORRES THYME HONEY MASK ($26.50; sephora.com) coats the skin, preventing moisture loss and helping to restore elasticity, while spirulina and quince brighten your complexion.

SARAH SCOTT TAN KEEPER ($38; shopsarahscott.com) contains honey and aloe to soothe sun-exposed skin.

DIONIS MILK & HONEY LIP BALM ($3; dionissoap.com) uses honey to heal chapped lips and help prevent aging, and shea butter to keep lips soft.

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Exfoliating

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"High levels of antioxidants in honey neutralize the effects of damaging free radicals," says Lutrario. Antioxidants help to encourage healthy cell turnover, revealing newer, fresher skin.

Try:

QUEEN HELENE NATURAL FACIAL SCRUB ($4; at drugstores) uses oatmeal and walnut-shell powder to exfoliate the skin and honey to help protect it from moisture loss.

COLLECTIVE WELLBEING HONEY BUFF ($13; collective wellbeing.com) contains rose hip seeds, lemon-peel powder, and honey to help shed dead skin, and vitamin C to fight sun damage, fine lines, and wrinkles.

AROMAFLORIA HONEY PAPAYA NUT MEAL EXFOLIANT ($25; aromafloria.com) has crushed almonds, rice, and oatmeal to ensure a gentle scrub, and papaya and manuka honey to help exfoliate.

Photography by GEMMA COMAS