The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English gives the following definition of a word that is generally not used in day-to-day conversation but which is a word that should be thought of by everyone on a daily basis.
hu•mec•tant / (h)yoōˈmektənt/ • adj. retaining or preserving moisture. • n. a substance, esp. a skin lotion or a food additive, used to reduce the loss of moisture.
While almost everyone would begin to think of aloe as one of the most common natural humectants, one that is more readily available in its natural state to today’s consumer is pure ol’ honey. That’s right! Honey is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets around, especially when it comes to skin care.
From Cleopatra to Christie Brinkley, legendary beauties throughout the centuries have understood the importance of moisturizers in keeping skin healthy and youthful. While looking great is on everyone’s agenda, our skin is the largest organ we have and one of its primary functions is to protect our bodies. Taking care of the skin can have a much greater benefit than that of simply satisfying one’s vanity, and how fortunate we are to have honey to help us do both!
A major cause of aging skin is exposure to free radicals. Honey is a significant and powerful antioxidant and has been found to counter the free radicals in your skin. As an antioxidant, honey can also be vitally important in protecting the skin from damage by the UV rays of the sun while serving to promote skin rejuvenation as well. The natural, soothing properties of honey make it ideal for anti-irritants, moisturizers, sunscreens, and cosmetics.
In its natural state, honey contains copper, iron, silica, vitamin B, B1, B2, C, B6, B5, B3, manganese, chlorine, calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, aluminum, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron, phosphate, propolis, wax, and pollen. It’s of critical importance to always use raw unfiltered honey whenever possible. This is honey that has not been heated or treated and the bees’ enzymes and healing properties are untouched. We’re talking about honey ’straight from the hive’. It’s unfortunate that much of the available honey on the market today has been filtered, heated, and processed to enhance its appearance to the consumer. In making it look nicer, the nutrients have often been lost, destroyed, or removed.
Because honey has an anti-bacterial nature, it can cleanse the skin’s surface as well as temporarily tighten the outer skin layers while acting as both a cleanser and a toner. It’s frightening that many of today’s skin care products are little more than chemical cocktails designed to be smeared onto the face, hair and skin. Few people seem to realize that these chemicals are being absorbed into their bodies in many cases. But honey is readily available, inexpensive, healthy, and best of all… natural!
While many home based skin care recipes which use honey are available, five of the most basic ones are simple and easy:
• For a honey facial moisturizer combine 2 Tablespoons of honey with 2 Teaspoons of milk. Apply to face, leave on for 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
• You can whip up a fast honey body scrub by mixing ½ cup of raw honey with ½ cup of sugar or salt. Step into the shower and scrub the mixture onto your skin before rinsing thoroughly for an exfoliate with a moisturizing twist.
• A rejuvenating facial scrub can easily be made by combining 1 Tablespoon of honey with 2 Tablespoons of finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently rubbing into the skin and rinsing with warm water will leave your face feeling clean, moist, and refreshed.
• This honey mask has to be the easiest yet. Simply spread a thin layer over your face and leave for about fifteen minutes before rinsing with warm water. You will be amazed at how clean and soft your skin will feel.
• Mixing honey and cinnamon in equal parts will create a paste that can cure eczema, ringworm and many types of skin infections.
Regardless of the application you choose, it’s a sure bet that adding some honey to your life will make a believer out of you. You’ll see the remarkable results that this natural product can offer immediately and prolonged use will give your skin softness and youthfulness that you hadn’t expected to ever enjoy again!
