How To Use Honey in Homemade Cosmetics
Honey has a long history of use in beauty products.
Cleopatra is said to have taken milk and honey baths, and the wife of the Roman Emperor Nero is said to have used honey and milk on her face to preserve her beauty and youthfulness.
In the late 19th century, cosmetics began to be commercially produced, and honey was a popular ingredient for its moisturizing properties. Now that modern research has proved this and honey's other benefits, and consumers are increasingly demanding 'natural' products, honey is seeing a resurgence in popularity.
Honey can easily be used in many simple recipes for natural skin and hair at home. This lens details the benefits of honey and some of the best recipes.
(photo credit: freephotos.com)
Cleopatra is said to have taken milk and honey baths, and the wife of the Roman Emperor Nero is said to have used honey and milk on her face to preserve her beauty and youthfulness.
In the late 19th century, cosmetics began to be commercially produced, and honey was a popular ingredient for its moisturizing properties. Now that modern research has proved this and honey's other benefits, and consumers are increasingly demanding 'natural' products, honey is seeing a resurgence in popularity.
Honey can easily be used in many simple recipes for natural skin and hair at home. This lens details the benefits of honey and some of the best recipes.
(photo credit: freephotos.com)
Contents...
- Benefits of Using Honey in Natural, Homemade Cosmetics
- Honey for Your Face
- If You Don't Want to Make Your Own, Try These Great Products Containing Honey
- Honey for Your Hair
- Honey for Your Skin
- Buy Your Honey...
- ...And Other Ingredients!
- Make Your Home into a Spa....
- Books for Homemade Cosmetics on Amazon
- What Do You Think About Using Honey for Skin and Hair Care?
- Guestbook
Benefits of Using Honey in Natural, Homemade Cosmetics
Honey is a natural humectant:
Humectants attract and retain moisture. This property gives great benefits when honey is used on the skin, as it helps reverse the dryness that can occur with aging. Adequate hydration helps keep the skin soft, supple and elastic. Honey dissolves in water, so is easy to use without being sticky.
Honey is a natural ant-irritant:
Honey is therefore great for sensitive skin, and to protect the skin in exfoliating concoctions.
Honey contains natural anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals:
To get the most benefit, make sure your honey is pure and all-natural
Humectants attract and retain moisture. This property gives great benefits when honey is used on the skin, as it helps reverse the dryness that can occur with aging. Adequate hydration helps keep the skin soft, supple and elastic. Honey dissolves in water, so is easy to use without being sticky.
Honey is a natural ant-irritant:
Honey is therefore great for sensitive skin, and to protect the skin in exfoliating concoctions.
Honey contains natural anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals:
To get the most benefit, make sure your honey is pure and all-natural
Honey for Your Face
Try these easy recipes for home made honey face care
Moisturizing Honey Mask
Add 2 tablespoons honey to 2 teaspoons of milk or cream. Pat this onto the face and rinse after 10 minutes.
Honey and Fruit Exfoliator
This blend of honey and fruit utilizes the natural alpha-hydroxy acids in the fruit to exfoliate your skin, while the honey protects by acting as an anti-irritant. In a food processor, blend a peeled, cored apple with a tablespoon of honey to a smooth consistency. Gently apply the puree to your face and rinse after 15 minutes. If you prefer, cucumber is a great alternative to apple.
Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon finely-ground almonds and half a teaspoon of lemon juice. If you like, you can also add 2 tablespoons of oatmeal. Massage this gently over the face and rinse with warm water. Avoid the delicate eye area and make sure that the almonds are finely enough ground to avoid hurting your skin.
Honey Lipbalm
Mix half a cup of beeswax, 2 tablespoons of honey and a cup of oil (such as grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond) in bowl and heat gently by placing this bowl in another bowl of hot water (ie a bain-marie). When it is melted, make sure it is mixed and then pour into containers.
Add 2 tablespoons honey to 2 teaspoons of milk or cream. Pat this onto the face and rinse after 10 minutes.
Honey and Fruit Exfoliator
This blend of honey and fruit utilizes the natural alpha-hydroxy acids in the fruit to exfoliate your skin, while the honey protects by acting as an anti-irritant. In a food processor, blend a peeled, cored apple with a tablespoon of honey to a smooth consistency. Gently apply the puree to your face and rinse after 15 minutes. If you prefer, cucumber is a great alternative to apple.
Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon finely-ground almonds and half a teaspoon of lemon juice. If you like, you can also add 2 tablespoons of oatmeal. Massage this gently over the face and rinse with warm water. Avoid the delicate eye area and make sure that the almonds are finely enough ground to avoid hurting your skin.
Honey Lipbalm
Mix half a cup of beeswax, 2 tablespoons of honey and a cup of oil (such as grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond) in bowl and heat gently by placing this bowl in another bowl of hot water (ie a bain-marie). When it is melted, make sure it is mixed and then pour into containers.
If You Don't Want to Make Your Own, Try These Great Products Containing Honey
Bella B Tummy Honey Butter - 4 oz
Amazon Price: $16.45 (as of 12/11/2009) 
List Price: $19.95
Korres Thyme Honey Cream
Amazon Price: $32.50 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price:
NUXE Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream 2.6 oz (75 ml)
Amazon Price: $19.00 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $19.00
Honey for Your Hair
Take advantage of honey's moisturizing properties with these hair care recipes
Honey Hair Conditioning Treatment
Mix 1/4 cup honey, 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel. Leave on the hair for 30 minutes, then shampoo and rinse as usual.
Honey Hair Shine
Add 1 teaspoon honey to a 1 quart of water and mix well. After washing your hair as usual, pour the mixture over your head. Do not rinse out, just let your hair dry. If you can stand it, cold water gives extra shine.
Honey Hair Lightener
Mix 1/4 cup of honey in 1 cup of water and leave for an hour. Then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and apply to dry hair. After one hour, shampoo out. The honey generates mild peroxide, to gradually lighten hair. Other honey constituents protect hair and skin from damage.
Mix 1/4 cup honey, 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel. Leave on the hair for 30 minutes, then shampoo and rinse as usual.
Honey Hair Shine
Add 1 teaspoon honey to a 1 quart of water and mix well. After washing your hair as usual, pour the mixture over your head. Do not rinse out, just let your hair dry. If you can stand it, cold water gives extra shine.
Honey Hair Lightener
Mix 1/4 cup of honey in 1 cup of water and leave for an hour. Then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and apply to dry hair. After one hour, shampoo out. The honey generates mild peroxide, to gradually lighten hair. Other honey constituents protect hair and skin from damage.
Honey for Your Skin
Pamper yourself with these easy honey recipes for a home spa experience!
Simple Honey Bath
Add about 1/4 cup of honey to your warm bath water. Honey dissolves in water and will leave your skin soft and smooth.
Honey and Milk Bath
Mix about 1/3 cup of honey with 1 cup of milk or cream, and add to bath water. Now you can bathe like Cleopatra! If you like, you can also add a natural fragrance, for example by adding a few tablespoons of ground lavender flowers.
Honey Body Treatment
Mix 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice together and rub over dry patches of skin. Leave on 10 minutes, then rinse off.
Honey Body Scrub
Mix 2 cups of honey, 2 cups of coarse salt and 1/2 cup of oil, for example sweet almond, jojoba, grapeseed or olive oil. Rub briskly onto the skin in the shower, then rinse off. The salt exfoliates, while the honey and oil moisturize.
Add about 1/4 cup of honey to your warm bath water. Honey dissolves in water and will leave your skin soft and smooth.
Honey and Milk Bath
Mix about 1/3 cup of honey with 1 cup of milk or cream, and add to bath water. Now you can bathe like Cleopatra! If you like, you can also add a natural fragrance, for example by adding a few tablespoons of ground lavender flowers.
Honey Body Treatment
Mix 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice together and rub over dry patches of skin. Leave on 10 minutes, then rinse off.
Honey Body Scrub
Mix 2 cups of honey, 2 cups of coarse salt and 1/2 cup of oil, for example sweet almond, jojoba, grapeseed or olive oil. Rub briskly onto the skin in the shower, then rinse off. The salt exfoliates, while the honey and oil moisturize.
Buy Your Honey...
Y.S. Organic Bee Farms - Honey 14 0z
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/11/2009)
...And Other Ingredients!
Rina's Garden Lavender Flower Buds - 1/2 Pound Bulk
Lavender flowers to scent your bath
Amazon Price: $9.50 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price:
Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel 24 oz (680 g)
Aloe vera for your honey hair masque
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $6.99
Murrays Beeswax 3.5 oz. Jar
Beeswax for lip balms
Amazon Price: $2.69 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price:
Make Your Home into a Spa....
Soothing & Relaxing Sinus and Eye Gel Mask - Choose from 3 Colors
This eye mask can be used heated or cooled to relieve tired, puffy eyes
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Spa Sister Silky Sleep Masks
Sleep in comfort with a silky sleep mask. Also great for traveling.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Spa Sister White Cotton Overnight Moisture Gloves
Sleep in these gloves and wake up with silky, moisturized hands
Amazon Price: $6.50 (as of 12/10/2009)
Spa Sister Luxury Inflatable Terrry Bath Pillow
Relax in the bath in total comfort with a bath pillow
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Books for Homemade Cosmetics on Amazon
Neal's Yard Remedies Make Your Own Cosmetics
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
The Cosmetics Cookbook: Over 50 recipes to beautify your face, hair, and entire body you can whip up at home for practically pennies!
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/10/2009)
Natural Beauty Recipe Book: How to Make Your Own Organic Cosmetics and Beauty Products
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/10/2009)
Handbook of Natural Beauty: Practical Ways and Homemade Preparations to Bring Out Your Natural Beauty
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
What Do You Think About Using Honey for Skin and Hair Care?
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- AppalachianCountry AppalachianCountry May 4, 2009 @ 8:36 am
- Great lens. We want to try the honey mask. Thank-you for the good info.
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Reply
- LucyVet LucyVet Mar 10, 2009 @ 9:42 am | in reply to candycorn
- Organic extra virgin olive oil should work great :) Good luck with your recipe!
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Reply
- candycorn candycorn Mar 9, 2009 @ 8:43 pm
- for the honey hair lightener recipe , what if i used organic extra virgin olive oil ?
is that still ok ?
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Reply
- infoels infoels Feb 10, 2009 @ 9:03 am
- nice article in this lens.amazing. SKIN CARE TIPS
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Reply
- evenmorebeautiful evenmorebeautiful Oct 10, 2008 @ 4:56 am
- Hi great lens.Your step by step explanation makes very easy and interesting.
even more beautiful
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by LucyVet
I am a veterinarian, specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal veterinary medicine. I love creating natural beauty products at home! (more)
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