Moisture is the skin’s basic requirement. It keeps the skin soft, healthy and youthful. As knowledge about the skin and its cosmetic needs have grown, it has been found that aged and prematurely aged skins have one thing in common – a lack of moisture.

The amount of moisture that the skin holds determines its texture to a great extent – whether it is soft and smooth, or dry, rough, creepy and covered with fine lines.

The skin loses moisture to the environment, when humidity is low or is lowered by artificial means through air conditioning and heating. Exposure to the sun, over a period of time, also lowers the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Even the water that you use, to wash the face, is treated with chemicals like chlorine, which deplete moisture and cause dryness. If the skin is habitually short of moisture, it can become dehydrated and shrivel up. This not only makes the skin texture rough and sensitive, but also vulnerable to the early formation of lines and wrinkles.

Oily skins can also be short of moisture. This happens during the dry winter season, when there is a superficial dryness of the outermost layer of the skin. You can identify it by the taut, uncomfortable feeling immediately after washing. Some areas of the skin may also acquire tiny white flakes.

In your home and right there on the kitchen shelf is one of the most powerful natural moisturizers – honey! Actually, honey is a humectant and attracts moisture to the skin from the … and smooth. As it contains valuable vitamins, minerals and enzymes, it nourishes the skin when externally applied. It also stimulates tones and tightens the skin, giving it a fresh and radiant glow.

If you have dry skin, apply honey daily and wash it off with plain water after 20 minutes. You can also mix honey with a few drops of orange juice. Apply this on the face for 20 minutes and wash off with water.

For dry skin, you can also mix half a teaspoon honey, one-teaspoon rose water and one-teaspoon dried milk powder. Make a paste and apply on the face. Remove after 20 minutes with water.

Add one-quarter cup of honey to your bath water to relieve dryness and soften the skin on the body.

Honey suits both oily and combination skin. In fact, it is most useful for oily skins, since moisturizing creams and lotions can block the pores and lead to blackheads and pimples. For oily skin, mix honey with egg white and apply on the skin daily, washing it off after 20 minutes with plain water. Egg white has a cleansing effect, reducing oiliness, while honey will soften the skin and nourish it. If you have a combination skin, apply honey by itself on the entire face, as it would suit both oily and dry areas.

Honey, with its antiseptic and healing properties can also be used on pimple-prone skins and even if there is a severe acne condition. In fact, people with acne often suffer from superficial dryness and … flaking of the skin. Honey would be ideal. Mix one teaspoon honey with yoghurt (curd) and apply on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. It would relieve dryness and also soothe and nourish the skin. Both honey and yoghurt have a healing effect on acne. Yoghurt, which contains lactic acid, also helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance, so necessary in acne conditions.

Honey can be useful in facemasks, for all skin types. Mix wheat bran (choker) or oatmeal with honey. Rose water can be also be added. Mix into a smooth paste and apply on the face. Wash it off when it is dry or after 20 minutes. This mask may be used two or three times a week to keep the skin soft, supple and youthful.

Honey can also be used to revitalize dry and damaged hair. After your shampoo, stir one-teaspoon honey in 4 cups of warm water and use it as a last rinse, to condition the hair and add shine. Or, mix one teaspoon honey with sesame seed (til) oil or olive oil. Massage this into the scalp and hair, half an hour before your shampoo. It would really help to soften dry hair, adding lustre.

Today, honey is an important ingredient in the formulation of products for beauty care from moisturizers, skin toners and masks to hand creams, body lotions and hair conditioners.

Honey does not contain preservatives, artificial fragrances, colour or essences. Hence, it is totally natural, in every sense. So make the most of it.

Try some of the following honey beauty tips below. Please be sure not to use honey on your skin if you are allergic to it!

1. Honey mask: Apply pure honey to your face and allow it to set until dry. This will take about 15 minutes. Once dry, rinse your face with warm water.

2. Body glow bath: To moisturize, smooth, and get an all over body glow, keep a jar of honey next to your bath. Apply honey on your skin and pat dry using both hands. While patting your skin, the honey will get sticky and gently pull up your skin. Rinse away the honey when you are done. The results will be great circulation and beautiful, glowing skin!

3. Honey bath: For sweet smelling and soft skin, add ¼ to ½ cup of honey to your bath water.

4. Honey scrub: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with a little almond flour into the palm of your hand. Gently apply on your face for a facial scrub. Rinse your face with warm water to remove honey scrub.

5. Daily facial cleanser: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with a little milk powder into the palm of your hand. Apply on your face to clean away dirt and makeup and then rinse with warm water.

6. Shiny Hair: To add some shine to your hair, mix 1 teaspoon of honey, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and 1 quart of warm water. Shampoo your hair as usual and then pour the honey mixture on your hair. Allow your hair to dry as normal. You do not have to rinse out the honey mixture.

7. Hair conditioner: For healthy hair and scalp, combine ½ cup of honey and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Saturate your hair with the honey mixture, put on a shower cap and allow it to remain on hair for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, shampoo and rinse your hair as you normally do.

8. Skin toner: To firm, smooth, and moisturize your skin, combine 1 peeled, cored apple with 1 tablespoon of honey in a blender. Pulse honey mixture until smooth. Gently apply honey mixture on face and allow it to remain for 15 minutes. Rinse your face with warm water to remove the honey mixture.

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Ammarah
Radio Islam
+27118547022
ammarah@radioislam.co.za
www.radioislam.co.za