The Power Of Honey. Beauty.

We all know honey tastes great and it's considered nature's only perfect food, but did you know your skin can benefit from honey too? That's right. Honey has a place not only in your kitchen, but near your bath. Honey is a natural humectant that promotes moisture retention. Try the following bath recipes as a special treatment to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

Honey has the natural ability to attract and retain moisture and is an important factor in beauty products because of its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity.

1. Relax with a honey bath: Add 1/4 cup honey to your bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.
   
   
2. Keep your hair healthy with a Hair Shine: Stir 1 tsp. of honey into 4 cups of warm water. (Add lemon if desired.) After shampooing, pour the honey mixture through hair. Do not rinse. Dry as normal.
   
   
Milk and Honey Bath.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup sea salt;
• 2 tablespoons baking soda;
• 1 cup boiling water;
• 1 cup honey;
• 2 cups milk;
• 10 drops of vanilla oil;

Steps:
• Dissolve sea salt and baking soda in bathwater.
• Dissolve honey in boiling water and add milk.
• Add milk-honey mixture and vanilla to bathwater.
• Swirl water to blend all ingredients.
3. Hair Conditioner: Mix 1/2 cup honey with 1/4 cup olive oil. (For normal to oily hair, use only 2 tablespoons oil.) Using a small amount at a time, work mixture through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes. Remove shower cap and shampoo well. Rinse. Dry as normal.
   
   
4. Honey helps clear up acne without drying your skin! Use Soothing Skin Clarifier to help clear up minor acne: Mix 1/2 cup warm water with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture directly to the blemish. Maintain pressure with the cotton ball for several minutes. This softens the blemish. Then, using a cotton swab, dab honey on the blemish and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
   
   
Honey and Lemon Sugar Scrub.

Ingredients:
• 2 1/2 cups of sugar;
• 2 cups sweet almond oil;
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice;
• 4 tablespoons honey;
• 4 drops lemon essential oil;

Steps:
• Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix thoroughly.
• Add more honey and/or oil as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
• To use, scoop out a handful of scrub and apply to damp face, neck, hands, and/or whole body. Leave mixture on the skin for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse well with warm water. Pat skin dry with a soft cloth or towel.
5. Keep your skin smooth with Smoothing Skin Lotion - Mix 1 teaspoon with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.
   
   
6. Protect your skin from sun damage by eating honey and using Smoothing Skin Lotion.
   
   
7. Make your own Honey Cleansing Scrub. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water. (For more Honey Beauty Recipes, visit the National Honey Board's web site at http://www.honey.com/recipes/beauty/.)
   
   
Honey Salt Scrub Masque.

Ingredients:
• 1 cup sea salt powder;
• 2 tablespoons Rhassoul clay powder;
• 2 tablespoons milk, powdered or whole;
• 1/3 cup honey;
• 1/3 jojoba oil;
• 1 tablespoon honey powder;

Steps:
• Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix thoroughly.
• Add more honey and/or oil as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
• To use, scoop out a handful of scrub and apply to damp face, neck, hands and/or whole body. Leave mixture on skin for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse well with warm water. Pat skin dry with a soft cloth or towel.
8. Keep your skin looking young with the Honey Firming Face Mask. Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately 1/4 cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
   
   
9. Facial Toner - In blender, puree 1 tablespoon honey with a peeled, cored apple. Smooth over face; leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
   
   
10. Moisture Mask - Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
    
    

Homemade Facial Scrubs & Masks.

How to make a honey hair treatment:

Although all the ingredients in these beauty recipes are natural, remember that it is still possible to be allergic to anything applied to the skin. Do not use anything nut based on your skin if you have a nut allergy. To test other ingredients make up a very small amount of the recipe you intend to use. Wash and gently dry a small patch of skin inside your elbow. Apply a little of the mix to the skin and leave for 48 hours. If you experience any redness or swelling do not use the beauty recipe at all.

Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Many essential oils and herbs should always be avoided by pregnant/nursing ladies. Check with a qualified health advisor if in doubt.

Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a blender or food processor. Mix almond meal together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons clear honey;
• 1 tablespoon olive oil.

To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Method:

• Mix the honey with the olive oil.
• Make sure the oil and honey are thoroughly mixed.
• Wash hair in the normal way and towel dry.
• Massage the mixture thoroughly into the hair and wrap head in a warm towel, or use a hair dryer for 20 mins.
• Rinse hair with warm water and wash it with a good shampoo.
• This treatment is good for dry or damaged hair.

Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor and add 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1 small carton plain yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.