Treat Your Skin To Some Honey Magic

by Cecilia Parker, Botanist

Raw, locally sourced honey is not only delicious and packed with nutrients, but it also shines for keeping your skin healthy and glowing. Full of enzymes and beneficial bacteria, raw honey can help your skin’s microbiome rebalance itself. Manuka honey, in particular, has been shown to help resolve breakouts and help compromised skin heal more quickly.

Here are some easy-peasy ways to get that golden goodness working for you. If you are allergic to honey, give this a pass. Tread carefully if you have allergies to bee pollen: do a small patch test on your inner arm to ensure it’s OK to proceed.

Simple Honey Bandage (or, Skip The Peroxide, Alcohol or Soap)

Road rash is the worst! Wiped out on your bike, or took a tumble on the trail? Honey to the rescue! It’s naturally antiseptic, and unlike alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, won’t disrupt your skin’s microbiome or irritate tissues. 

Here’s how to:

1. Pour a nice glop of honey onto the scrape
2. Wait a few minutes until your body heat liquefies the honey, taking the gravel and dirt out of the wound
3. Wipe up the dirty honey gently, then apply a clean layer on the wound
4. Cover with a bandage
5. Repeat daily, until wound scabs over

Super-Balanced Face Mask 

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. It works well for all skin types, helps calm irritations, and strikes the balance between purification and hydration.Your face will feel soft and clean, not stripped or tight. Ahhhh.

You’ll need:

• 1 tsp-1 tbl (depending on how thick you like your masks) pure clay: French green is great for oily skin, white (kaolin) works well for drier skin, and the marvelous rhassoul (Moroccan red) is a good pick for sensitive skin.
• 1 tbsp raw honey
• (Optional but delightful) ½ tsp powdered herbs: rose, lavender, tulsi, or calendula 

Here’s How: 

1. Drop honey into a clean bowl or the palm of a clean hand, then mix the clay (and herb powder, if using) in slowly, until it’s blended in completely.
2. Rinse your face with warm water, then apply the mixture evenly, avoiding your mouth and eyes. Leave the mask on, anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. Take the time to relax, listen to music you love, or just close your eyes and daydream. 
3. When time’s up, rinse off thoroughly with warm water (that sticky honey!), and pat your face dry. Feel free to apply your favorite skin oil or moisturizer, or just leave your face bare, if you’re heading to bed.