Natural Skin Care Made from Honey

She was the Queen of the Nile and the matriarch of beauty and natural skin care. As a spokes-model for the ancient Egyptians, Cleopatra set down the fundamentals of natural skin care. At the core of her natural skin care repository was honey. Yep, the stuff that bees make and that we spread on biscuits is the main component that kept Cleopatra's skin radiant and youthful.

Moisturizer and Antioxidant

Honey was a key ingredient in natural skin care in the Middle Ages, in pioneer towns and villages and is widely used today. Why? Scientists have found honey is a source of substantial antioxidants. Among the many things that antioxidants do, protecting the skin from effects of the sun, such as, premature aging, skin damage and even cancer are just a few.

A natural skin care moisturizer, honey attracts and retrains water. Used in a bath or in a facial mask, honey draws moisture to the skin. It is particularly advantageous to sensitive skin because it is an anti-irritant.

Acne

Honey is also an antimicrobial agent, which means it can prevent the growth of bacteria. The reason that honey is a good antimicrobial agent is that honey is high in sugar, which limits the amount of water available to bacteria, and honey has a low protein content and low acidity that deprives the bacteria of the nitrogen it needs to grow.

The antimicrobial properties make honey an excellent natural skin care treatment for minor acne flare-ups and has the added advantage of not drying out the skin as many other acne treatments do.

Treatment for Skin Conditions

A recent study at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health shows that a mixture if honey, olive oil and beeswax relieve the symptoms associated with eczema and psoriasis. Eighty percent of the study's participants with eczema had significant improvements. The patients reported overwhelming improvement from the symptoms of itching, scaling and oozing using this natural skin care treatment.

Honey's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties decrease pain and scarring and lead to faster wound healing. Both olive oil and honey contain flavonoids, which not only protect cells but also inhibit histamines. (Histamines result in allergic reactions.) Bastyr's mixture of honey, olive oil and beeswax, is an effective organic skin care ointment for surface wounds such as scrapes, abrasions and small cuts.

Honey forms the basis of many natural skin care products from preventative care to wound and disease treatment. It was good enough for Cleopatra and scientists today agree that no natural skin care cupboard should be without it.