There are some ingredients that are almost always hits when doing DIY skincare. And honey is without a doubt at the top of the list. This staple has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries.

Cleopatra, known for tapping into her powerful femininity to rule and impart power, was also known for her beauty.  It is well known that Cleopatra often traveled with donkeys with her to be able to have fresh donkey milk for her now famous milk and honey baths.  While donkey milk is a popular ingredient in cheese or milk, its more than likely Cleopatra used it for its intense skin hydration and natural source of lactic acid, which helps to exfoliate dead skin cells while regenerating healthy skin cells.  Likewise, honey also has medicinal benefits when taken internally, as well as when used externally. In addition to being a natural humectant (meaning it draws moisture from the air to your skin), it helps to hydrate skin (the ultimate in anti-aging), as well as soothe irritated skin (so, it helps with conditions like mild sunburn, eczema, and rosacea).

Now, let’s get into some amazing ways to use honey all over the body!

How To Use Honey on Your Body

Cleopatra’s Milk + Honey Bath

Ingredients:

• 1 (13.5-ounce) goat milk, whole milk or plant-based substitute (i.e coconut, oat, or other high fat plant-based milk is recommended)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 5-10 drops pure essential oil of choice (optional)
• Flower petals (optional)

Materials:

• spoon
• small saucepan

Directions:

1. Shake milk thoroughly to combat separation.
2. Add milk to a saucepan and warm slightly.  
3. Add the milk and honey to the bowl. Mix to combine.
4. Add essential oils and swirl pan gently. (optional)
5. Pour the mixture into a full tub of very warm water.
6. Sprinkle flower petals in water for an extra visual treat. (optional)
7. INDULGE!

Extra:  I know some of you enjoy a scalding hot bath or shower, but please only use WARM milk and run a very WARM bath water with this to keep from destroying the beneficial properties of the honey. 

DIY Honey Body Butter

I’m Krobo (of present day Ghana) so shea butter has been a staple in my home.  Try this super simple recipe for an intensely emollient daily moisturizer.  Now, you can measure this if you’d like, but in all honesty I just eye it until its right:

Materials:

• Plastic spatula
• Wide mouth container to place finished product in
• Method 1 – High Powered Blender
• Method 2 – Double Boiler or Two Saucepans, one larger, one smaller (the smaller should be able to fit comfortably into the larger pan)

Ingredients:

• 3 oz raw Shea butter
• 2 tablespoons Jojoba or Sweet almond oil
• 2 tsp Raw Honey
• 5-10 drops pure essential oils (optional)

Directions:

Method 1: Blender

1. Place all ingredients in a high powered blender and mix well.
2. Remove from blender container into wide-mouth container of choice.

Method 2: Double Boiler

1. Fill the larger saucepan halfway. Add the shea butter and cocoa butter to the double boiler pot (or smaller saucepan). Set the double boiler pot in the larger sauce pan.  Turn stove on until water (in the larger saucepan) begins to simmer.
2. Maintain simmer until shea butter fully melts. Remove from heat.
3. Add the Jojoba or Sweet almond oil and stir.
4. Let sit for about 10-15 minutes before adding honey and essential oils. Mix well.
5. Cool at room temperature before using spatula to add to desired container.

Use after a shower or bathing for an intensely delightful skin treat!

How to Use Honey on Your Face

Preparation:  On clean skin, steam face or cover face with a very warm, wet face towel to help open pores.
During:  Apply mask over face, neck, and décolletage (this is the upper chest/lower neck area).
Finishing: When finished rinsing off mask, wash face or cover with a cold towel to help close pores.  Finish with a toner, serum, and good moisturizer.

Note: I tend to be a bit heavy handed with my mixtures, these measurements are approximations only.  Always mix to get a creamy consistency...and you can always add a bit more honey ;-D

Finally, ALWAYS ALWAYS patch test first!

Honey Face Mask Recipes

Here are some super simple DIY honey face masks recipes to start with:

Honey face mask for oily or acne-prone skin

Honey helps to break up excess oil, while natural clays help to gently exfoliate and remove the oil.  

Bentonite and Rhassoul Clay are amazing clays to help with excessive production of sebum (oil). Both clays contain antibacterial properties to help acne-prone skin.

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Bentonite Clay ,or use Rhassoul Clay if your skin tends to be sensitive
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Combine honey, clay, and apple cider vinegar in a small glass bowl (never use metal when working with natural clays). Mix well, adding more apple cider vinegar or more clay to reach creamy consistency (clay should be fully mixed in with no chunks).  Gently apply to face, neck, and décolletage. Leave on 10-15 minutes, or until completely dry.  First, remove the mask with lukewarm water to help break up the clay application, then follow with a cold water rinse.

Honey face mask for dry skin

Honey and avocado are an amazing duo for dry skin.  The abundance of healthy fat in avocados helps to leave the skin feeling supple and soft.  Jojoba and sweet almond oil are both gentle oils that are easily absorbed into the skin.

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 avocado, mashed well
• 1 teaspoon sweet almond or jojoba oil

Add honey, avocado, and oil to a small bowl and mash together. Apply to face, neck, and décolletage, leaving on 15-20 minutes. Rinse off.

Honey face mask for skin discoloration

Turmeric masks are commonly used to even out skin tone and over time, help to reduce the appearance of dark spots and scars.  Yogurt helps to gently exfoliate dead skin and encourage new cell growth.

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

Mix all ingredients together. Apply over face, neck, and décolleté, lightly. Leave on for 15-20 minutes.  Rinse off completely.

Use weekly or as a spot treatment daily onto areas of discoloration.

Honey mask for irritated skin

Oatmeal is a well known go-to ingredient for irritated or sensitive skin due to its soothing properties. The anti-inflammatory properties of oatmeal combined with the antibacterial components of honey make this mask the perfect choice for acne prone skin as well as skin that is sensitive or easily irritated.

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoons cooked oatmeal 

Mix the honey and oatmeal together to form a thick paste and apply on face, neck, and décolletage. Leave on for 15-20 minutes.  Rinse off well.

Honey face mask for all skin types

Match powder and honey are two phenomenal ingredients to assist with skin inflammation and irritation. Both are potent antioxidants that fight free radicals, repair damaged skin and are beneficial to normal, combination, and sensitive skin types.

Environmental pollutants from the air, harmful UV rays can irritate and inflame the skin.  Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that assists in repairing skin as well as helping to fight free radicals that damage and age skin.  This mask combines honey and vitamin E to protect and repair at the same time. 

• 1 teaspoon matcha powder
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

Combine matcha powder, honey, and oil in a small bowl and mix well. Apply to face, neck, and décolletage, leaving on for 15 minutes before rinsing off.

These are a handful of simply awesome and nourishing DIY honey treatments that you can probably do with what’s already in your kitchen.  Try one on your next Self-Care Sunday, tomorrow, or any day, because true self-care is for EVERYDAY!