Honey Do's & Don'ts by David Pollock, Global Safe Beauty Expert

For centuries honey has been used as a food, a medicine and as a beauty product – but I’m willing to bet that most of you only use it for sweetening your tea. Why is that? What did our ancestors know that we have forgotten about?

There are different types of honey, and not all honey is created equal. In fact, there are about 300 different types of honey available in the U.S. What you most likely buy from your local grocery is “Wildflower Honey” – which is a fancy way of saying the makers have no idea what kind of plants the bees were visiting when they made the honey. Normally this is taken from countless sources and then mixed together and pasteurized (and sometimes artificially sweetened) to try and come up with a consistent flavor.

Different types of honey have different tastes, pH levels and benefits. The honey commonly regarded as best for external use is Manuka honey which comes from New Zealand. This honey has a pH that is very close to your skins natural level and has high quantities of natural antibiotics in it – this encourages skin to renew and heal itself rather quickly.

Honey has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of all sorts of maladies like cuts and burns, sore throats, dry skin, upset stomachs, acne, ulcers and more.  Honey is also used in beauty products such as hair honey, honey baths, moisturizers, skin scrubs etc. Lately several companies have been bringing honey back into play in their beauty treatments and medical studies are starting to take a look at the benefits of honeys gooey goodness. How can you incorporate this super-food into your regimen?

The Honey-Dos:

1. DO use honey to help treat minor cuts, open sores and burns. It creates a moist layer that allows new skin to form on the same level as the old skin. Honey also helps lock out bacteria and fungus that might otherwise creep its way in. Scabs dry and force new skin to grow a few layers deeper than your existing skin – creating scars and discoloration. Honey can help reduce this.

2. DO use honey to return moisture and shine to your hair. Several shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling products now feature honey. Another option is to make your own using one of the simple natural recipes on my website:
http://www.justaskdavid.com/honey-egg-shampoo
http://www.justaskdavid.com/moisturizing-honey-hair-conditioner

3. DO use honey to treat your acne. Honey is full of natural antibiotics that are great for calming breakouts both on the face and the body. Plus the pH encourages new healthy skin to grow! You can buy acne treatments containing honey, you can use the raw honey itself on your skin in between breakouts to discourage new ones, or you can use some of my recipes for acne prone skin to soothe and help keep you clear:
http://www.justaskdavid.com/oilyacne-prone-skin-mask
http://www.justaskdavid.com/acne-prone-skin-body-polisher

4. DO use honey to keep your lips healthy, soft and kissable. This is especially important for those of you who have fuller lips. We lose a lot of moisture through the thin skin of our lips and the more lip you have – the more area prone to over-drying and cracking. Lots of companies have lip treatments available that are full of honey, or you can make your own:
http://www.justaskdavid.com/sugar-honey-lip-smoothie
http://www.justaskdavid.com/honey-lip-balm

5. DO use honey in your skincare even if you don’t have problem skin. You can find it in the beauty department in just about any product you can think of – and there’s a reason for that. It’s great! I also have recipes you can try out:
http://www.justaskdavid.com/foaming-honey-wash
http://www.justaskdavid.com/honey-almond-face-scrub

6. DO remember that our buzzy little buddies gave us more than just honey! Beeswax is another wonderful gift that can be used in countless different ways – but that’s for another article.

The Honey-Don’ts:

1. DON’T give honey to children under 18 months old. It is believed that their little digestive systems cannot properly process the natural bacteria in honey and they may actually come down with botulism. It’s rare, but I wouldn’t risk it.

2. DON’T forget that bees may be little miracle workers, but none of them have been through medical school. If you have questions or need help – seek a medical professional.

Hopefully this has taught you just a little bit about just how sweet honey really is! For more recipes, tips and tricks, the check out what’s “buzzing” in beauty or to ask a question directly visit us at www.JustAskDavid.com