This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hair Food. The opinions and text are all mine.
With what seems to be an endless amount of beauty products on the market, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices, latest and greatest releases, and new fads and trends. Fortunately, more and more people are taking advantage of simple and all-natural ingredients – from flower essences and plant extracts, to mineral-rich clays and marine algae.
One natural ingredient that I always have stocked in my kitchen/bathroom, and also look for in my beauty products, is pure, raw honey. Not only is it one of the most delicious smelling (and tasting!) natural ingredients, it also offers a myriad of beauty benefits. For one, honey (and especially Manuka honey) is packed with nutrients and antioxidants that feed and protect your skin. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, plus it’s a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air into your skin and ensures it’s retained in the layers where it’s needed most.
The best part? There are so many easy ways to incorporate it into your beauty routine and take advantage of all its skin, nail, and hair-loving benefits. Listed below are just a few, and most require only a single ingredient – pure, raw honey – so if you already have it in your kitchen, you can try them out today!
8 Ways to Work Honey Into Your Beauty Routine
1) Skin-Renewing Body Scrub
Before your shower, mix a little honey with lemon and sugar for a part-chemical, part-physical exfoliating scrub to brighten and energize your skin. I love to use this in the mornings especially – the citrus-y sweet scent wakes up my senses, and the scrub itself reinvigorates the body!
2) Detoxifying Bath Soak
Swirl a couple tablespoons or so into your warm bath water and soak for as long as you choose. Honey’s soothing and nourishing abilities can be very beneficial to dry, itchy skin, plus it’s full of antioxidants that detoxify and protect skin from future oxidative and environmental damage.
3) Cuticle Moisturizer
Mix one part honey with one part coconut oil. Rub the mixture on the cuticles, let sit for 5-10 minutes (or more if you can), then rinse off. Massage some into your hands while you’re at it to help soothe and soften dry skin!
4) Hydrating Facial Mask
Massage straight honey onto slightly damp skin using circular motions (be careful not to tug too much on your skin, and add more water if you need to thin it out a bit). Leave the mask on for at least 10 minutes to reap all of the honey’s hydrating and nourishing benefits, and then wash it off with warm water. (Don’t worry – it rinses off easier than you might think!)
5) Acne Spot Treatment
If you have a zit, cover it with a little dab of honey! Simply apply a light layer with a Q-tip and leave on for at least 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing to give the honey a chance to work its way into the skin. You can also keep it on while your sleep to help clarify and reduce swelling and redness overnight.
6) Soothing Lip Treatment
Honey works wonders to soothe dry skin and chapped lips. Apply a thin layer straight onto your lips for an intensive overnight or daytime treatment. You can also mix in an oil (like jojoba, coconut, or olive) for extra moisturizing benefits, as well as to thin out the honey for a more comfortable feel.
7) Nourishing Hair Mask
For a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment, mix up some honey with a natural oil, like olive oil or warmed coconut oil, in a 1:1 ratio. Make sure to blend everything together thoroughly. Work the mixture into damp hair after you shampoo and let sit for at least 10 minutes (I’d recommend closer to 30 minutes for max benefits), then rinse with warm water. Skip the conditioner/leave-in products – you shouldn’t need them after this treatment! Do this every other week for super soft, smooth, and nourished hair.
8) Shampoo & Conditioner Booster
Honey can also be incorporated into our regular hair care routines. Though, in order for it to work best in our shampoos or conditioners, it typically needs to be diluted first with water or aloe, and then thoroughly mixed in. For that reason, I simply find it easier to use pre-formulated shampoos and conditioners with honey, like the Hair Food Moisture collection. This duo is specially formulated with honey and essential hydrators to nourish hair from root to tip, and regulate moisture absorption and lock in hydration so our hair feels moisturized from within. The Hair Food Moisture Shampoo creates a luxurious, lightly foaming lather that gently cleanses the scalp while nourishing for healthy looking hair that shines. The complementing Hair Food Moisture Conditioner adds an extra dose of hydration, and also helps smooth the hair cuticle and protect against future damage.
Used together, the Hair Food Moisture collection provides a deeply hydrating cleanse and condition, leaving my hair super smooth and shiny with weightless volume – I noticed a difference after just one use! I also took to the interwebs to see what others were saying, and wasn’t surprised to see the majority of reviews were positive, with lots of people reporting smoother, shiner, healthier hair like I experienced! Even after two weeks, my hair continues to look amazing and my (very sensitive) scalp is still in good shape with no signs of dryness or flaking. Another plus is both products in the set are mineral oil and paraben-free. If you prefer a sulfate free collection, I’d recommend checking out Hair Food’s other collections.
Hair Food is available at your local Ulta. Click here for more information!
Have you tried using honey in your hair, body, nail, or skincare routine?
