Maybe it’s Maybelline, or maybe it’s honey.
Honey has been valued for thousands of years, not just as food, but as a natural remedy and skincare ingredient. In fact, jars of honey found in Egyptian tombs over 3,000 years old are still perfectly edible. That’s because honey never spoils. Its low water content and natural acidity make it one of the few truly shelf-stable foods.
Andree’ Walker with USU Extension explains that honey is more than a sweetener. “Honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. There’s actually medical-grade honey that doctors and hospitals use.”
It sounds counterintuitive to put something sticky, sweet, and sugary on your skin, but honey is actually very moisturizing for your face and skin. In her new fact sheet, “Making Products With Honey – Skincare and Food Recipes,” Walker shares other practical uses of honey and includes recipes for skin care and food.
Honey for Skin Care
If you’ve ever looked at the ingredients list on lotions, lip balms, or masks, you’ve likely spotted honey. Did you know you can make your own beauty products at home? A simple honey yogurt mask or a scrub stirred together can leave your skin soft and glowing, without spending $40 on a jar of “glow mask.”
As Walker points out, you don’t need your own bees to make these—store-bought honey works fine, as long as it’s pure honey without additives.
Cooking with Honey
Honey is also a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. It’s sweeter than sugar, so you can use about half as much. If you swap honey for sugar in baking, the trick is to use about half as much honey, reduce liquids by a quarter, and lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees. That way, your cookies or muffins turn out golden and tender rather than over-browned.
“We seem to put honey on everything at my house,” she says.
And after hearing her, you might just want to do the same.
For more recipes and DIY skincare ideas, check out USU Extension’s full fact sheet: Making Products with Honey: Skincare and Food Recipes.
PHOTO: Honey in jar with fresh heather on wooden background. (Adobe Stock │ #231533123 – vivoo)
