PharmEasy Blog

Beauty Benefits Of Honey For Skin And Hair

Open your social media account, and you will see hundreds of videos to maintain good skin and hair health. They provide various methods to keep your skin and hair healthy. In these videos and advertisements, there is one common ingredient, without which a dream of having beautiful skin and hair is unlikely to come true. And, that is – Honey.

Honey is also known as a nectar of gods for thousands of years. The reason behind it is, in some cultures, bees considered as a god’s messengers. That is the reason some people compare honey with the nectar of the gods.  

Why is honey beneficial?

Honey is a sticky and sweet substance that has natural healing properties. It is rich in antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It is an ideal ingredient for skin and hair care. It also works best on the overall body and gives us numerous health benefits.  

Honey is rich in calories due to the presence of fructose (a type of sugar) in it. The vitamins and minerals in honey may include B vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, etc. Surprisingly, honey contains 0% fat that makes it a dietary ingredient.  

I came across a shocking study that looked at the effects of applying honey on different types of wounds. The findings suggest that honey might help heal burns more quickly and may be effective for infected surgical wounds. However, more research is needed to fully understand its impact on other types of wounds.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

Benefits of honey for skin and hair  

Honey is versatile that offers numerous benefits from just moisturizing your skin to the prevention of fatal diseases. It works great when it comes to skin or hair issues. Honey is the best when it comes to taking care of your beauty.  

I would suggest trying honey if you’re dealing with seborrhoea and dandruff. It turns out that honey might be a great natural remedy for these conditions. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may help brings some sweet relief to your scalp.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Skin benefits of honey –

1: Fights acne

Honey is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory that helps to heal breakouts of acne and prevent extra infections. Honey also reduces the redness and swelling of acne. It controls the accumulation of dust in the skin pores and absorbs the impurities from the pores.  

How to use – Apply a thin layer of raw honey on the face and neck. Leave it for 30 minutes, and then wash your face with normal water. If there is a recent breakout of acne, then apply honey over it for 15 minutes and rinse it off.  

2: Great moisturizer  

The sugar present in honey acts as a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture from the air into your skin. Raw honey hydrates your skin and leaves a soft, radiant, and shiny skin. It reduces the dryness of skin by providing long-lasting hydration.  

How to use – Apply raw honey directly on the skin and leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse and massage it off thoroughly with water.

3: Gentle exfoliator  

Honey is rich in antioxidants that are good for your skin to nourish and hydrate it. When it comes in contact with water or the heat of your skin, it crystalizes. These tiny crystals act as a gentle scrub for your skin and help to remove dirt and dead skin.  

How to use – Crystalise the honey by rubbing it between your fingers, then apply it directly on your face and massage it in a circular motion. Leave it on for a few minutes and remove it with the help of a wet towel.  

4: Reduces fine lines and wrinkles  

Honey moisturizes the top layers of your skin and helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It soothes the dry, irritated, and wrinkled skin by providing nourishment to it. It also acts as an antioxidant, where it delays the process of aging and helps you to look younger and radiant.  

How to use – You can make an anti-aging honey mask where you can mix a tablespoon of honey with an equal amount of papaya, whole milk, or yogurt. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Massage it so it can improve blood circulation and tightens the skin. Remove the mask with warm water and pat your skin dry with a washcloth.

5: Scar fader  

The antioxidants present in honey works wonderfully on the skin to reduce the scar and stretch marks. It nourishes the damaged skin and induces the scar healing process. It increases tissue regeneration and helps to revive the skin cells.

How to use – You can massage raw honey directly on the affected area in a circular motion for one to two minutes. You can add lemon or cucumber juice for better results.  

6: Lip Balm

Using it as a lip balm is another one of the benefits of honey for skin and hair. Just like it can be used to moisturise your skin, it can also be used to soften some chapped and dry lips. Honey’s ability to hydrate and the presence of minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants, make it the perfect lip balm.

How to use – Simply apply some raw honey to your lips, leave for a few minutes, and then wash it off.

I may recommend considering products that contain honey when it comes to taking care of your skin and hair. Honey may have some amazing benefits when it comes to cosmetic formulations. It might help regulate the pH balance of your skin and hair, which is important for maintaining their health.

Dr. Smita barode, BAMS

Also Read: Does Honey Expire? Unveiling The Truth About Honey’s Shelf Life

Benefits of honey for hair

1: Deep conditioning  

We do conditioning our hair to prevent dryness. Honey acts as a moisturizer and conditioner. Applying honey on your hair helps to moisturize the same. It acts as a natural softener for the skin and makes your skin shiny and bouncy.

How to use – You can make a banana-honey mask. Combine two ripe banana with a half cup of pure honey and one-quarter cup of olive oil. Blend it and make a smooth paste of it. Apply this paste on hair and keep it for 20-25 minutes. Then wash it off with lukewarm water.

2: Promotes hair growth  

Honey is packed with various nutrients and helps to moisturize the hair follicles and hair. It is an effective treatment to promote natural hair growth.

How to use – Heat the olive oil until it is warm and add two tablespoons of honey to it. Mix it well and smooth this mixture through wet hair. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then shampoo your hair as usual.

3: Scalp cleanser  

Always keep your scalp clean to prevent scalp infections. Honey smoothens the itchy scalp instantly. It also provides moisturizing benefits for both the hair and the scalp.

How to use – Mix one tablespoon of honey with three tablespoons of filtered water. Massage a few drops of this mixture into your scalp and wash it off.  

Honey is a great natural ingredient that is full of nutrients that ensures our beauty regime is complete in every aspect. So, let’s make it a regular part of our routine and enjoy its health benefits.

Also Read: Nodular Acne: Research-backed Solutions for Managing Stubborn Breakouts

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