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Honey isn’t just an essential for your kitchen. It’s one of the best-kept (and oldest!) beauty secrets. Honey is always in plain sight but it’s one beauty ingredient we don’t often talk about. The next time you walk through a department store, stop, and count how many products feature honey as their primary ingredient.

It’s a multi-tasking ingredient that you can incorporate into almost every step of your beauty routine. You’ll find honey in everything from shampoos to lip balms and face masks. It’s not just for your morning porridge or to soothe a sore throat. As green and natural beauty products become increasingly popular, you can expect to see even more of this wonder ingredient.

We’re sharing 12 ways that you can use honey to take your beauty game to the next level.

What makes honey so popular?

You probably wonder why honey is so popular in beauty products. It’s due to its natural healing properties that allows you to use it for everything, from insect bites to anti-aging treatments. As a beauty ingredient, honey can help promote collagen production to prevent premature aging.

What your skin type is, you’re guaranteed to be able to benefit from using honey. This natural ingredient is antibacterial and antiseptic, making it ideal for acne-prone and oily skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties also make it a popular choice for creams and face masks designed for sensitive skin or to tackle hyperpigmentation.

The best honey that you can use isn’t the honey that you’ll find on the shelves of your local grocery store. The ultimate honey for your skin is raw and unpasteurized, such as buckwheat honey. There are dozens of different types of honey on the market, so you’re spoilt for choice when adding one to your beauty routine.

Our top piece of advice is to look for darker honey. When honey is darker, it means that it has stronger antioxidant properties, which help to protect, repair, and rejuvenate your skin.

Now that you know why honey is such an amazing beauty ingredient, we’re sharing 12 ways that you can incorporate honey into your everyday beauty rituals.

1. Exfoliating

Cleansing your skin is the number one secret to creating a healthy glow. Every day, you shed thousands of dead skin cells that become trapped in your pores, along with bacteria, makeup residue, and other impurities. Honey acts as a gentle exfoliant due to its antibacterial properties.

As honey naturally crystalizes, its granules can act as a natural exfoliant as they break down upon contact with your skin and water. You can use raw honey as a gentle exfoliant, which is ideal for sensitive skin.

How to use: Take some honey and rub it between your fingers to help warm it up before applying it onto your skin in circular motions. Allow the honey to set on your face for a few minutes before removing with a wet towel. You can use this method for a daily or weekly skin cleanse, alongside your everyday cleanser.

2. Face mask

Honey is primarily used to give your skin a boost of hydration and to soothe irritation. If you’re looking for soft and flowing skin, honey is the perfect ingredient to start incorporating into your routine. Honey is a powerful moisturizing ingredient as it behaves like a natural humectant, boosting your skin’s hydration and reducing dryness throughout the day.

If you’re using honey for a face mask, we recommend looking out for a raw honey that incorporates other bee products to create a targeted face mask. Propolis has anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit acne-prone skins, while pollen will help to smooth and diminish the appearance of blemishes. If you’re looking for an anti-aging treatment, find a raw honey that incorporates royal jelly as it helps to promote collagen production.

How to use: Apply the honey directly to your skin for up to 20 minutes before rinsing and massaging with cold water.

3. Targeted spot treatment

We’ve already mentioned that honey is an ideal ingredient for acne-prone skin, but you can also use it as a targeted acne spot treatment. We recommend using buckwheat honey for this treatment due to its rich anti-inflammatory properties. The honey will help to diminish the swelling from your spots and reduce the redness and irritation. The propolis within the honey will also help to tackle the bacteria that caused your breakout.

How to use: Apply the honey directly to the breakout area for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off.

4. A scar fader

The antioxidant properties of honey make it ideal for treating and fading scars, including diminishing their appearance. Honey helps to moisturize damaged skin to promote cellular turnover and scar healing. If you’re looking to tackle skin discoloration or stretch marks, look out for honey that contains propolis for its extra anti-inflammation properties.

How to use: Massage the raw honey in circular motions onto the affect area of skin for up to two minutes before rinsing with warm water.

5. Bath soak

You can use honey to create a DIY bath soak for the ultimate self-care treatment. A honey bath soak will help you relax and unwind, while leaving your skin soft to the touch.

How to use: Take two large tablespoons of raw honey and add to one cup of hot water, allowing the honey to dissolve. Pour the mixture into your bathtub after filling with warm water.

6. Lip balm

Due to its hydrating properties, honey is the perfect treatment for chapped lips. You can use honey the natural antioxidants, minerals, and enzymes in honey to keep your lips protected and moisturized.

How to use: Apply your raw honey directly to your lips for a few minutes before washing off with cold water.

7. Wound healer

Honey is a natural antiseptic that is ideal for helping to heal wounds, including preventing infections as well as reducing your risk of scarring. The antioxidants in honey help to reduce the healing time, with manuka honey being your best choice for healing wounds.

How to use: Apply the honey to the affected area of skin, allowing it to sit for up to 2 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

8. Burn relief

Along with healing wounds, honey can also offer burn relief due to its moisture-restoring, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey helps to soothe irritated skin, including sunburnt skin. The thick consistency of honey allows it to act as a barrier against infection, whether you decide to use a gauze to cover up your burn.

How to use: Clean the burn before adding a few drops of honey to the area of skin. You can allow the honey to sit for as long as you can handle it before rinsing with cold water. You can reapply the honey as needed.

9. Cuticle moisturizer

Don’t forget about your nails! Honey can be the secret to a perfect manicure. As a natural humectant, honey can be used as a cuticle moisturizer to keep your nails peel-free. It will help to rejuvenate and strengthen your nails, including the skin around your cuticles.

How to use: Rub the honey over your cuticles, leaving it to develop for up to 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

10. Hair conditioner

Your hair can also benefit from the moisturizing properties of honey. As a natural humectant, honey helps your honey attract and maintain moisture to prevent breakage and frizz. You can use honey as an everyday hair conditioner to keep your hair smooth and soft to the touch with added bounce and life.

How to use: Take one-quarter cup of raw honey and thin it out with fresh water before spreading the mixture through your hair while damp. It’s best used after using shampoo. Allow it to develop for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water.

11. Hair treatment

You can use honey to tackle hair breakage by preventing your hair from becoming dry by using it as a regular hydrating hair treatment to retain moisture. Honey will naturally soften your hair and keep it soft and bouncy.

How to use: You can create a DIY hair treatment mask using a banana and honey. Add two ripe bananas to one cup of raw honey and one-quarter cup of olive oil. Blend the three ingredients together until you get a smooth consistency. Apply the hair mask to your scalp and hair, allowing it to develop for up to 25 minutes before rinsing with cool water and following up with shampoo. Use a wide tooth comb to help remove any excess product before rinsing again. You can use this mask two to three times a month.

12. Sleep Aid

Beauty sleep is a real thing – and something that honey can help with. Eating honey helps to slow down your insulin which converts to serotonin and melatonin, helping you fall into a peaceful sleep. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, having honey beforehand can be a natural sleep aid.

How to use: Have a spoonful of honey around 15 minutes before you go to bed. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you can also take a spoonful then.