Honey: The all-natural ingredient making a beauty buzz

Honey was used as a moisturiser in ancient times, and now it’s making a comeback. But there’s no need to lather the sticky stuff straight onto the skin

Honey is set to become a must-have ingredient in your makeup bag (Getty/iStock)

It’s incredible on porridge, slathered over hot toast and stirred into tea, but did you know that honey is also great for softening and smoothing your skin?

Thanks to its impressive youth-boosting properties, honey has actually been used in beauty routines since ancient times and is once again set to become a must-have ingredient in your makeup bag.

Rich in antioxidants and antimicrobial properties, the sweet stuff is incredible for your skin as it binds moisture and neutralises cell-damaging free radicals.

But, that doesn’t mean you have to slather the sticky substance directly onto your face. Luckily, there is a subtler way to incorporate it into your routine.

Recently a plethora of skincare and body-beauty brands have infused honey into their products from lip balms and moisturisers to nourishing bath oils.

The key here is to look for products where honey is partnered with complimentary ingredients like shea or olive oil as this will help to soothe and even out your skin.

That being said, you can still harness all its goodness with a simple DIY solution.

First of all, not any honey will do. Depending on which flowers the bees feed on to create it, there are all different kinds of the sweet stuff.

But, the most important thing to look out for is that it’s raw and unfiltered. If you’re unsure, opt for manuka honey as this has the most anti-bacterial properties.

To use, simply wash your face the same way you would with a cleanser. Wet your face, slather over a dollop of honey and rinse thoroughly.