A Bee In History.......Pretty Sweet

Honey

Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. It’s also an anti-irritant, it is suitable for sensitive skin as well as baby products. Honey has no additives or preservatives, it’s one of the few products that can be packed and sold straight from nature. It requires no processing or refining.

Honey's natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties and ability to absorb and retain moisture have been recognised and used extensively in skin care treatments as they help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun's rays and rejuvenate depleted skin.

The use of honey in skin care is steeped in history. It is said that Cleopatra of ancient Egypt regularly bathed in honey and milk to maintain her much storied enchanting beauty. But, Cleopatra's legendary milk and honey baths are but one of many historical examples of people using honey to pamper their complexions

Another example being ancient Greece, where beauty was determined by being naked. A woman's beauty and an athletes power and standing were also identified by their nakedness. Stripped of the clothing that would conceal, their bodies revealed a balance between the body and mind, believing from discipline came strength and beauty. Greek athletes often bathed in Olive oil and dusted their bodies in fine sands to control body temperature from the heat and to protect their bodies from the sun, in order to prevent aging. Men and women alike used honey to moisturize and olive oil for protection to improve their health and appearance.

Further examples include, Madame du Barry, the infamous last mistress of Louis XV, who is said to have used honey as a form of facial mask, lying down for a rest while the honey did its work. It was also said that Queen Anne of England used a honey and oil concoction to keep her long hair lustrous, thick and shiny. Furthermore it was claimed that famous Englishwoman, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, used her own secret recipe for a honey water to keep her hair beautiful. Chinese women have a tradition of using a blend of honey and ground orange seeds to keep their skin blemish-free

There are also many historical quotes espousing the beneficial health properties of honey. Greek philosopher Democritus thought to be the most prolific, and ultimately the most influential, of the pre-Socratic philosophers of ancient Greece, his atomic theory thought by many to be the culmination of early Greek thought. His hypothesis on atoms is remarkably similar to modern science, and avoids many of the errors found in his contemporaries. Democritus said this of honey, "The secret of my health is applying honey inside and oil outside". It is believed that Democritus lived to be 109.

Other quotes mentioning the healing properties of honey include that of Saint Ambrose, who stated "The fruit of bees is desired by all, and is equally sweet to kings and beggars and it is not only pleasing but profitable and healthful; it sweetens their mouths, cures their wounds, and conveys remedies to inward ulcers."

Or Sir Jonas Moore noted as saying, "Honey nourishes very much and breedeth good blood and prolongeth life and old age."

Many religious texts also praise the importance of honey for health, a quote from the founder of Islam, Muhammad reads, "Honey is a remedy for every illness."

Although no reference is made to health benefits of honey in this next quote, it's worth noting William Shakespeare waxing poetic in his most notorious of plays, Romeo And Juliet about the effects of honey on the pallet, he writes, “The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness and in the taste confounds the appetite.”

Who I ask, can debate the likes of Cleopatra, Democritus, William Shakespeare, Queen Anne of England, the list goes on? There's no doubt honey has a rich and proven history when it comes to health and skin care. So treat your body to to some of nature's true skin nourishing magic. Visit http://www.rusticgracesoap.etsy.com/ to browse our handmade organic and natural soaps, made with the finest ingredients nature has to offer, including honey.

Experience These Honey Skin Care Recipes

Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 Tablespoon of honey with 2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Firming Face Mask
Whisk together 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately ¼ cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Smoothing Skin Lotion
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and ¼ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Skin Softening Bath
Add ¼ cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.