When it comes to sore throats and cough, raw honey is the first defence. It’s fantastic for soothing the throat and reducing coughs. In a study by Penn State College of Medicine, researchers found that in children with upper respiratory infection honey reduced night-time coughing and improved sleep quality better than over-the-counter cough medicine.
Due to honey’s therapeutic properties, it’s been used in hair rinses and conditioners for centuries. Today, it’s still a popular natural ingredient in many types of hair care products. So, what are the benefits of using honey on your hair and including it in a hair mask?
For this homemade face mask, a dreamy mix of hydrating avocado, skin-cleansing honey and toning apple-cider vinegar delivers perfect pH balance for all types of skin. Avocados are filled with vitamin E, vitamin C, antioxidants and healthy fats to keep your skin smooth and moisturized. All you have to do is mash one up and add a squeeze of good quality honey which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties to help brighten and clarify your skin. Honey will also help lock in moisture to make your skin remain hydrated longer.
Turmeric and lemon are amazing for skin-brightening: Turmeric (and its active ingredient, curcumin) has antioxidant properties that can help protect the skin from free-radical damage, while lemon has a fair share of vitamin C—perfect for fading dark spots.
This nourishing mask feels downright luxurious: "Adding a natural oil to your honey mask can not only help with the stickiness and application of the honey, but natural oils are emollients that contain high levels of fatty acids, which moisturize and soothe the skin," notes Plescia. The result? A lightweight mask chock-full of skin-healthy antioxidants. Feel free to choose any oil here (coconut, jojoba, argan—the list goes on), but Plescia is partial to olive oil for this one: "Olive Oil is especially good for dry skin and also contains many antioxidants, such as vitamin E."