Secret Ingredient: Honey
BY CAROLYN BRUNDAGE

According to the National Honey Board honey is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. This makes honey an ideal ingredient for beauty products ranging from bubble bath to face cream. Honey's soothing properties translate especially well to hair care. Product such as EO's Chamomile & Honey Shampoo ($6.99 at Drugstore.com) call upon the healing powers of honey to gently cleanse hair while nourishing it. Fredreic Fekkai utilizes the same sweet ingredient for the Luscious Curls Shampoo ($20 at Nordstrom.com). Luscious Curls includes honey nectar and ginseng to enhance curls and eliminate frizz.

Honey, an anti-irritant, can also be found in many skin care products. Ideally suited to those with sensitive skin, some studies suggest that honey has properties consistent with an antioxidant. I tested out quite a few honey facial products and one of my absolute favorites is Fresh's Honey Face Scrub ($50 for 4.4 oz. at Beauty.com). The Honey Face Scrub is an exfoliating mask that accelerates cell renewal via a blend of crushed bamboo and honey.

Honey helps ban dead skin as well. Benefit's Honey Snap Out of It Scrub ($23 at Benefitcosmetics.com) includes a proprietary blend of honey and almond paste exfoliates and moisturizes. I also like Brown Sugar Body Soufflé by LaLicious, ($30 at B-glowing.com). Oils, pure cane sugar, vitamin E and honey exfoliate and moisturize. Plus, the sugar crystals are so fine that they never feel gritty.

Honey, I'm home
Home beauty recipes for the honey aficionado...

Bath Time: Pour a ¼ cup of honey under warm, running water to create a soft, sweet escape.

Hair Help: Make this moisturizing Rosemary Honey Olive Oil Conditioner by combining 1/2 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of olive oil, four drops essential oil of rosemary and one teaspoon of xanthan gum. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl and the apply sparingly to dampened hair.

Dry Skin Repair: This Milk and Honey Mask will help banish dry skin for good. Mix 1/4 cup of cream with a 1/4 cup honey in a glass bowl. Warm until honey is melted and then allow to cool. Apply liberally to face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes and then rinse.