Honey is a true food and remedy for our bodies — it can serve as a valid alternative to "traditional" medicines in cases of coughs or sore throats, thanks to its soothing, calming and antibacterial properties. Today we use it mainly as a sweetener, but there are many other ways to make the most of it.

The chemical properties of honey: a brief overview

Thanks to its beneficial properties, honey can also be used for the beauty of the skin on the face and body. Its chemical composition is particularly interesting: 75 per cent of it is made up of glucose and fructose, in proportions that vary depending on the type of honey; other sugars are also present, such as sucrose, maltose and galactose. Between 18 and 20 per cent is water, while the remaining percentage comprises minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium and potassium, as well as vitamins including ascorbic acid (vitamin C), riboflavin (vitamin B2), nicotinic acid and pyridoxine (vitamin B6). From a nutritional standpoint: per 100 grams, there are 82 g of carbohydrates and an energy intake of approximately 300 kcal.

Honey, sweet nourishment for the skin

Honey has always been known as an ally of women's beauty: it was used by Poppaea, the wife of the Roman emperor Nero, to keep the skin of her face and body healthier and more youthful, and also by Queen Anne of England to achieve shiny hair thanks to its moisturising properties.

Today we can still harness the nourishing, moisturising, soothing and purifying properties of honey on the skin of the face and body, as well as on the hair — especially in cases of an irritated scalp.

Ideas for a luxurious bath

For the body, the ideal treat is to give yourself a fragrant, relaxing bath by pouring a jar of honey into a tub full of hot water. Anyone who feels like a modern-day Poppaea can add a litre of oat or almond milk. No final rinse is needed: the skin will be incredibly soft and will smell wonderful.

Hair recipes

For hair, you can add a tablespoon of honey and one of apple cider vinegar to a basin of mineral water and use this solution as a final rinse after shampooing, to achieve luminous, soft hair. If hair is dry, try a honey and coconut oil mask, left on for up to an hour before shampooing. Pure honey (chestnut honey in particular) also proves helpful in soothing scalp irritation and itching caused by flaking, dandruff or psoriasis, and in slowing hair loss by strengthening the hair follicle.

Honey-based mask recipes

Facial skin

For facial skin, honey lends itself perfectly as a base ingredient for natural masks that are 100% natural yet highly effective. The skin should be cleansed and perfectly dry; don't worry about removal: honey rinses off very easily.

Exfoliating, brightening, anti-ageing

The all-purpose mask is made simply from honey and lemon: it cleanses the skin thanks to the exfoliating and brightening action of citric acid, and moisturises it thanks to the composition of the honey. Combined instead with jojoba or coconut oil, it makes a nourishing, anti-ageing mask.

Scrub

An exfoliating scrub is made by mixing honey and bicarbonate of soda, then applying it to damp skin with circular movements before rinsing off with cool water.

Cleanser

The facial cleanser is simply a combination of runny honey and coconut oil, with perhaps a few drops of oat, rice or almond milk added to make the consistency more liquid.

Toner

Finally, a toner for tired, puffy and red eyes: dissolve a tablespoon of honey in a small bottle of mineral water, pour a little onto two cotton pads and use them as a de-puffing compress, lying down and staying relaxed for at least a quarter of an hour.

One last recommendation: to be sure you have a product that is wholesome and respectful of bees and the environment, choose Italian honey from organic beekeeping operations.