Honey in skincare: why it is (again) on the rise –

Let’s travel more than 2000 thousand years in the time tunnel, until the time when Cleopatra commanded Ancient Egypt. Also known for being very vain, according to several historians, the iconic monarch already explored the benefits of honey in skincare, mixing it with goat’s milk and a little almond oil in a hydrating and evening face mask.

There are also those who say that the viscous and sugary liquid produced by bees was also widely used in dressings, due to its healing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action.

Back to the present, when self-care is the buzzword and more and more people are prioritizing natural products, beauty products based on this superfood make a triumphant return to stores and e-commerce, including the luxury segment. “Honey is really a powerful thing. Rich in vitamins, flavonoids, phenolic acids and 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, it can indeed help to even out, tone and regenerate the skin, in addition to preventing infections and premature aging”, he says. Betina Stefanellodermatologist and head of cosmiatry at Azulay Institutefrom the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro.

As it also contains a high level of glucose and fructose, among other agents, honey is still a good moisturizer/humectant option.

HONEY IN NATURA X COSMETICS WITH HONEY

“It is difficult to prescribe in natura in dermatological treatments because it is a substance produced and harvested in different ways. There is no way, for example, to guarantee that there was no contamination in this process”, ponders the specialist. “At the most, I would recommend an exfoliation for the face and lips with crystallized honey and mineral oil”, he adds.

Fortunately, there are already brands committed to offering safer products with honey as the star ingredient. It is the case of foreowhich has a facial mask with namuka honey in its portfolio [um dos mais aclamados] in composition, and by Guerlain, which has a complete line based on the power of the mythical black bee honey from Ouessant Island added to royal jelly and three other types of honey (from Corsica, in France; Ikaria, in Greece; and Åland, in Finland).

“Honey is a unique and complex alchemy that humans cannot yet reproduce. To produce it, a colony of bees gather more than 10 million flowers and transform their nectar into something with infinite qualities. […] There are a wide variety of honeys, but not all of them have restorative properties. Therefore, our research area established three selection criteria: a preserved environment, abundant biodiversity and the genetic profile of the bee. Amidst the preserved biodiversity of these islands, our team discovered powerful honeys, with complementary components, such as polyphenols, vitamins, trace elements and amino acids”, declares the brand in a note sent to GOOD SHAPE.

“In addition to the standardization of products and consumer safety, initiatives like this and technology favor the effectiveness of formulas and the desired results, since the most encouraging research in this regard was carried out with honey treated for this type of purpose. That is, in this process, it may have undergone changes that allow or facilitate deeper penetration into the skin, something that probably will not happen if you simply buy a jar of honey and apply it to your face”, he concludes. Betina Stefanello.