An All-Natural (and Affordable) DIY Facewash…With Honey!

If you’re new to No More Dirty Looks, you might not yet know how obsessed we are with raw organic honey. Not only is nature’s first antibiotic (well, arguably the first, anyway) but it’s also a natural-beauty allstar that’s affordable,
versatile, and, well, tasty? Yeah, that too—which is especially appealing when you use it on your face. Get a little on your lips, and you can lick away. Sounds like a pretty sweet way to start the day, no?

Before we get to the recipe, a few things to know about honey. It is, as we just said, naturally antimicrobial and antiviral, which makes it a terrific and gentle ingredient to use on your skin if you break out, have rashes, or just plain have sensitive skin. It’s a humectant, which means it helps your skin retain moisture, and it’s occlusive, which means it seals the skin—making it useful on cuts and scrapes under a bandage, or as an overnight treatment on a pimple that just won’t heal.

If you want to know more about honey check out the amazing book by Gloria Havenhand called Honey: Nature’s Golden Healer.

We’re sticklers about the organic and raw part, too. Organic, because it’s better for the planet and for you (no pesticides), and raw because that means the live enzymes, which are so beneficial, are still intact. Bonus points for honey with propolis in there, too. You can get a jar at any farmer’s market or good grocery store for less than 10 bucks, and it will last you months if you use it as a facewash.

The No More Dirty Looks DIY Honey Facewash

—Moisten your face with warm water

—Use a spoon and scoop out about a tablespoon of honey. It’s important to use a spoon because you don’t want to get water or your grubby paws in there.

—If you have active skin, or are simply in need of a little exfoliation, add a 1/2 teaspoon or aluminum free baking soda to the honey, in your hand. The baking soda is optional! It feels great, but it can be drying on some skin types. Experiment and see what works best for you.

—Drip a few drops of warm water into your palm and rub them together. You’ll see the honey takes on a milky texture—doubly so if you have baking soda in there, too.

—Very gently massage your face in circular upward motions for about a minute.

—Rinse by splashing water on your face or, our preferred way, wipe it off with a reusable organic cotton round, or a muslin cloth.