It's a honey of an O!

No, the blog today is not, in fact, about Cheerios. However, if you guessed it's about honey- YOU WIN!!!

Let's continue on in the wonderful world of all natural beauty. HONEY! Or, as my high school science teacher once called it "bee barf." No joke. Now, we've all heard of the Burt's Bees company. This genius along with the Savannah Bee guy figured out a long time ago that you could use honey for more than just biscuits. While they primarily use the honeycomb and wax part, you do know you can actually use the honey, right? Well, here are a few ideas.

Oh, and before we get into the actual tips, let me remind you that buying raw honey from a local farmer's market is always recommended. It's unfiltered and has more of the good stuff still in it. Plus, you'll be supporting your local economy as opposed to buying something that got shipped across the country and isn't really fresh.

1. Honey is high in an antimicrobial agent. Got a zit? Dab some honey on it and let it sit. Wipe off with warm water after 20 minutes or so.

2. Mix 1 tsp honey with enough almond flour to make a paste. Use as an exfoliant on your face. Rinse off with warm water when you are done.

3. Got some rough hands? Wash hands with warm water and then leave slightly damp. Mix 1 tsp honey with 1 tsp olive oil. Stick your hands in some plastic bags and then some cotton gloves that you've warmed in the dryer. Leave on for 30 minutes.

Plus, remember that actually eating honey has some amazing health benefits as well. If you have seasonal allergies, it is recommended that you get raw honey from around where you live. Since the honey was made with flowers from your area, it will actually help your body fight off the allergies. Kind of the same idea behind getting shots. Introduce a tiny bit to the body so that it can "learn" to fight it off.

You say toe-may-toe...

Yep, more natural beauty info! Now, if you all want to try these suggestions from this week, remember that if you have a health food store in your area, you can buy organic!

Ok, so tomatoes! (Or toe-maaah-toes. However you like to say it!) Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A and C. Natural antioxidants! So, here are some great ways to use them on the outside:

1. Remove an overripe tomato's skin. Crush slightly in a blender , mix with 1 tsp of honey, and then spread on your face. Rinse off with warm water after 15 minutes. This is especially good for normal to oily skins as tomatoes contain oil absorbing acids and natural exfoliants and the honey has anti-bacterial properties.

2. Got a zit? Apply some organic tomato paste to it to absorb the oil and help speed recovery.

3. You can mix tomato juice and rosewater for a great toner in the t-zone!

And to continue with a theme...

I know we were discussing both cheap beauty finds and natural beauty finds this week. So, here's one that I am pretty sure most of you will be able to use. Coffee. Yep, damp coffee grounds can be used to perk up lots of areas of your skin.

1. Take damp coffee grounds and use them to exfoliate thighs and stomach area before your shower. Caffeine is a natural way to fight the appearance of cellulite, even temporarily.

2. Mix coffee grounds with an egg white and apply to your face for a mask that will brighten and tighten your skin. Bonus- while you are rinsing the mask off, rinse in circular motions so that you are also gently exfoliating your skin.

3. If you have dark brown or black hair, brew some strong espresso and add to dry hair. Leave this on for 30 minutes and then shampoo out. You'll have some great sparkling highlights.

4. Enjoy a FRESHLY brewed cup of coffee, in moderation of course. It contains cancer-fighting antioxidants that are just as strong as vitamins C and E

So, here's an interesting concept...

I was reading an article the other day about healthy eating and the author said "The less ingredients in what you eat, the better it is for you. As in 'Apples, green beans, oatmeal.'" I had never thought about it that way before. It seemed so simple. So, then I thought, how can that apply to beauty as well?

Hey, guess what? You can go to the produce section of your grocery store and find beauty products. Today, we're going to talk about cucumbers. Did you know that cucumbers have a pH of 5.5 which is the same as healthy skin? WOW! It also contains anti-wrinkling hormones and anti-inflammatory properties. Oh, and since it's the summertime, you can get these CHEAP!!! YAY! Let's talk about a few ways you can use this amazing veggie:

1. Body smoothing- in a blender, mash 3 peeled cucumbers. Take in the shower and apply to your entire body with a loofah or equally exfoliant sponge. Voila! Super smooth and toned skin.

2. Puffiness- you know we've all seen those pictures of women at a spa with cucumber slices over their eyes. It REALLY works! If your eyes are red and puffy, use a little Visine and then lay down with slices over your eyes. If your eye area is dry and puffy, add a little eye cream around the entire eye area and then lay down with the slices on.

3. Glowing skin- peel and de-seed a cucumber. Blend the cucumber and 4-5 mint leaves into a puree. Add the mixture to a beaten egg white and mix well. Apply to your face and leave on 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.