When you consider how we get honey it is a pretty amazing source of sweetness. Bees gather nectar from flowers and take it back to the hive where it becomes honey. There is more to honey than being a sweet awesome food. You can use honey in a number of health and skincare products because of some of its healing properties including antioxidants and amino acids. Honey soap, also known as beeswax soap or honey soap benefits is a great product to clean with and something you can make yourself quite easily.

Honey for bathing has been around thousands of years

For many years honey has been used in medicine and in lotions, oils and soaps because of its many beneficial properties. It is well documented at keeping skin soft and well hydrated, and for leaving hair shiny and soft. Honey soap has not just kept women clean for centuries it has moisturized, soothed and healed. Honey is a humectant. This means it attracts moisture and retains it. That means in soap it is great to make sure a person is left with soft and hydrated skin. The sugar content means it creates a great lather and it leaves a light, sweet scent.

Enjoying honey soap benefits 

Some of the many great reasons to buy or make your own bee soap include;

• Locking in moisture
• Keeping your skin hydrated and elastic
• Gives your skin a healthy glow
• Fewer wrinkles and slowing down the signs of ageing because of its antioxidants
• Less skin damage from free-radicles

When you choose to make the soap yourself you can choose to buy and melt bases that come with honey already in them, or you can opt to take any cold or hot process soap recipe and add honey to it.

Making a citrus honey soap

Here is a recipe for a lovely citrus and honey soap. As well as having a warm colour you get the wonderful combination of honey and citrus smell as well.

Ingredients you will need

• 3 teaspoons of orange essential oil
• 3 teaspoons of lemon essential oil
• 3 teaspoons of grapefruit essential oil
• 90g castor oil
• 180g lard
• 18g beeswax
• 270g coconut oil
• 90g shea butter
• 1 teaspoon of orris root powder
• 2 teaspoons of liquid honey

Directions

1. In a soap mold line the bottom with a piece of bubble wrap making sure the bubbles are face up not down.
2. Then cut another piece of bubble wrap for when you have poured the soap to cover it.
3. Over medium heat melt the beeswax and then add the honey, hard oils and orris root and combine following the process all hot process soaps use.
4. When the mix is at the stage of light trace combine and add the essential oils.
5. Pour the soap into the mold when it reaches the medium trace stage then place the bubble wrap over it with the bubbles facing down. Press down gently and place the soap somewhere to cool and rest. You will soon be able to enjoy the honey soap benefits.