Are you ready to have your mind blown? If you're like me, what I'm about to tell you is going to make your wallet weep for all the times its shelled out $15, $30, $60+ dollars for a fancy soap, face wash, cream, spot treatment or the millions of other things we're told will stop the hands of time or end skin ailments forever. Then you get home to find there are no miracles, most of it just makes your skin worse.

A little backstory! There's documented evidence that humans across the globe have been using honey for 8,000 years. In some cultures, it was so special it was used as currency. Cleopatra famously took milk and honey baths to stay youthful looking (the pitcher I've decanted my honey into above is a nod to this Queen Bee) and she was definitely onto something because honey is:

• An Antimicrobial & Antiseptic
• Its bacteria destroying properties are so amazing that medical grade honey is becoming widely used to heal wounds in hospitals around the country.

• A Humectant
• Honey draws moisture from the air straight to the skin, making it an excellent moisturizer.

• An Antioxidant
• Antioxidants are responsible for the quick regeneration of tissue and honey is packed with them, so it helps skin stay elastic and better-protected against sun damage.

I only started my honey face washing regimen a couple of weeks ago and am already pretty blown away. My skin feels incredibly smooth and all my little imperfections began to heal after only the first day. Added bonus: I haven't had to use a drop of moisturizer, even though my skin has been bone dry all winter. I know it sounds crazy but the honey really does it all. I'm hoping to retire most of my make-up by Summer and just rock good, clean skin.

The best honey you can use is the least processed kind, ideally raw honey. If you have trouble with acne, Manuka honey is known to have the strongest antimicrobial properties. You could also use regular squeeze bear honey, it's just won't have as high a concentration of the good stuff. You can get the rawest honey available by finding your local beekeeper. Your apiarist might even give you a tour of the miracle happening inside the hive. Bees are a precious resource that are currently in crisis and supporting local beekeepers is a great way to help.

Here are your honey cleansing basics!

• There are a few ways you can use honey on your skin. Ideally, use it twice a day. Straight honey should be used to clean a make-up free face, so I use this once in the morning. Then, I make a simple variation at night to remove make-up, exfoliate or both.
• To make your life easier, have a dedicated bottle of honey for your bathroom. It's no fun slipping and sliding your way to the kitchen mid-shower to grab the honey you forgot. I have sink-side honey in small glass pitcher (topped with a cork to keep out particles), as well as a plastic squeeze bottle of honey for the shower.
• Because honey's so sticky, be sure to keep your hair out of the way if you're washing your face at the sink.
• Remember, you need to use this regimen for two weeks to fully clear your pores and start the see the best results. Don't freak if you see some imperfections popping up, it's just your skin rebalancing and releasing toxins that you're drawing to the surface. Things will calm down.

MORNING RITUAL

Honey Only - Gentle Face Wash

1. Rinse your face well with warm water.
2. Pour a quarter-sized amount of honey into a wet palm and rub hands together to warm honey for application. You'll be surprised how easy it is to manage.
3. Rub the honey over your entire face and massage into skin for a minute or two.
4. Rinse with warm water and finish with a splash of cool water to close pores. 
   

EVENING RITUAL

Honey & Castile Soap - Make-Up Remover

1. Rinse your face well with warm water.
2. In the palm of your hand, add 1-2 drops of unscented Castile soap to a quarter-sized amount of honey. Rub between palms to work up lather (there won't be a ton of lather).
3. Apply to entire face and work in to remove all make-up.
4. Rinse with warm water and finish with a splash of cool water to close pores. 
5. If skin feels dry, briefly wash face again with honey-only and decrease the amount of soap you use on your next wash until you find a good blend. You can also use preservative-free, pure aloe vera gel as a light moisturizer if the honey just isn't doing it for your skin. I haven't had this problem yet, though.

AND / OR

Honey & Grounds - Exfoliator

Every few days, add an exfoliant to your honey-only or honey-soap cleanser. Baking soda, finely ground oats or almonds (grind these yourself in a food processor) and nutmeg (my favorite) are all excellent, gentle exfoliators. 

Nutmeg is especially good if you struggle with acne, as it has a wonderful, fine texture that clears the pores, plus it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It's also great for reducing the appearance of scars. We all have a seemingly endless bottle of Nutmeg sitting in our cabinets leftover from the holiday eggnog, right? It smells amazing and feels great, so put your bottle to good use the rest of the year. This narrow-neck bottle makes it easy to shake a little out into my palm but most spice bottles already have built-in shakers.

1. Rinse your face well with warm water.
2. Pour a quarter-sized amount of honey or honey-soap into your palm and sprinkle your exfoliator right on top. Rub between palms and scrub your face well (but using a gentle hand) for a minute or so.
3. Rinse with warm water and finish with a splash of cool water to close pores. 
4. NOTE: If you've used baking soda as your exfoliant, you'll need to balance the pH of your skin afterward with a toner. The best way to do this is to put 3-4 drops of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and apply to entire face. Get raw, unfiltered vinegar for best results. It won't smell great at first but quickly dissipates.

ONCE A WEEK OR SO

Honey & Clay - Oil Absorbing Mask

To absorb excess oil and draw out deep impurities, mix your honey with an oil-absorbing clay and apply as a face mask every week or so. Bentonite, Kaolin, Fuller's Earth or French Green Clay will work well in this recipe. Fuller's Earth is best for those looking to treat acne. Most of these clays can be found online at Mountain Rose Herbs or your local health food store. I did these masks twice a week when I first started.

1. To make honey easier to mix, warm it by placing the honey bottle in a hot water bath for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add 1.5 tsp of warmed honey to a glass bowl.
3. Sprinkle 1/2-1 tsp of clay over honey. 
4. Add 1 tsp of warm water and mix all ingredients well. I like to use a soft, wide paintbrush to apply this to my face. It feels so relaxing and any excuse is a good excuse for grown-up face painting.
5. Let mask dry for 15-20 minutes.
6. Rinse with warm water and finish with a splash of cool water to close pores. 

AND / OR

1. Pour a silver dollar sized dollop of honey into palm.
2. Smooth honey in a thin layer over dry face.
3. Leave for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse with warm water and finish with a splash of cool water to close pores.

Are you drinking the Koolaid yet?? The best part about this is that it really doesn't cost a thing to try. Rummage through those cabinets, grab your honeypot and let me know how it goes! I'd love to answer any questions or hear about your custom variations in the comment thread...if you can stop licking your fingers long enough to type!