Honey, liquid gold for dry skin during winter

Every winter our skin gets put through the mill: cold, wind, temperature changes, harsh tap water and layers of clothes that rub against our bodies. And there's nothing better than honey to wrap it up in a comforting, snuggly blanket and help it get through the winter blues. Honey is basically flower power in a pot. Being naturally rich in floral water, honey has numerous benefits and pumps our skin with mineral salts, amino acids and vitamins.

This amber nectar is also bursting with fructose and glucose (around 80%), sugars that help our cells to harness water in the upper layers of our skin. Result: a well-moisturised, glowing complexion Known for its nourishing properties, honey also helps heal skin by boosting cell production and regeneration in the epidermis. Deeply nourishing and moisturising, it leaves us with radiant, baby soft skin, even if winter has left it in a leathery mess.

Honey contains high levels of flavonoids, making it a natural antioxidant thatcombats free radicalsresponsible for premature skin ageing. It also boosts the production of collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that keep our skin supple and toned. Leaving us with plump features and dewy skin!

Hormonal changes, a poor diet, sun, pollution and smoking cause our skin to produce sebum that can clog up our pores. And clogged pores means inflammation and spotty outbreaks. Thanks to its antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory hydrogen peroxide content, honey is perfect for cleansing combination and oily skin. It banishes blemishes and leaves our skin squeaky clean.

Thanks to its rich, floral composition, honey is one of nature's best skincare ingredients. It's widely used in cosmetics. It works wonders when added to face masks. It can be mixed with other ingredients such as eggs,yoghurt, aloe vera and lemon, depending on our skin's needs. But most of all, its a perfect dry skin winter ally, thanks to its nourishing, purifying and moisturising action. It's also a superbly gentle face scrub ingredient that can be mixed with exfoliating powdered almonds or sugar to remove dead cells that cling to the surface of our skin. Finally, honey protects our pout when used in soothing lip balms.