Beauty and the bees

First among honey's remarkable properties is that it is a humectant that helps skin retain moisture. "Honey is primarily sugar and water," says Celeste Lutrario, director of research and development for Burt's Bees. "It attracts moisture and its high sugar content holds on to water." Honey is also acidic and therefore unfriendly to microbes and pathogens, which makes it a useful healing agent and good for sensitive skin. According to Lutrario, honey is packed with nutrients as well as natural antioxidants, which can help minimize free-radical damage from pollution and the sun. But you don't have to smear yourself with Billy Bee to reap the benefits; plenty of cosmetics companies offer easier-to-use options for hair and skin.

Hair
The Body Shop Honey Moisturizing Shampoo and Honey Moisturizing Conditioner (250 mL, $11.00 each) make use of honey's humectant properties to draw moisture to the hair's surface to keep it hydrated and frizz-free. Phytobrush Smoothing Shampoo contains honey to strengthen, soften and control hair for a smoother blow dry (200 mL, $24, 1-800-363-1660 for retailers; www.phyto.com). Honey also pops up as a control agent in styling aids such as Aveda Phomollient styling foam, which contains organic honey to boost volume and shine (200 mL, $19.99 at Aveda Experience Centres).

Face
St. Ives Peel-Off Hydroxy Masque taps honey's hydrating qualities to moisturize as the mask exfoliates (170 mL, $4.99; drugstores). L'Occitane Honey Cream (50 mL, $36) promises to improve skin's elasticity and protect it from free-radical damage. For lips try Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm ($4.49 at select Shoppers Drug Marts).

Body
Of course you can do as Cleopatra did and soak in baths of milk and honey. If baths aren't your style, however, The Healing Garden Organics Wild Honey Collection might fit the bill with body wash, body scrub, lotion and body mist ($11.95 each at drug and mass retailers), all of which contain organic honey.

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