New buzz on anti-aging
In an effort to infuse skin care with more naturally derived ingredients, scientists have uncovered the beautifying benefits of bee-made substances. Their potent agedefying, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds will leave you beautiful in no time
Wrinkles?
Opt for royal jelly
As we age, skin-firming collagen production slows, causing fine lines and furrows to set in. But royal jelly can help. The milky substance made by bees to feed to their queen contains 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid. This fatty acid stimulates fibroblasts, the body’s collagen-producing cells, to smooth wrinkles and plump up skin for a more youthful-looking complexion. Find it in: Burt’s Bees Skin Nourishment Night Cream (BurtsBees.com). Use daily for results within a month.*
Loose neck?
Try bee pollen
Lax neck skin can add years to our look and create the illusion of a double chin. The fix to a tauter, slimmer neckline? Bee pollen! Its flavonoid kaempferol increases circulation while inhibiting the enzymes that break down skinfirming elastin, says New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. To do: Mix 2 Tbs. of pollen (like
Honey Gardens Bee Pollen
Granules, iHerb.com) and 1 Tbs. of Greek yogurt. Rub onto neck; rinse after 5 minutes. Use three times a week for results in 30 days.*
Rashy skin?
Pick manuka honey
Whether red, irritated skin is due to bug bites, sunburn, rosacea flare-ups or acne, manuka honey (produced by bees that pollinate New Zealand– native manuka bushes) can soothe and repair it. It has all of the skinnourishing and healing properties of regular honey, but it’s up to four times more effective, thanks to its
methylgloxal content.
“This organic chemical compound has powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that speed the healing of irritated skin, restoring its barrier to a healthier state,” says Dr. Zeichner. What’s more, the honey’s anti-inflammatory properties quickly ease pain and reduce redness for a more even skin tone. Simply massage a pea-sized amount of manuka honey (like Manuka Doctor Bio Active 15+ Manuka Honey, Walmart.com) onto irritated skin. Let sit 15 minutes, then rinse. Use daily as needed until skin has fully healed.*