Honey is the bees knees! But forget pouring it on your porridge - spread it on your skin instead (just like the Duchess of Cambridge)

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Honey is the bees knees! But forget pouring it on your porridge - spread it on your skin instead (just like the Duchess of Cambridge)

Ever since it was revealed that the Duchess of Cambridge was a fan of facialist Deborah Mitchell's bee venom facials, honey has been a buzz word in the beauty industry.

From serums to body creams, the market is awash with products promising everything from hydration to reductions in scarring.

And Kate isn't the only fan. Les Miserables star Anne Hathaway uses a propolis-based spritz on her face, Epicuren Brazilian Rainforest Propolis Mist (£26.50), a resinous tree-sap-based substance used by bees to repair their nests. 

Ever since the Duchess of Cambridge, left, has been revealed as a fan of Deborah Mitchell's bee-venom facials, honey, right, has been the new buzz-word in beauty treatments

Actress Scarlett Johansson uses honey as a face mask and models Erin O'Connor and Lizzy Jagger use Manuka Lip Balm (£9.75, livingnature.com), which is rich in bacteria-fighting chemicals.

So-called 'miracle' ingredients crop up all the time, but honey's healing properties are backed up by serious research. Studies show it helps acne, eczema and psoriasis, and aids the treatment of deep wounds. 

 

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Apicare's Rescue Me gel, (£14, beautynaturals.com), contains manuka honey and aloe vera, and can be  used to soothe burns and bites, dermatitis and other skin problems.

Bee venom works by prompting what are known as micro-reactions in the skin, which have been shown to improve wrinkles and reduce redness. 

Scarlett Johansson, left, uses honey as a face mask, while Anne Hathaway uses a propolis-based spritz

Consultant dermatologist Dr Sunil Chopra says it works by stimulating skin cell renewal - which tends to reduce with age - and prompts the production of collagen.

'This is not a marketing thing,' he says. 'We are serious scientists  doing research for peer-reviewed journals.'

Living Nature Skincare Lip Balm

Propolis is another bee product that Dr Chopra says has potential. 'Propolis keeps the hive sterile, and applied to the skin it can be very effective against acne or blemishes because it kills bacteria,' he says. 'It is also full of antioxidants, so may help repair sun damage.'

Honey itself is a wonderfully indulgent moisturiser that leaves skin soft and glowing.

If your skin is dry and winter-worn, search out Dr Organic's Manuka Honey Rescue Cream, available from Holland & Barrett (£8.69).

For a more intensive fix, Aura's manuka honey mask with added vanilla and avocado oil (£21.50, feelunique.com) provides a treat for red or irritated skin in need of soothing.

At home, you can also make a blemish-reducing honey face mask by mixing 1/4 cup of oatmeal, 1/4 cup of water and 2tsp of honey (ideally manuka honey due to its increased anti-bacterial properties) and patting it on to skin. Rinse off after 15 minutes.

Putting honey in your hair may seem an unlikely beauty treatment, but natural skincare company Lush has a host of honey-based beauty treats, including the great new Fair Trade Honey Shampoo (£7, lush.co.uk).

Although it contains more than 50 per cent honey, this preservative-free potion is not sticky and washes out very easily to leave hair silky and manageable.

Beauty therapist Deborah Mitchell - who, as well as Kate, counts Dannii Minogue and Victoria Beckham among her fans - has also created a use-at-home bee venom skincare line. These Heaven Bee Venom mask contains manuka honey, purified bee venom and natural flower extracts.

Although it costs a pricey £74 (heavenskincare.com), Mitchell points out that dried, concentrated bee venom powder from New Zealand sells for a staggering £27,000 per ounce.

Beauty therapist Deborah Mitchell - who, as well as Kate, counts Dannii Minogue and Victoria Beckham among her fans - has also created a use-at-home bee venom skincare line

The facialist also believes the product boasts a Botox-like effect. 'The venom increases blood flow to an area and stimulates collagen,' she says.

'It encourages wrinkles  to soften.'

All these products are safe for most people, except those who are allergic to bee stings.

If you are concerned about the well-being of the bees while their venom is extracted, fear not. The insects sting a pane of glass near their hive that has a mild electric current running through it to prompt them to sting it, but the process is harmless.

Heaven By Deborah Mitchell Bee Venom Mask, left, and Lush Fair Trade Honey Shampoo, right

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