When you think of honey, what comes to mind? Is it a sweet drizzle atop your favorite treat? Or do images of cute teddy bear containers run across your head? I think of my great-grandmother making me a big cup of warm water with honey and lemon juice, her cure-all for any ailment.

Turns out there is some truth behind my great grandmother’s home remedy. There are so many benefits to not only eating honey, but also using honey on your skin and body! Are you ready to be surprised by all the amazing powers of honey?

Honey has three main super powers:

1. Honey is a natural humectant: What this means is that honey naturally attracts and retains moisture. Having hydrated skin is important for maintaining that youthful, supple and soft appearance. Also, honey is great for preventing the appearance of scaring on the skin because it preserves moisture while also allowing for new skin tissues to grow. Amazing, right?

Did you know that honey is great for all skin types? Dry or dehydrated skin benefits because honey is the queen of sealing and locking moisture into the skin, oily skin benefits since honey yields moisture without added oil, and sensitive skin benefits since honey is known for having non-irritating properties!

2. Honey is naturally antibacterial: Honey contains a naturally occurring enzyme that prohibits the growth of bacteria. This anti-microbial agent is excellent for preventing and treating minor acne because it goes right to work attacking bacteria while also moisturizing and rejuvenating the skin!

3. Honey is full of antioxidants: Antioxidants are important in combating free-radicals in the body and outside damages from environmental agents like the sun. Antioxidants also help supply nutrients for the growth of new skin tissue!

Here at Ole Henriksen, we put honey in quite a few products like our sugar glow face scrub, our african red tea indulgent body mask, and our micro mini peel kit (step one: almond polish)! Even Cleopatra of Egypt took regular baths where she diluted honey and milk into the water to maintain a youthful appearance. Check out this recipe from Ole’s kitchen for a honey nourishing mask.

Have you ever used honey for anything other

than eating? Share your honey tips in the comments below!

Breakouts leave us with more than unpleasant scars, they also present us with countless questions on how to clear up our skin and prevent them from ruining our next date night. With all of the different myths floating around, it can be difficult to figure out what’s true and what’s not. We asked acne expert Ole Henriksen for the truth about the following myths to help us prevent and treat future breakouts.

1. Changing your pillowcase daily prevents bacteria buildup and acne.

FALSE: Although your skin has its share of bacteria at the surface, most acne develops due to what’s on the inside of your body. As long as you have cleansed your face beforehand with our on the go or aloe vera cleanser, your pillow will not contribute to the problem. “The only reason why you would need to change your pillow cases frequently is if your skin is inflamed and puss has seeped onto it,” says Ole. “But washing your sheets and pillowcases every week or every other week is always recommended to keep your skin clean.”

2. Using a day crème at night will clog your pores.

FALSE: Many people incorrectly assume that SPF products will clog your skin. While it wouldn’t hurt to use your day crème at night, Ole recommends using a night crème specifically suited to repair your skin as you sleep. When you are in a state of rest, your skin is constantly renewing itself and recovering at a greater rate and is more accepting of aggressive night crèmes that promote cell renewal. Ole’s invigorating night gel does just that. In the morning, use a day crème like our herbal day crème with SPF to protect your skin from sun damage.

3. Exfoliating cleansers will help clear your skin when breakouts are present.

FALSE: Although exfoliation is an important step in cell renewal, it is not recommended to use a facial scrub if your skin is prone to breakouts. The skin on your face is very delicate, especially when it’s inflamed. Even the mildest scrubs can be too harsh for your already irritated skin and cause broken capillaries. Rather than fight your acne with aggressive products, choose soothing cleansers such as the aloe vera cleanser or apricot cleansing lotion to calm the inflammation.

4. Any blemish can be squeezed as long as you use clean fingertips.

FALSE: All blemishes are not created equal. If you have cystic acne, which are inflamed lumps occur under the skin’s surface that pulsate and can be painful to the touch, leave them alone. These types of breakouts are seated in the dermis layer and will eventually dissolve and dry up into the bloodstream. Pimples, which tend to be more common, occur when the pores become blocked and can be carefully released when they come to a head with clean hands, a tissue and gentle pressure.

5. Adult acne is only caused by stress and hormonal changes.

FALSE: According to Ole, the real reason why many people develop adult acne is due to their diets. During stressful situations, people tend to reach for comfort foods over healthier alternatives. These choices take a toll on your body as well as your skin. “Stress does not cause bad acne,” says Ole. “It’s our actions associated with stress like eating cakes and fried foods that lead to changes in our skin.”

6. Acne scars are permanent without expensive treatments.

FALSE: While some acne scars may require laser treatments, scars that are superficial can be eliminated with the use of Ole’s micro mini peeling system for a period of six to 12 months after breakouts have subsided.

I’ve been struggling with cystic acne for years, a condition that occurs when inflamed lumps develop under the skin’s surface that pulsate and can be painful to the touch. I tried every acne treatment in existence before finding one that really worked. Most of the products I tried only temporarily treated my acne and left my skin overly dry and agitated. The blemish attack kit was my latest and final attempt at treating my skin and after just 3 months of daily use, I’m happy to say that it has transformed my skin and reduced my acne worries.

It works because it incorporates three products that fight bacteria under the skin without irritation. “Many other products are too aggressive and don’t work enough on balance,” says Ole. “I try to instead create products with extracts that are calming, soothing, and take the redness out topically.”

Here’s how it works.

Roll on blemish attack This is my favorite item in the trio. This convenient roll on applies benzoyl peroxide directly to the inflamed areas to kill bacteria. It also sloughs away dead skin cells and clears up blemishes without causing irritation or dryness. Use nightly under your night crème for best results.

Blemish attack daily defense gel This protective gel incorporates glycolic and lactic acid to control oil production. It also has salicylic acid to remove excess dry and flaky skin and hyaluronic acid to prevent over drying. Use after cleansing in the morning under your moisturizer and makeup.

Blemish attack purifying mask Purifying clays and calming botanicals absorb impurities, minimize breakouts and reduce surface oils. Eucalyptus helps oxygenate your skin and prevents infection. Use two to three times per week for 30 minutes for ultimate protection.

There are two kinds of people who need a toner. The first are those with oily or blemish prone skin. The second are those looking to prevent premature signs of aging. Chances are you fit one of those descriptions, but how exactly do they do all of these extraordinary things?

“Tonics are wonderful treatment products that help oxygenate and make your skin more receptive to the serum and cream that follows,” says Ole.

“Your skin has a natural pH level of 4.2 to 5.6,” says Nanyamka Sheffield, director of national training at OLEHENRIKSEN. “Cleansing your face strips your skin of its acid mantle and causes your skin’s pH to rise because tap water has a higher pH of 7. According to Sheffield, it can take 30 minutes to eight hours for your skin to restore its original pH and rebuild its acid mantle. During this open window, your skin is susceptible to free radicals and environmental aggressors that can speed up the aging process and lead to bacterial growth. The benefit of using a toner is that it restores your pH balance and helps rebuild your acid mantle.

“Think about it this way, you wouldn’t wash your clothes and take them out before the rinse cycle because there is still leftover residue,” says Sheffield. “Using a toner is a necessary step to properly cleanse your face.”

So the answer is yes, a toner is a necessary step in caring for your skin. Ole offers a variety of toners that address everything from anti-aging and puffy under-eyes to dull skin and oily T-zones. Unlike other brands that contain astringents that over dry the skin, Ole’s tonics are designed to calm and soothe the skin.

Why do you use your toner? Let us know in the comments below.

1. Use a flat round complexion sponge with your cleanser to help dislodging impurities.

2. Pour grease relief tonic onto a cotton swab and press it into the skin as you go.

3. Sugar causes a rapid rise in blood sugar that can cause an inflammatory response in the skin, so replace sodas with sparkling water and a lemon wedge or your favorite herb tea over ice.

4. Stress is one of the most common causes of eruptions. Take a break from your desk numerous times a day to close your eyes and do a 5-10 minute deep breathing exercise or a few stretching exercises.

5. Wrap an ice cube in a handkerchief and dab it onto blemishes to reduce inflammation and then follow with our roll on blemish attack.

6. Use an oil free moisturizer like our sheer transformation crème that will hydrate and increase your cell turnover rate to reveal clear skin beneath.

7. Fill your sink about a third of the way with warm water and add a teaspoon full of eucalyptus essential oil. Lay a terry cloth in the water and drape it over your face to experience the antiseptic, purifying benefits of this cleansing steam treatment. Follow with our blemish attack mask.

8. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and exercise daily to improve circulation and detoxify the skin.

9. Use a gentle touch – never squeeze pimples or attempt to dry them out in the sun, this will clog pores even more.

10. Use a mineral based makeup product rather than a foundation. Ole recommends YoungBlood or Bare Escentuals.