The Harrods Self-Care Guide to Honey

Why all the fuss? Because whether it’s kickstarting your day – and your immune system – on your sourdough in the morning or providing anti-inflammatory skincare properties for a Sunday night self-care session, honey is the most versatile health product of them all. With expert advice from The Wellness Clinic's renowned skin whisperer, Dr Rabia Malik and Harrods’ go-to nutritionist, Reshma Patel, find outhow you can incorporate honey into every step of your self-care routine. Sit back, relax and discover the health benefits of this golden elixir that's stood the test of time.

According to Harrods’ health nutritionist Reshma Patel, we can all benefit from the sweet ingredient in our diet. “It is one of the most appreciated and valued natural products in healthcare and within the context of a balanced diet and lifestyle it gradually releases blood sugar levels vs natural sugar, act as a soothing remedy if you’re under the weather and is a healthier alternative to refined sugars,” she explains. It is also worth considering that honey is used in natural ayurvedic remedies to improve your health after a cold or soothing any coughs irritating your throat.

When it comes to the natural sweetener, the one-pot wonder is a treasure in your beauty regimen. A humectant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and popular for its anti-inflammatory properties, honey is a power player that can transform your skin. “Honey can be integrated into various steps of your skin care routine such as applied topically as a cleanser or at-night as moisturising mask. The many benefits of honey mean that honey-based products can help with dry skin, acne prone or sensitive skin, as well as with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis,” says Harrods’ practitioner, Dr Rabia Malik.

Our pick based on Dr Rabia’s advice is Foreo’s Manuka Honey UFO Activated Mask. Not only is it infused with the finest manuka honey from New Zealand but in a mask form, it’s the soothing and nourishing treat you can use morning and evening. Designed to be used with Foreo's UFO 3 device (amplified with thermo-therapy and cryo-therapy for optimal ingredient absorption), the mask balances out pH levels, strengthens skin's resilience and leaves skin smooth, soft and naturally radiant.

"Thanks to honey’s antioxidant properties, it can help prevent premature ageing, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles overtime."

Dr Rabia Malik

As an extension of your skincare routine, honey is equally beneficial for your scalp and tresses. “As a powerful antioxidant honey has a high tolerance for almost any scalp type,” says Harrods’ Trichologist, Ricardo Vila Nova, “it creates a protective layer that smooths and protects hair without silicones and elements disrupting the hair shaft and again, as a humectant, it hydrates both your hair and scalp, minimising breakage, split ends, frizz and irritation,” he adds.

In need of honey-based products to add to your wash day? Try Gisou’s Honey Infused Scalp Treatment. An overnight scalp soother infused with vitamin enriched Mirsalehi honey and a complex blend of botanical oils (including blackcurrant seed and sunflower oil) to protect and replenish the scalp microbiome, it will help to soothe irritation overall. If you’re after a winning trio then pop the Gisou Hair Wash and Honey Infused Conditioner alongside your overnight scalp treatment in your next wash day.

"For your hair, it has powerful anti-frizz particularities and helps to rebuild elasticity for healthier tresses overall."

Ricardo Vila Nova

One word: versatile. While you might be used to adding honey to pancakes or championing its sweetness for baking, there’s no need to limit honey to the confines of sweet classics. Whether it’s the ever-growing popularity of pre-packaged scotch bonnet and honey medleys from ethically farmed brands like WilderBee or celebrating its delightful stickiness as a healthy binding agent, honey can be as much of a cooking staple as your old faithfuls – salt and pepper.

In fact, when it comes to Dr. Gary Deng's self-care recipe bible, The Wellness Principles: Cooking for a Healthy Life, honey makes spotlight appearances in everything from power-play green breakfast smoothies to honey-glazed mahi mahi to cashew skinless chicken. “Honey can be paired well to enhance the nutritional quality and taste of many commonly eaten foods such as yoghurts, toast, teas, salad dressing, glaze for meats, cooking and baking, roasting and in sauces,” explains Reshma Patel.

A gentle reminder – like all sweeteners, honey should still be used in moderation but incorporating it into calming cooking moments (podcast and food prep, anyone?) is a surefire way to enjoy delicious results while caring for your body.

The Wellness Principles: Cooking for a Healthy Life by Dr. Gary Deng (Phaidon, £29.95) is available to buy from The Harrods Bookshop on the Lower Ground Floor.