This Multitasking Pantry Item Is the Secret to Glowing Skin
Metaphorically speaking, it could be argued that exfoliation is the flossing of the skincare world. As the thing most women find themselves lying about when they go to see the facialist, there’s a certain I-know-it’s-good-for-me-but factor that never quite outweighs the allure of, say, face planting into bed at the end of a long day.
But leave it to British star facialist Alexandra Soveral to provide much-needed incentive to engage in the otherwise humdrum skin-sloughing ritual, which speeds cell turnover and boosts radiance, by introducing two unexpected ingredients into the equation: honey and fun. “I have been using honey in my treatments for nearly 15 years,” explains the bona fide triple threat, who is a trained product formulator, facialist, and aromatherapist, and who designed the protocols for the bespoke beauty lab at London’s FaceGym flagship in Chelsea. In search of a technique that removed dead skin in a nonabrasive way and without disturbing the complexion’s delicate acid mantle, Soveral began blending acacia honey with “a secret formula of vitamins and plant extracts” to enhance its anti-inflammatory properties.
But it’s the mechanical movements she designed to enhance the mixture once it has been slathered on—kneading and patting to actually lift the underlying facial tissues and aid in detoxification to create a next-level glow—that have clients hooked. “You literally feel your lymph starting to move,” she promises of the treatment that can easily be re-created at home, in four easy steps.
Step 1: Choose the Right Raw Honey
Any pure honey will work if it’s a liquid consistency, rather than solid, although Soveral recommends using local honey when possible to support producers committed to sustaining bee populations. (If you live in New York, Westwind Orchard’s Raw Honey is a good place to start).
Step 2: Apply a Thick Layer to the Skin
Spread a heaping spoonful across the face as though you’re applying a mask, massaging it into a thin layer. “Leave it on for 10 minutes so that it can really nourish,” suggests Soveral.
Step 3: Perform a Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Holding four fingers together, press onto the skin and lift off in a rolling motion from your index finger to your pinky finger, repeating these quick movements all over the face. “Use a stronger motion around the T-zone but be gentler on the rest of the face where your skin is more fragile,” cautions Soveral, who emphasizes the importance of minding the glands behind the ears so that the lymph nodes can start draining. If the honey gets too sticky, add a tiny bit of water to one finger to loosen things up. “Once you have done it a few times you will get the hang of it!” she says.
Step 4: Remove With A Warm Washcloth
“You’ll know it’s time to take it off when the skin feels alive and looks stimulated,” or in about five minutes, says Soveral, who typically places a damp, hot cloth over the face to create a little steam before efficiently removing all the honey—and the dead skin, too—to reveal a fresh-faced, hydrated finish.
