Bee Unforgettable: Honey Brightens the Journey to your Big Day

Whether you're accepting a dance with your chambelán, an evening with your dream date for prom or a lifetime with the one you love, every woman wants to look gorgeous and radiant on her special day. The magical time surrounding the moment you say "I do" is full of moments and memories that will stay with you forever. Every woman deserves to enjoy her moment to the fullest, especially after all the work that goes into planning such an eventful occasion. That's why celebrity makeup artist and bridal makeup expert Vicky Mejía and the National Honey Board (NHB) have joined forces to bring you honey-based skin care treatments to help you prep your skin so you can look your best without the hassle, or the price of multiple beauty products. Consider these your new golden rules from now until the Big Day!

Achieving the skin you want is just three steps away, and with honey by your side, you're sure to look every bit as radiant as you deserve in time for your celebration. "Clean, exfoliate and moisturize," states Mejía. "It's very simple but it happens to us all during stressful periods - you forget to take care of yourself since you're so busy taking care of everything else.With a roster of clients that includes Shakira, Armando "Pitbull" Pérez, Maite Perroni, Julieta Venegas and Enrique Iglesias; Vicky Mejía has experience working with the best in the business – an industry where taking care of the skin and looking good is essential.

Using honey as her guide, Mejía developed cleansers and moisturizers that will keep your skin glowing throughout the planning period and all the way through the celebration. Honey is actually one of the key ingredients in many store-bought exfoliators and moisturizing treatments, as it contains antimicrobial properties that naturally cleanse the skin while sealing in moisture. With her easy do-it-yourself recipes, you can skip the trip to the store and whip up your own glow mask or scrub at home, and since the recipes are all natural they'll do wonders on any skin type, regardless of age. Whether it's your quince, prom or wedding, these treatments will nourish and moisturize your skin while you plan your special day.

Your skin absorbs about 60% of what you apply to it, so the more natural and basic products you use, the better. "The stress of planning can reflect on your skin, and the last thing you need is to have a breakout when it's picture time. No amount of makeup will conceal dry or unnourished skin," adds Mejía. It's easy to get caught up with all the details to make sure that everything is picture perfect, but most importantly YOU should look and feel picture perfect too! The market is full of products to treat skin for just about anything, but using honey in its purest form with just a couple of extra ingredients can create an effective and soothing treatment for even the most sensitive skin.

Starting a new regimen is always exciting, and what better way to motivate yourself than by documenting your first step? The National Honey Board and Vicky Mejía want to encourage you to get the skin you want in time for your Big Day, which is why www.mielpura.org will be dedicating its homepage to its fans and followers by hosting the "Con la Miel, Serás Inolvidable en tu Gran Día" contest. The first 10 fans to put their best face forward and submit a picture of themselves using any of Vicky's honey-based beauty treatments will win a very sweet prize: a branded photo album, spa robe and "Bee Prepared Kit," with everything from hair pins to stain remover so you can enjoy your event worry-free. And of course, honey! All you have to do to enter is visit www.mielpura.org and submit your picture for a chance to win. Remember to follow the Miel Pura Facebook page for contest updates.

To complement your new, clean canvas Vicky also developed makeup tips and tricks that will act as the finishing touch to your look and truly enhance the natural beauty you've achieved with her honey-based treatments.
Catering, flowers, The Dress- it's all expensive, but that doesn't mean your skin care has to be. With honey by your side and Vicky's recipes and makeup tips, you're sure to look every bit as prim and polished as you had imagined. Give your skin a golden treat and try these easy do-it-yourself recipes and quick makeup tips at home for truly enviable skin:

Soothing Honey-Based Cleanser
You can easily eliminate impurities with the help of this homemade cleanser.

Makes one application

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg white
1 teaspoon powdered milk

Preparation:
In a small bowl mix honey and powdered milk. Next, lightly whisk the egg white in a separate small bowl. Add egg white to honey and powdered milk combination and mix. Apply cleanser onto face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Moisturizing Honey Treatment
Ideal for recovering the freshness of the skin, leaving it soft and luminous.

Makes one application

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon honey
¼ banana
1 teaspoon oatmeal
1 teaspoon plain yogurt

Preparation:
In a small bowl mash banana and mix in honey, yogurt and oatmeal. Mix until thoroughly combined. Apply on clean face, avoiding the skin around the eyes. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

For more honey-based beauty recipes and makeup tips and tricks, please visit www.mielpura.org.

The National Honey Board is a federal research and promotion board under USDA oversight that conducts research, marketing and promotion programs to help maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey.

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Name: Ana Ceron

Phone: (310) 473-4422

Email: [email protected]