Few can resist the inner and outer glow produced by a trip to the spa. The soothing, pure powers of honey, used in beauty treatments since the time of Cleopatra, make it easy to bypass expensive trips to the spa and indulge in economical and all-natural pre- and post-workout treats at home.

The natural hydrating properties of honey make it an ideal moisturizing ingredient in skin and hair care products. Honey also contains antioxidants, which have been known to protect skin from the damage of UV rays as well as aid in skin rejuvination.

Recipes featuring honey have long been a staple of healthful diets, with recent studies suggesting that the glucose and fructose in honey can help enhance athletic performance.

Here are two recipes from Sweet and Simple Spa Moments created by the National Honey Board. The brochure has recipes for cuisines and treatments.

Honey Almond Scrub 8 whole unblanched almonds 2 Tbsp. rolled oats, uncooked 1 Tbsp. honey 2 tsp. yogurt, sour cream Process almonds and oats in a blender until finely ground. In a small bowl, mix ground almonds and oats, honey and yogurt until blended. Pat scrub on face and neck; leave on for up to 10 minutes for extra softening. Wet hands and massag gently to exfoliate. Rinse off.

Strawberry-Kiwi Smoothie 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries 1 large kiwi, peeled 8 oz. low-fat vanilla yogurt 2 Tbsp. honey 10 ice cubes In a blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

For more information on benefits of honey, log onto www.honey.com.