quick summary
Honey has been used for skin cleansing, moisturizing and masks for centuries.
Manuka honey has unique properties to other types of honey, such as a high level of MGO which gives it antibacterial action.
This can make it an effective treatment for bacterial based skin conditions, such as acne.
Studies have also shown it can be a helpful remedy for scarring, rosacea, dandruff, psoriasis, and wound dressing.
Manuka honey can be added to your daily skincare routine easily, either by applying it directly to your face from the jar in the form of a mask, mixing it with water as a cleanser, or using manuka based creams and lotions.
Manuka honey is a popular remedy for skin ailments, ranging from everything from scarring to acne to treating wounds. The main thing that makes manuka honey unique is its antibacterial content.
Manuka honey gets these properties due to the high levels of methylglyoxal or MGO found in the honey, which is a result of the bees taking nectar specifically from the Manuka flower.
MGO is unique to manuka honey, which is what makes it a more potent antimicrobial agent than other honeys.
But how can it help with your skin?
A 2011 study found that the medicinal and antibacterial properties of manuka honey were significant, and could be used to help destroy bacteria in various forms of treatment. This is helpful for things like acne.
A 2016 study stated that:
"A plethora of in vitro studies have revealed that honeys from all over the world have potent antimicrobial activity against skin relevant microbes. Moreover, a number of in vitro studies suggest that honey is able to modulate the skin immune system."
Finally, this 2013 study found that:
"Honey is particularly suitable as a dressing for wounds and burns and has also been included in treatments against pityriasis, tinea, seborrhea, dandruff, diaper dermatitis, psoriasis, hemorrhoids, and anal fissure. In cosmetic formulations, it exerts emollient, humectant, soothing, and hair conditioning effects, keeps the skin juvenile and retards wrinkle formation, regulates pH and prevents pathogen infections."
While more research is certainly needed, honey has been used as a skin treatment for centuries, and is a safe, natural product that can be more nourishing and moisturizing for your skin than other commercial skin products.
How to use Manuka Honey on your skin
There are many ways to use manuka honey to help rejuvenate, heal and hydrate your skin. Aside from eating the honey (internal use) you can also use various things like cleansers and masks to help treat your skin from the outside (external use).
We believe a two-pronged approach of both internal and external use will get you the best results. These are some of the things you can add to your regular skincare routine to reap the benefits of manuka honey:
Cleanser
Most people have a daily cleanser they use to wash their face in the mornings and evenings. The good news is you can easily make a manuka honey face cleanser as well with just a few simple steps.
Get yourself a saucer or dish, and add a few tablespoons of warm water. Then, add a teaspoon of manuka honey. No need to go crazy - the stuff is expensive after all! Slowly mix the honey and water until it dilutes. If it doesn't dilute within a few minutes, it means the water isn't warm enough.
Once you have a diluted manuka honey and water mixture, gently apply it to your face. We recommend massaging it into your face for several minutes, using a circular motion.
Then, gently rinse your face and pat dry with a towel.
Do this a few times a week and you should start to see that manuka glow!
Exfoliator
For this, we like to use organic oats as our scrub. This is because oats are natural and free of chemicals, and are generally inexpensive.
Grind up the oats the best you can, either using a regular mortar and pestle or just a regular utensil or spoon. You want to avoid getting it down to a powder, but just enough so it's rough and coarse.
Then in a separate dish, mix some warm water with a teaspoon of manuka honey.
When the honey is diluted, combine the oats and the water and start to apply it to to your skin. You can use it anywhere on your body, but it's gentle enough to apply on your face which is what most people will do.
Rub the mixture on your face in circles so it scrubs off all the layers of dead skin. We recommend to scrub (gently) for around 3-4 minutes.
Then rinse off with warm water and dry.
manuka honey Mask
To apply a manuka honey mask, you don't need anything except the honey.
After washing your skin with fresh warm water, gently apply a very thin layer of manuka honey. You can use your fingers or an applicator.
It's important to apply the honey mask when your skin is still a little bit damp. This allows the honey to work a little easier.
Leave on for 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Repeat once or twice a week.
Spot treatment
Spot treatment is great when trying to fade scars or treating stubborn pimples and acne.
To spot treat with manuka honey, simply apply a little bit to the affected area and leave it. There is no need to cover it, though if it's in an awkward place where it might drip or touch other surfaces, you can do so.
Spot treatment of pimples is very effective when using manuka honey.
Consuming it regularly
One of the best ways to get the benefits of manuka honey for your skin is to eat it! Remember we nourish the skin not only from the outside, but from the inside too.
One teaspoon a day, either naked or mixed in with a coffee or on toast is a great way to get your daily dosage of manuka honey. Consume it regularly and the antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties will work its magic.
As a cream or moisturizer
Many companies make ready-made creams and moisturizers with manuka honey in them.
Adding manuka honey to your skincare routine with a ready-made cream is as easy as applying it like a simple moisturizing cream once or twice a day.
We think the best way is to simply use manuka honey directly on your skin. However, there are also many ready-made products like creams and masks that are great as well.
We recommend purchasing these from the collections at Manuka Honey Of NZ. They stock most of New Zealand's most reputable brands. You'll get a 10% discount using this link!
FAQ
Is manuka honey good for your face?
Yes, manuka honey is very good for your face! The MGO content in manuka honey helps kill acne causing bacteria, and the anti inflammatory markers are great for blemishes and redness. It is also good for fading scars and spots.
How often should you use manuka honey on your face?
We recommend using manuka honey on your face around 2-3 times per week, by way of a face mask, cleanser or exfoliator.
Can I put manuka honey on my face every day?
Yes, you can put manuka honey on your face every day. However, we don't necessarily recommend doing so, because 2-3 times per week is enough to see the benefits. It's also not recommended because manuka honey is expensive, so overdoing it can seem wasteful. If you really wish to though, it shouldn't be an issue.
Is manuka honey good for skin wrinkles?
Yes, manuka honey is good for skin wrinkles as it naturally hydrates the skin and reduces inflammation. We recommend using it as a mask if you wish to see a reduction in wrinkles.
WHAT STRENGTH OF MANUKA HONEY IS BEST?
For skincare, we recommend using UMF20+ manuka honey. If you are simply using it as a cleanser and nothing else, UMF15 will also be sufficient.
Since manuka honey is only used sparingly for skincare, a jar should last you quite a long time. Therefore, it shouldn't be an issue for most people to buy a UMF20 jar, even though it is more expensive than UMF15.
If UMF 15 is all you can afford, that's fine! You should still see great results.
WHERE SHOULD I GET MANUKA HONEY TO USE ON MY SKIN?
You can check out our Where To Buy page to see our top recommended brands of manuka honey and where to buy them.
