Looking good helps us to feel our best.
Sometimes our skin needs a helping hand in its natural regenerative processes, and the good news is, we may just have everything it needs already in our pantry.
Studies have found that Manuka Honey may offer exactly the kinds of wellness benefits we look for in our skincare. From keeping out bacteria to locking in moisture, balancing pH levels and alleviating discomfort, Manuka Honey might just be the missing link in your natural skincare routine.
In this article, we take a look at the signs of healthy skin and how Manuka Honey can help promote them. We then dive into which Manuka Honey is the best for your skin, and how to create your own at-home Manuka Honey face products.
5 Signs of Healthy Skin (and how Manuka Honey Can Help Achieve Them)
Look for these five indications of healthy skin and see how Manuka Honey might be able to help fill in any gaps:
1. Your skin is hydrated
Drinking enough water is crucial to achieving optimal health. Among many other things, staying hydrated helps deliver nutrients to our cells and allows our skin to renew and repair itself.
The skin also needs hydration in order to flush out toxins from its outer layers, keeping our pores clear and our complexions glowing.
According to studies, Manuka Honey has emollient properties, meaning that it provides the skin with a natural barrier to hold in moisture. Emollients are added to many moisturizers for the same purpose, but by using a Manuka Honey face moisturizer, you get the benefits naturally.
2. Your skin is not tight or dry
The trick to knowing whether your skin is healthy is whether you can feel it or not. This might sound silly, but if your skin is neither too tight nor too dry to feel discomfort, then something must be going right. It’s likely that your skin is adequately hydrated and healthy.
If this is not the case however, you may need to intervene. Scleroderma is the term for the more extreme cases of tight skin, often caused by a malfunctioning immune system producing too much collagen. Consult your doctor or dermatologist if you suspect this condition, but in the meantime, Manuka Honey may give you some natural relief.
Scientists have found Manuka Honey to be immunomodulatory, meaning that it can regulate the immune system. This, along with its humectant and pH balancing qualities suggests that Manuka Honey may aid in cell regeneration, hydration and protection from bacterial invaders. All of these things are important in remedying dry and tight skin.
3. Your skin is relatively blemish-free
Blemishes can occur from a multitude of causes from hormones to your environment, diet and genetics. If your skin is relatively clear from acne or spots, then its natural defences against bacteria and clogged pores are working properly.
Evidence suggests that Manuka Honey is packed full of antibacterial and antimicrobial components. These help to protect the skin’s pores against the build up and spread of microorganisms which cause acne.
By adding a topical Manuka Honey face mask for acne to your skincare routine, you can help keep your skin clear and protected. Check out our blog on the best Manuka Honey for acne here for more tips, tricks and specialized recipes for acne treatments.
4. Your skin is consistent in color
If your complexion is a relatively consistent color across your face and doesn’t exhibit any signs of discomfort or dryness, your skin is probably getting the adequate nutrients it needs.
Redness in the skin might indicate sun damage, sensitivity to foods or environmental changes, allergens, dehydration, bacterial infection or in serious cases, disease. Some people may be prone to these genetically, so it’s always best to consult a dermatologist if you are unsure what is normal for your skin.
Studies suggest that Manuka Honey can regulate the immune system, and may positively impact the treatment of rosacea. With its unique active properties and emollient qualities, Manuka Honey helps keep the skin clear of invaders and moisture locked in to supply cells with the water they need to repair and reduce redness.
5. Your skin retains its elasticity
The elasticity of our skin helps to fend off wrinkles. The sagging of our skin that causes wrinkles comes from the reduction of collagen and elastin proteins, a duo that work together to help keep skin firm but able to stretch and bounce back.
Studies show that Manuka Honey may protect and even increase collagen levels. It is rich in vitamins, including Vitamin C, known to help protect and enhance collagen production and cell regeneration processes.
Keep your skin looking and feeling fresh, young and healthy by incorporating Manuka Honey into your skincare routine.
So, What is the Best Manuka Honey for Your Face?
As you will have seen above, Manuka Honey has some pretty special qualities.
For this reason, the UMF™ grading system was introduced to ensure authenticity and protect consumers from imposters.
It’s quite simple: the higher the UMF™, the more concentrated the benefits of the honey. Similar to how SPF works for sun protection.
So, when it comes to the best Manuka Honey for face skincare, you are looking for the highest grade available.
Our Manuka Honey UMF™ 26+ | MGO 1282+ is the highest grade on the market, independently tested and certified in New Zealand.
Our range then scales from UMF™ 24+ | MGO 1122+ to UMF™ 5+ | MGO 83+, so you can find the best solution for you.
Check out our blog on finding the best Manuka Honey for your skin here for more information about how UMF™ works, what to look for on labels when buying your honey, and our top picks.
Ways to Use Manuka Honey for Your Face
See some of our favourite ways to create your own Manuka Honey face products at home.
Manuka Honey face wash
Nice and simple, we recommend removing any makeup or dead skin cells first with your favourite skin oil or cleanser. Then, take about ½ teaspoon of Manuka Honey and massage it into your skin for a few minutes.
Finally, rinse with warm water and pat your face dry. Follow up with your usual moisturizer, or apple cider vinegar, which makes a great natural astringent for your face.
Manuka Honey face cream
With its plethora of potential health benefits, sweet aroma and thick consistency, Manuka Honey makes for a perfect home-made face cream ingredient.
We recommend looking for essential oils that might benefit your skin’s unique needs, which you can mix with your honey, along with shea, mango or avocado butter for added texture and absorption.
If your skin is acne-prone, ensure that any products you add to your Manuka Honey are non-comedogenic, keeping your pores clear.
Manuka Honey face scrub
The key difference here is adding an exfoliant ingredient to your home-made Manuka Honey skincare.
Try ground up oats or brown sugar as your base, along with high-grade Manuka Honey and one or two of your favourite oils. You could use coconut oil if you have that in the pantry, otherwise argan and jojoba oil are popular options to add in.
Manuka Honey face cleanser
Research has found that diluted Manuka Honey retains its antibacterial properties, so by mixing a small amount of water with your honey, you can use it as a cleanser. Simply massage the honey over your face for a few minutes before rinsing clean and patting dry.
Manuka Honey face mask
Our DIY Turmeric and Manuka Honey Face Mask recipe has only three ingredients and three simple steps to get your skin glowing and healthy. You can also use Manuka Honey as a topical treatment and apply as a face mask by itself.
Ready to Start Your Manuka Honey Journey? Join the Hive!
Check out our full range of Manuka Honeys here.
Check out our blog for more information on Manuka Honey, edible recipes and additional skincare tips and tricks!
Check out some of our other skincare tips:
- All Natural DIY Turmeric and Manuka Honey Face Mask
- Manuka Honey Body Butter
- DIY Manuka Honey and Rosewater Face Mask
- What is the best Manuka Honey for Scars
- What is the best Manuka Honey for your face
- What is the best Manuka Honey for Acne
- Manuka Honey Wound Care: Will It Help You To Recover?
3 Comments
I am happy to learn about this honey. I will purchase it and give it a try.
I would like to be part of it
I will like to be part of this