Manuka honey contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and moisturizing properties that can benefit your skin.
Have you noticed that manuka honey is everywhere these days? It’s in your smoothie. Your shampoo. Even your dog’s shampoo. And now bee enthusiasts are buzzing about its skin-nourishing powers.
This golden syrup is…
So, should you apply this nectar on your face instead of your morning toast? Maybe.
Let’s dive into manuka honey benefits for skin.
People have flocked to honey since, like, the dawn of recorded medicine. But what’s so special about manuka honey?
This honey is made from the pollen of the manuka tree found in Australia in New Zealand. The tree has a swarm of skin-nourishing properties (more on that below) that get passed along from the bee-harvested pollen to the honey.
Peep the manuka tree’s magical skin-nourishing properties.
It’s antibacterial
Remember when everything in the beauty aisle was infused with tea tree oil? Folks stan the stuff because it fights off acne-causing bacteria. Well, manuka oil works similarly.
Research actually shows that oil from manuka trees might be more antibacterial than tea tree oil. A manuka honey mask or wash could give your skin the clean sweep of your life. Just imagine the bacteria being sucked into the honey’s sticky, deadly embrace.
Bottom line: Manuka honey might be your new BFF in the fight against zits.
It could soothe eczema
People with eczema will tell you just how irritating it can be to have dry, itchy skin that you must 👏 not 👏 scratch 👏. But it’s tempting. So tempting.
Manuka honey to the rescue! This sweet stuff is a humectant, meaning that it moisturizes so that your skin can catch a break.
A tiny study of people with eczema found that applying manuka honey to inflamed areas led to symptom improvement. Even better? They still showed improvements a year later. We need more research to prove these findings, but it’s a start.
It soothes inflammation
Red, swollen skin is no match for manuka! This honey has inflammatory properties to help fight inflammation from acne, eczema, and more.
In the midst of a breakout? Cash in on this sweet benefit by slapping on a manuka honey mask, turning on your favorite show, and saying goodbye to unsightly, irritated skin.
It fights off free radicals
Manuka honey contains antioxidants, which squash pesky free radicals.
Free radicals aren’t those scary people you saw on the news, BTW. They’re unstable atoms that can lead to premature aging and lack of elasticity.
Using manuka honey to slow free radicals could keep your skin looking fresher and younger for longer. Fewer wrinkles and age spots? Oh honey, you’re just too good to us!
It might help speed healing
Manuka honey sounding wondrous enough yet? There’s more!
Aside from helping to clean fresh wounds (remember those antibac properties?), burns, or even areas affected by psoriasis, manuka honey has been known to help fade scars.
More research is needed to confirm this manuka honey benefit for skin. Keep your fingers crossed!
Does this nectar of the gods (erm, bees) sound too good to be true? Time to try a manuka honey face mask for yourself!
Ingredients
Directions
- Mix. Grab your ingredients and stir into a nice thick paste.
- Apply. Slather that goodness onto your skin.
- Wait. Keep it on for 15 to 20 minutes. It’s the perfect chance to sit back, scroll Twitter, and wonder what drama folks are creating today.
- Rinse. Wash it off with some warm water, then admire your smooth, hydrated skin!
Pssst. If you just can’t DIY today, just buy a manuka mask instead.
Maybe.
Here are the potential downsides:
- Allergic reaction. As with any new skin product, do a patch test before coating your face in manuka honey. Dab a drop on your wrist, then wait 24 hours. No itchiness or redness? You’re good to go.
- Mislabeled or poor-quality honey. Check that you’re using proper manuka honey, which is produced in New Zealand. Look for a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating above 10 — aim for 15 for super high quality stuff.
If you’re concerned about allergies or a bad reaction, there’s no harm in consulting a healthcare pro before using manuka honey.
- Manuka honey is antibacterial and ant-inflammatory.
- It also has antioxidant and hydrating properties.
- Apply manuka honey on your skin to soothe acne, eczema, or other inflammatory skin conditions.
- Just make sure you’re buying true New Zealand manuka honey, and you’ll bee happy with the results!
