If you’re following me on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed I haven’t been posting much over the holiday season.
I wish I could tell you it’s because I was having too much fun travelling around, eating panettone and enjoying quality time with my family. The truth is a lot less glamorous: I was in bed with the flu. 🙁
One of the few things that helps me feel better when I have the flu, or even just a bad cold, is a hot cup of tea with lemon and honey. The warmth soothes my inflamed throat and the honey has anti-inflammatory properties that help my immune system fight those nasty buggers. Works like a charm.
This got me thinking, is honey a miracle worker for skin too or are you slathering on those DIY honey face masks and Korean honey essences for nothing?
Let’s take a look at what science says:
What Is Honey?
Honey is a thick, golden liquid bees make from the nectar of flowers. These industrious little animals collect the nectar, mix it with their own enzymes (you don’t want to know how they do that – it’ll ruin honey for you, trust me!) and store it into their beehive for eating when food is scarce.
Honey is mostly sugar with a sprinkle of antioxidants and vitamins thrown in for good measure.
What Does Honey Do For Your Skin?
This delicious nectar is quite the multitasker. Here’s all honey does for your skin:
- Antibacterial: It inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi, helping wounds heal faster. It works thanks to its high osmolarity (high sugar/low water combo) that sucks water out of bacterial cells and its ability to release the bacteria killer hydrogen peroxide. Some say it works against P.Acnes, the bacteria that causes acne. The scientific jury’s still out on this but it seems honey may help create an inhospitable environment for P.Acnes.
- Anti-inflammatory: It soothes pain and reduces swelling, speeding up the healing process.
- Antioxidant: It contains a small amount of antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles.
- Humectant: It attracts water from the air into the skin. This keeps skin well hydrated, plumps it up and makes it softer to the touch.
Related: What Are Humectants And Why Do You Need Them In Your Skincare Routine?
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Does It Matter What Type Of Honey You Use?
That’s a tricky question. All types of honeys have different compositions. This depends on what types of flowers bees use to make honey and where those flowers grow.
As a rule, though, it doesn’t seem to matter if honey is raw or pasteurised. Both work just as well. But Manuka honey has stronger antibacterial activity than other types of honey.
Even so, I don’t recommend you put honey on your skin as is. Honey has a very acidic pH (between 1.5 to 2) that’s too harsh for your skin. I prefer to get my fix from pH balanced skincare products – as long as they contain enough honey. If you see it listed towards the bottom, don’t bother!
What Are The Best Skincare Products With Honey?
- Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask With Echinacea Green Envy ($56.00): available at Cult Beauty and Sephora.
- Farmacy Honey Savior All-In-One Skin Repair Salve with Eachinacea Green Envy Honey ($34.00): available at Cult Beauty and Sephora.
- Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask ($150.00): available at Nordstrom.
The Bottom Line
Honey is a skincare multitasker: it can hydrate skin, fight wrinkles and help wounds heal faster. But the jury’s still out there on whether or not it can get rid of acne too.
Hi Gio
What do you think about Guerlain’s “Abielle Royale” honey skincare collection? I’ve read the reviews on Paula’s Choice and seems like she doesn’t like any of the Abielle Royale items and rated only 1 star. I would like to hear about your opinions (since it seems like Paula doesn’t like almost anything else besides her own products, so I am not sure her opinions are objective and fair anymore). I really like the Abielle Royale face oil
Hi Alan, I hear ya! Paula has very high standards and is capable of giving a bad review just because she doesn’t like one ingredient – without taking into consideration how it’s used in the formula.
Having said that, I’m with Paula on this one. I wouldn’t have given all the products a 1 star rating but they’re definitely average. They’re basic moisturisers with just a sprinkle of antioxidants. Even the bee-derived ingredients are used in tiny concentrations. I’m sure they’re wonderful moisturisers that make your skin very soft and smooth but for that price, I’d expect some anti aging power as well and they don’t have it. 🙁
I read a lot about using honey as a natural cleanser (from BuzzFeed and other zero-waste free blogs).
They did mention that the pH level is quite similar to our face and they mentioned to use raw-honey out of others.
What’s your thought in this about using honey as a natural cleanser?
Jasmine, honey is sticky so it will be unpleasant to use. Plus, its pH can be a bit high. Why not just use oils, like jojoba instead?