I’m afraid of bees. 🐝
But I love honey. 🍯
You win some, you lose some. So what’s the buzz (had to do it) about manuka honey and why the heck would you put it on your face?!?
Manuka honey comes from the Australia/New Zealand area from the nectar of a manuka tree. It doesn’t taste that great like typical honey, but it has some pretty amazing benefits for your skin.
Benefits of Raw Manuka Honey for Skincare
It’s antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. In fact, manuka contains up to 100x more methylglyoxal (MG, the antibacterial property) than regular honey. So if you are struggling with breakouts, this WILL help. It has wound-healing properties, too.
I use it mainly to help heal acne scars and redness on my face. Manuka honey also helps boost collagen production. So yay, better aging gracefully! It’s a natural humectant and draws moisture to the skin and keeps it hydrated. So sometimes I even like to mix manuka with powdered face masks so I don’t have that tight/dry feeling. What can’t manuka do, honestly? #ManukaHoneyForPresident
Related blog post: My Skin Story: How I Naturally Cleared My Acne (+ a FREE Checklist & Face Mapping Guide)
If you want to read more about the science behind it, this post does a great job. The skincare benefits in a nutshell:
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Anti-inflammatory
- Heals wounds and scarring
- Draws moisture to the skin
- Boosts collagen production
- Fights breakouts
- Also helpful for relieving eczema or dry skin
Truly, if I had to only use one skincare mask for the rest of my life, it would be manuka! I swear by it. My skin looks SO good after consistent masking, but it also FEELS so good! I cannot recommend it enough.
This post contains affiliate links.
How to Do a Manuka Honey Face Mask at Home!
How to use it: After washing your face (don’t dry it off), take a dab of honey (about a teaspoon) and spread it around your face (not in your eyes, and watch your hair, it is sticky obviously). If it isn’t spreading well enough, get your fingers a tiny bit wetter. It should not be dripping off your face. Leave it on for about an hour, then rinse off. That’s it!
Sometimes I add a few pinches of turmeric into the mix. Yes, it will make your face super yellow and likely stain your hands and fingernails for a day or two. But #worthit. Turmeric is also super anti-inflammatory and will aid the skin healing process.
How Often Can I Use Manuka as a Mask?
I do this about 4-5 times a week and have noticed definite improvements in my skin and some scarring has gone away (I actually have the honey on my face right now as I’m writing this…). It’s gentle and you can use it daily, though!
Buy My Favorite Manuka Honey Here
What one of my readers Michele has to say about it:
I tried a manuka face mask and it has been such an improvement on my hormonal acne. I was trying everything I could including expensive facials once a month. Now I don’t even think I need them! I’m so, so grateful for your post.
How to Cleanse with Manuka Honey
As an added bonus, manuka also makes a lovely facial cleanser! It’s not ideal for removing makeup, so I suggest an oil cleanser to do that. But, if you’re looking for a gentle cleanse that won’t dry out your skin, it’s perfect! Just splash with some lukewarm or cold water and lightly massage about a teaspoon of honey around your face, then rinse it off.
I especially love to just use manuka as a morning cleanse because I don’t feel like my skin needs a powerful oil cleanse. But you do you!
What Brand of Manuka Is Best & Most Pure?
There are a lot of manuka brands on the market, but not all are created equal. The better quality manuka you use, the better results you will see. When buying manuka, there are a few things you want to look for:
- At least UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) 10+. The UMF certification means it’s legit, independently tested, and has the beneficial properties. NOTE: This is different than Wedderspoon’s KFactor which just measures purity, not the antibacterial properties.
- Packed and labeled in New Zealand
- Raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized to preserve the goodness (pasteurization destroys the beneficial enzymes)
Make sure it isn’t the “bear” honey you buy at the store that is full of corn syrup and sugar – that will probably make your skin worse. Eek! And avoid blends that only contain a partial amount of manuka. Here are some brands that I use and trust:
Happy Valley Manuka Honey UMF15+
Manuka is not a cheap product, BUT you only need a tiny bit at a time and the jar literally lasts forever! (usually at least a year for me)
Try Honey Tapping to Remove Dead Skin
Pro tip: Have you tried honey tapping? While you have the honey on your face, gently tap around with your fingers until it becomes slightly dry and sticky. I like to focus on my forehead, chin, and nose. The stickiness gently removes dead skin cells and it just feels so good. I totally love how the pores on my nose seem more clear after tapping, too!
Btw, my friend Nadia from Body Unburdened also has some awesome recipes on her blog, check out The Ultimate Guide to DIY Face Masks for Acne: Everything You Need to Know!
Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!
I bought the honey you attached here, Ive ised this 2 nights in a row now and notice a tremendous difference in my skin! Thanks so much for this suggestion!
Wow that’s awesome! thanks for sharing!
I love manila honey as well, but thank you for the tip to do it 5 times a week for an hour I will definitely be giving that a try!!
Awesome, let me know how it goes!
Could I just use organic honey?
You can, there are still lots of benefits, but manuka contains up to 100x more methylglyoxal (MG, the antibacterial property) than regular honey so it’s more powerful!
Very nice! Manuka honey is such ingredient which helps to improve skin condition and provide a supple, smooth skin. I like this article so much. Thanks and keep sharing.
Hi Becca!
How long since starting did you see improvement in your acne? Did you experience any initial purging? Much thanks!
It took me a while because I couldn’t figure out what was causing it and I was trying things that didn’t work but I’d say it was a couple of months to get it under control!