Is honey the new wonder ingredient for skincare?
Honey for the longest time has been used in skincare DIYs for the numerous benefits it serves . These days DIYs can be a little tricky because you need to have good quality honey to reap its full benefits. In place of that, it's better to use well-formulated and trusted skincare products that contain honey. First let us understand what are the benefits of honey for your skin. If you want to go the DIY route, raw, unpasteurised honey has the most potential for topical application on skin. Let's read the benefits of honey.
Benefits of Honey for skin?
1. Acne, eczema & psoriasis
Honey has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and healing properties thus, making it extremely effective for acne, auto-immune diseases like psoriasis and eczema. Raw honey helps balance out the bacteria on the skin, making it a great ingredient to keep acne at bay.
It helps get rid of excess oil from the face and helps unclog pores, leading to decreased acne and breakouts.
Sublime recommends One Thing Propolis + Honey Extract An ultra-nourishing toner that soothes, protects and moisturises skin. It also helps provide care to acne-prone skin and calms breakouts.
2. Skin brightening
Honey acts as a natural skin exfoliant, thereby getting rid of excess dead skin cells that make skin look dull. Honey helps clear the dead skin cells and makes the skin appear brighter and smoother.
3. Fades scars
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties which helps heal the acne scars faster by reducing the inflammation caused by acne. It also is a good antioxidant that further helps the healing process.
4. Heals skin burns
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties that help heal sunburns and calm the skin down. It heals and repairs the damaged tissue efficiently, thus healing the skin burn.
5. Hydrates the skin
Honey is a great humectant, it brings in moisture from the air to the skin and helps heal the skin. Everytime we use a honey based mask, our skin feels deeply moisturised and soft. Honey also gives a warm feeling to the skin - that’s your skin healing!
You can go for See Love Daily Love Hydration Cream
6. Anti-ageing properties
The antioxidant properties help with signs of ageing, along with that, well-hydrated and moisturised skin appears youthful and shows delayed signs of ageing.
Sublime recommends Hemis Honey, Vanilla & Hemp Oil Day Cream A moisturising and soothing honey rich cream that’s magic for your skincare routine.
7. Acts as a moisturiser
Honey is often found as a base ingredient for almost every beauty product because it deeply moisturises the skin from deep within. Honey is able to condition and soften your skin as it penetrates deeply due to the enzymes present.
We recommend: Swisse Manuka Honey Glow Boosting Moisturiser With Vitamin C + Grape Seed Oil
8. Natural exfoliant
Honey has the ability to gently exfoliate the skin without damaging the barrier, this leads to reduced blackheads, whiteheads, and acne. It works well for people with sensitive skin types.
We recommend Dr. Organic Manukah Honey Face Scrub A deep exfoliating and cleansing scrub with natural skin restoring properties. This honey rich scrub replenishes skin and adds radiant, youthful glow.
You can also get smooth, baby-soft lips that do not crack or chip during any season. We recommend FOY Naturals Honey Cinnamon Lip Scrub
How should you include honey in your routine?
If you’re someone that is big on DIY, you can use raw, unpasteurised honey for your face. You can also include manuka honey for your skincare. Any other kind of honey may be harmful, and do more harm than good.
If you’re incorporating honey, always patch test. Apply some of the honey based product on your jawline or behind the ear and leave it for 10-15 mins, if there’s no irritation, you can proceed with caution. If you face irritation, wash it off and apply some calming product like aloe vera gel or cica-based product.
When looking for the right skincare order with honey, if it’s a mask, apply it on a well-washed face. Once the mask dries, wash it off and follow it up with a moisturiser.
If you’re using a honey moisturiser, use it as the last step in your routine.
What skin types can use honey?
Most skin types can use honey as it has healing and moisturising properties. How you use honey will vary as per your skin type.
Dry/Normal skin can use it as a deep moisturising mask or as a moisturiser.
Combo/oily skin can use it as a spot treatment for the concerned areas, including it in a light-weight gel honey moisturiser.
Things to keep in mind while using honey
1. Always patch test
When including new ingredients and types of product into your skin, it's best if you patch test it first to understand its effect on your skin.
2. The right type of honey
Make sure to use manuka honey or raw, unpasteurised honey for your skin
3. Do not keep it on for too long
Honey has slight stickiness to it and may cause certain skin reactions if left on too long
What type of honey should you include?
When looking for what kind of honey to incorporate - alway use raw honey for acne, eczema, psoriasis. There can be quite a few advantages of honey when used in the right way and form.
Manuka honey is also a great alternative for skin. To be safe, use pre-formulated skincare products that have honey in them, let us look at a few product recommendations from the website.
The correct skincare order here would be face wash> mask (1-2 times a week)> lip scrub> toner > moisturiser
Thus, honey can be a perfect natural ingredient to add into your skincare routine. Other than its sweet indulging nutrient, it’s good for all the benefits we’ve mentioned! It is one of the finest skincare products ensuring that your beauty regime is complete and delightful.
If you’ve any questions on honey, do leave us a comment below and we’ll be happy to get back to you!
- Grisha Gupta
