Is honey good for our skin?

Written by Eva De Angelis

Honey, we all know it, and probably we all love it for its sweet taste.

Bees produce honey from the pollen they collect from flowers through a complex mechanism involving enzyme activity.

The result is a sticky substance that contains mainly fructose and glucose, but also traces amounts of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, remaining plant matter as well as live bacteria from the bee’s saliva; all of this comes together to form a powerful food and ingredient with hundreds of practical uses, not just for eating straight out of the jar.

This one-of-a-kind process creates a product that is very valuable for the cosmetic industry and it's found in several skin care products, including those used in the treatment of seborrhea, dandruff, and psoriasis, clearing acne, healing scars, and evening out skin tone.

Natural raw honey it's full of flavonoids, hydrogen peroxide, and phenolic acid with several positive dermal benefits, so it's the best option for direct application on the skin, and you most definitely want to have either pure honey or good quality product made with natural unpasteurized honey, to take good care of your skin.

When it comes to the wide variety of skin care products, hone gives an excellent emollient, humectant, and soothing effects, helping to maintain our skin young and terse and slowing down the wrinkle formation. In addition, thanks to its natural acidity, honey is great for preventing infections by pathogens.

Usually, honey content in skin care products can go from as little as 1% up to 10%, but in some particular cases, mixing it with oils and emulsifiers, concentrations up to 70% can be reached, creating an excellent moisturizer for dry skin.

 

Uses of honey for skin care:

Acne treatment:

Acne affects millions of people everywhere and several million seek treatment for it each year. So, go for natural raw honey or honey products if you're looking for alternative treatments.

Due to its antifungal and antimicrobial properties, honey from all over the world can be used as a cleanser to help prevent certain types of acne breakouts.

Exfoliating agent:

Honey is quite smooth, even though it is made mainly out of sugar, you won't find big sugar crystals, not even in the rawer and natural varieties. This makes honey a great exfoliating agent and cleanser, for both face and body, since is more gentle than the synthetic ones

Pore cleanser:

Since honey is filled with natural antibacterial components, it works as a perfect ingredient for face wash. It will not only remove dirt and debris but will protect your skin from possible harmful bacteria.

Moisturizing and scar prevention:

Natural honey is a perfect moisturizer, helping you to keep your skin soft and healthy.  Since it's also a natural antiseptic and it's rich in antioxidants, this will minimize any inflammation, helping repair damaged skin faster while preventing scarring.

If you need a homemade moisturizer you just have to combine the same amount of raw honey as coconut or olive oil, mix well, apply directly on the affected area, and massage gently with your fingers.

Sunburn treatment:

If you need a homemade sunburn remedy, go for honey. Thanks to its antimicrobial anti-inflammatory properties, honey can help your skin to heal faster after dangerous sun exposure. Mixing raw honey with aloe vera gel, in a 1 to 2 proportion, is a great way to go.

Precautions and possible side effects

People who have a known allergy to honey, pollen, or bees should avoid applying honey topically.

If you're not sure whether honey will work for you, do a patch test: apply a very small amount of honey to a small area of the skin, and wait for a minimum of 20 minutes. If after this time, you don't see any irritation on the skin, then it's safe to use honey on larger areas. If not, then you might be allergic to honey.