Honey is a sweet, sticky substance produced by bees and stored in hives.
Honey is produced naturally by enzyme activity, plant matter, and live bacteria, resulting in a potent ingredient with hundreds of practical applications.
Honey's unique manufacturing process makes it particularly valuable for cosmetic applications such as acne treatment, scar healing, and skin tone evenness.
The most potential for topical application on the skin is raw, unpasteurized honey. Continue reading to learn how to apply honey to your face to benefit your skin.
Is Honey Good for Skin?
Yes, honey is good for the skin. Several studies indicate that honey has antimicrobial properties and is widely used as a topical skin treatment. Honey also has numerous cosmetic benefits. It is found in various face care products, including cleansing milk or gels, moisturisers, and lip balms.
Honey Benefits for Skin & Face
1. Helps Lighten Scars
You can use honey face masks if you want to fade your acne scars. According to studies, honey contains trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide and AHAs, aiding acne healing.
2. Calms Your Skin
Honey is one of the best natural ingredients for sensitive skin. If you have sensitive or irritated skin or are allergic to a product, applying honey to your skin can help to soothe it because it has healing properties.
3. Helps With Acne
You can apply honey to your skin if you have fungal acne on your body or face. According to studies, honey contains antifungal pinocembrin and lysozyme compounds.
Honey face masks can aid in the treatment of fungal acne. According to another study, hydrogen peroxide in honey has antimicrobial properties that help reduce acne and inflammation. It also aids in the unclogging of pores and the growth of new tissues.
4. Helps Reduce Pigmentation
Another intriguing benefit of honey on the face is that it can reduce pigmentation on the face caused by prolonged sun exposure. According to research, honey reduces skin damage caused by UV rays. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you can use honey face masks.
5. Moisturize Skin
Honey is one of the best ingredients to moisturise your face if you have dry or combination skin. Honey contains a high amount of fructose and glucose, making it a natural humectant, according to research. It keeps the skin hydrated by retaining water.
6. Exfoliation
According to research, honey contains lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates the dead cells on the surface and brightens the face.
7. Benefits of Applying Honey on Face
Raw honey contains skin-beneficial components, especially if you have acne or autoimmune skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Applying honey to your skin can help control Candida overgrowth.
Raw honey helps balance the bacteria on your skin, making it an excellent acne treatment. Manuka honey has been studied as an acne treatment and is far more effective than other popular options.
Honey hastens the healing processes of your skin cells. If you have blemishes or an eczema outbreak, unpasteurized honey may help to speed healing and reduce inflammation. Manuka honey is so effective at healing wounds quickly that it is now used in clinical settings by doctors.
Raw honey is also a natural exfoliator, which means applying it to your face removes dry, dull skin and reveals new skin cells underneath.
8. Benefits of Aloe Vera and Honey for Face
Aloe vera is a medicinal herb that is commonly found in homes. This watery plant is not only important for medicinal purposes, but it also contributes significantly to skincare products. Aloe vera can be found in almost everything, including soap, moisturiser, face wash, and wax. Sunburn can be treated with aloe vera's cooling properties. Applying aloe vera to our skin provides a protective layer and soothes it, allowing us to incorporate it into our skincare routine safely.
Homemade Honey Face Packs
1. Honey and Oatmeal Face Mask
According to research, oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help brighten the skin.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon ground oats
How to use it:
- Mix the ingredients well and apply them to your skin for 10-15 minutes
- Gently massage the face for half a minute to exfoliate
- Wash your face with cold water
2. Lemon Honey Face Pack
Lemon contains vitamin C and is a popular skin brightening agent. Honey and lemon juice masks can aid in the removal of dark spots and acne scars.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tablespoons of honey
- Few drops of lemon juice
- Rosewater (optional)
How to use it:
- Mix the ingredients well and apply them to your face
- Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and wash it off with cold water
- Don't use lemon juice on active acne or if you have sensitive skin
3. Coffee and Honey for Skin Whitening Mask
Honey and coffee are both popular natural skin brightening ingredients. They exfoliate as well as nourish the skin.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee
- 1-2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 tablespoon curd (optional)
How to use it:
- Mix the ingredients in a bowl. It will form a sticky paste
- Apply it to your skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes
- Gently scrub your face with your fingers for one minute
- Wash it off with cold water
4. Honey and Almond Face Mask
According to research, almonds are high in antioxidants, vitamin E, and fatty acids. It makes the skin glow.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tablespoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons of ground almonds
How to use it:
- Mix the ingredients to form a thick paste
- Apply it to your face for 15-20 minutes
- Wash it off with cold water and apply a moisturizer
Uses of Honey on the Skin & Face
Applying honey to your face is fairly simple, though there are different ways to do it.
1. Honey for Face Acne, Psoriasis, and Eczema
Honey can be used to treat chronic skin conditions as a paste, spot treatment, or as a face mask that you leave on for several minutes.
The most important thing to remember when treating these conditions with honey is to use unpasteurized honey, such as manuka honey.
To be effective, the honey must still contain its beneficial bacteria. This will boost your immune system, reduce inflammation and redness, and heal blemishes.
Mixing honey with other ingredients to make a soothing face mask treatment is one way to use honey for your face. Before you begin, perform a patch test on the honey and any other ingredients to ensure that you will not have an allergic reaction.
Raw honey and cinnamon are a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial combination.
Warm the mixture slightly in the microwave with three parts honey, and one part freshly ground or pure cinnamon ("true" cinnamon). Apply the mixture to your skin and leave it on for 8 to 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat your skin dry. If you are allergic to cinnamon, do not use it.
2. Honey for Skin Lightening and Brightening
Honey has exfoliating properties; using it on your face can remove dead skin cells that cause your skin to look dull. This can result in brighter skin.
Apply manuka honey or other unpasteurized, raw honey to your face after washing it with soap and water. Dilute the honey with purified water if desired to make it less sticky and easier to remove. Allow the honey to sit on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
3. Honey for Scar Fading
Honey aids in your body's healing process, which may help fade acne scars. You can use honey as a scar treatment by applying it as a paste at the site of your scarring every day or every other day.
You may also notice results if you incorporate honey face masks into your beauty routine, as described above. Remember that our knowledge of honey's healing abilities is limited and evolving. According to one study, honey may not be beneficial for scarring caused by burns and deep cuts.
Side Effects of Honey on Skin & Face
Most people are unlikely to develop an allergic reaction to honey. If you have any known allergies to any of these remedies, you should use honey with caution:
- pollen
- celery
- bee venom
Always test new products on a small area of your skin that’s minimally visible to see if you’re allergic.
Before going to bed, make sure you remove any honey from your face. If you leave honey on your face, it will attract dust and other debris, aggravating an active breakout.
Summing Up on Honey Benefits for Skin
Applying raw honey to your face can help treat acne, scarring, and dull or dry skin.
Raw honey is more expensive than other types of honey, but it is relatively inexpensive when compared to other facial skin cosmetics.
Researchers are investigating how honey can help your face look it's brightest and clearest. There's little reason not to try it as long as you don't have an allergy.
FAQs
Can We Apply Honey on Face Daily?
Does Honey Help Skin Glow?
Yes, Honey helps in skin glow. It has skin brightening properties and also lends a healthy moisturised glow to the face after usage.
Can I Apply Honey Directly on My Face?
Yes, you can apply honey directly to your face. Make sure you always do a patch test if you have allergies to pollen and celery.
Can Honey Remove Dark Spots?
Yes, Honey can remove dark spots. It helps get rid of dark spots and improves your skin's quality by making it soft and smooth. Honey helps in maintaining healthy skin and also has hydrating properties.
References
Silke K. Schagen, Vasiliki A. Zampeli, Evgenia Makrantonaki, July 2012; Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583891/
Tzu-Kai Lin, Lily Zhong, January 2018; Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
Bhattacharjee Rajsmita and Vinay Keshavamurthy, May 2019; Re-discovering Sandalwood: Beyond Beauty and Fragrance - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6536050/
Alexandra R. Vaughn, May 2016; Effects of Turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence: Effects of Curcuma longa on Skin Health - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303503087
Bruno Burlando, December 2013; Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
Pauline Mcloone, Afolabi Oluwadun, August 2016; Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305890170
