...well hello there!
I swear I didn't forget about this and had the best intentions to continue posting here. It's been over a year since I last posted here, so, you're all definitely do a bit of an update and that will be coming! For now, I wanted to share some of my favorite honey related skincare items.
Honey has been used for thousands of years as a skincare treatment and there is no wonder why -- it's a natural humectant (meaning it helps to bind moisture to the skin), it helps to aid healing skin (a great thing to put on a minor burn), and honey is a natural anti-bacterial agent helping it to treat and prevent acne (certain types of honey are more potent in this aspect than others). There are plenty of other benefits to honey that a simple google search can pull up as well, but I want to shout out a few of my favorite manufactured items first:
Farmacy Honey Savior ($34 for 1.6oz available at Sephora.com)
Honey Savior is one of those products that starts out as something I didn't think I needed really but quickly has become a staple in my arsenal. It's a balm that's castor oil based that also contains Propolis and Royal Jelly along with a small amount of honey. I first started using this amazing salve as a lip balm or a cuticle cream, however, I've started using it to tame fly aways in my hair, as a brow gel, on any areas of skin irritation (it works amazing for razor burn), on a blemish post-extraction or when it's a bit dry and flaking during the healing process, and the list could go on and on. I'm probably going to be picking up a second tube to keep one in my bathroom and one in my bag as I need this in both places.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Linoleic Polyglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Honey Extract, Canola Oil, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beeswax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Honey, Flavor.
Swisse Manuka Honey Detoxifying Facial Mask with Charcoal and Kaolin Clay ($17.99AUD/~$13.99USD available at Priceline.com.au or you can try eBay here if you're outside of Australia)
Apologies to my non-Australian readers, but this gem isn't available outside of Australia/NZ other than on eBay unless you're a better hunter than I am! I picked this up on trip to Australia earlier this year for my honeymoon and immediately regretted not picking up more during my visit (Priceline had Swisse Skincare half off at the time too!). Last week I was back in Australia for a wedding and immediately stocked up with what feels like a year supply...or close. This mask offers the benefit of oil and gunk absorbing charcoal, kaolin clay, and tapioca starch in an aloe base and never dries out the skin, which is probably due to the aloe, manuka honey (which I'll touch on the difference below), glycerin, and oatmeal. The ingredient list looks like an expensive, luxurious mask but the price point is that of something very accessible. I think for those of you who are fans of Glamglow SuperMud (Or for those of you who find the peppermint/exfoliation in SuperMud too strong) would love this gem.
Ingredients: Aqueous Extract of Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf, Kaolin, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (White Clay), Charcoal Powder, Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract, Honey (Mel)*, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract (Seaweed), Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil (Balsam of Peru), Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan (Irish Moss), Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol. *Manuka.
COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule ($28 for .68oz available at Ulta.com)
With K-Beauty being all the rage at the moment (rightfully so), ULTA has started carrying a small selection of COSRX products online -- the makers of my favorite Acne Pimple Master Patch. I picked up three or four items a few months ago online when ULTA was running 5x points for Platinum Members and this was one of them. Upon arrival, I shelved it in favor of other products but after falling in love with Honey Savior a few weeks ago, I pulled it out and started using almost four weeks ago and haven't turned back. COSRX is known for their minimal ingredient lists that only contain exactly what you need. This is a base of Propolis Extract with a couple of other ingredients to help hydrate and nothing else. Ampoule may be confusing to those not into K-Beauty, but think of them as a concentrated serum, so, get rid of the water/silicone and instead load it up in exactly what you want. I use about 3-4 drops on damp skin right after cleansing or chemical exfoliation prior to my B-Hydra from Drunk Elephant. I've noticed my skin is less red, any spots I get have been healing quicker, and my skin is more plump without any greasiness. I'd highly recommend this for all skintypes, but oily/acne-prone skin that is prone to dehydration would love this.
Ingredients: Propolis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine.
Miellerie Unheated Honey in Tea Tree (Manuka) (Here is their website if you'd like to check them out) -- Not available outside of Australia, but really any brand of Manuka of your choice with some exceptions (See below)
Pure Manuka honey is a godsend. Manuka honey is honey that mostly comes from bees that forage the manuka/tea tree bush. Tea Tree is prized for being a great antibacterial ingredient, so, imagine mixing that with honey that is already very beneficial for the skin -- tada, you have Manuka honey. I use this a couple of ways but there are endless ways to use it. I love mixing a bit into my balm/milky cleansing in my palm if my skin is acting up (note that I don't use it over my eyes when I do, so, use at your own risk), by itself as a hydrating/soothing mask, and on spots that I'm tempted to pick (Nothing worse than having a sticky finger), and plenty more. Shopping for Manuka honey can be difficult as the cost and quality can fluctuate so much pending where you live and the manufacturer. Below is some info that may be able to help you shop:
-- Check for a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) or MGO (Methylglyoxal) rating on your honey. If it doesn't have one, don't buy it. These are two ways to tell the purity or strength of your honey. I wouldn't buy Manuka honey unless the UMF rating was at least 10+ (anything else isn't considered active) or MGO of at least 100.
-- Non-Makuka honey is still beneficial to the skin, just check your ingredients to make sure you're using something that is actually just honey (No added dyes, flavors, or fluff ingredients). Manuka is the preferred honey for those looking for the extra antibacterial benefit.
-- Manuka honey has a long shelf-life when not expose to heat (bathroom storage for skincare purposes may not be ideal), but I'd still recommend decanting into a smaller container if you intend on using regularly that way you don't have to dip into your giant tub regularly (I have a small 1oz jar I refill).
I feel like I could continue talking all things honey, but maybe this is more for a YouTube Live? Let me know if you'd like to talk all things honey with me at some point!
**Some links may be affiliate links. This implies that I will receive a small commission if you chose to shop through those links.
Honey has been used for thousands of years as a skincare treatment and there is no wonder why -- it's a natural humectant (meaning it helps to bind moisture to the skin), it helps to aid healing skin (a great thing to put on a minor burn), and honey is a natural anti-bacterial agent helping it to treat and prevent acne (certain types of honey are more potent in this aspect than others). There are plenty of other benefits to honey that a simple google search can pull up as well, but I want to shout out a few of my favorite manufactured items first:
Farmacy Honey Savior ($34 for 1.6oz available at Sephora.com)
Honey Savior is one of those products that starts out as something I didn't think I needed really but quickly has become a staple in my arsenal. It's a balm that's castor oil based that also contains Propolis and Royal Jelly along with a small amount of honey. I first started using this amazing salve as a lip balm or a cuticle cream, however, I've started using it to tame fly aways in my hair, as a brow gel, on any areas of skin irritation (it works amazing for razor burn), on a blemish post-extraction or when it's a bit dry and flaking during the healing process, and the list could go on and on. I'm probably going to be picking up a second tube to keep one in my bathroom and one in my bag as I need this in both places.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Linoleic Polyglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Honey Extract, Canola Oil, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beeswax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Honey, Flavor.
Swisse Manuka Honey Detoxifying Facial Mask with Charcoal and Kaolin Clay ($17.99AUD/~$13.99USD available at Priceline.com.au or you can try eBay here if you're outside of Australia)
Apologies to my non-Australian readers, but this gem isn't available outside of Australia/NZ other than on eBay unless you're a better hunter than I am! I picked this up on trip to Australia earlier this year for my honeymoon and immediately regretted not picking up more during my visit (Priceline had Swisse Skincare half off at the time too!). Last week I was back in Australia for a wedding and immediately stocked up with what feels like a year supply...or close. This mask offers the benefit of oil and gunk absorbing charcoal, kaolin clay, and tapioca starch in an aloe base and never dries out the skin, which is probably due to the aloe, manuka honey (which I'll touch on the difference below), glycerin, and oatmeal. The ingredient list looks like an expensive, luxurious mask but the price point is that of something very accessible. I think for those of you who are fans of Glamglow SuperMud (Or for those of you who find the peppermint/exfoliation in SuperMud too strong) would love this gem.
Ingredients: Aqueous Extract of Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf, Kaolin, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (White Clay), Charcoal Powder, Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract, Honey (Mel)*, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract (Seaweed), Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil (Balsam of Peru), Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan (Irish Moss), Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol. *Manuka.
COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule ($28 for .68oz available at Ulta.com)
With K-Beauty being all the rage at the moment (rightfully so), ULTA has started carrying a small selection of COSRX products online -- the makers of my favorite Acne Pimple Master Patch. I picked up three or four items a few months ago online when ULTA was running 5x points for Platinum Members and this was one of them. Upon arrival, I shelved it in favor of other products but after falling in love with Honey Savior a few weeks ago, I pulled it out and started using almost four weeks ago and haven't turned back. COSRX is known for their minimal ingredient lists that only contain exactly what you need. This is a base of Propolis Extract with a couple of other ingredients to help hydrate and nothing else. Ampoule may be confusing to those not into K-Beauty, but think of them as a concentrated serum, so, get rid of the water/silicone and instead load it up in exactly what you want. I use about 3-4 drops on damp skin right after cleansing or chemical exfoliation prior to my B-Hydra from Drunk Elephant. I've noticed my skin is less red, any spots I get have been healing quicker, and my skin is more plump without any greasiness. I'd highly recommend this for all skintypes, but oily/acne-prone skin that is prone to dehydration would love this.
Ingredients: Propolis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine.
Miellerie Unheated Honey in Tea Tree (Manuka) (Here is their website if you'd like to check them out) -- Not available outside of Australia, but really any brand of Manuka of your choice with some exceptions (See below)
Pure Manuka honey is a godsend. Manuka honey is honey that mostly comes from bees that forage the manuka/tea tree bush. Tea Tree is prized for being a great antibacterial ingredient, so, imagine mixing that with honey that is already very beneficial for the skin -- tada, you have Manuka honey. I use this a couple of ways but there are endless ways to use it. I love mixing a bit into my balm/milky cleansing in my palm if my skin is acting up (note that I don't use it over my eyes when I do, so, use at your own risk), by itself as a hydrating/soothing mask, and on spots that I'm tempted to pick (Nothing worse than having a sticky finger), and plenty more. Shopping for Manuka honey can be difficult as the cost and quality can fluctuate so much pending where you live and the manufacturer. Below is some info that may be able to help you shop:
-- Check for a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) or MGO (Methylglyoxal) rating on your honey. If it doesn't have one, don't buy it. These are two ways to tell the purity or strength of your honey. I wouldn't buy Manuka honey unless the UMF rating was at least 10+ (anything else isn't considered active) or MGO of at least 100.
-- Non-Makuka honey is still beneficial to the skin, just check your ingredients to make sure you're using something that is actually just honey (No added dyes, flavors, or fluff ingredients). Manuka is the preferred honey for those looking for the extra antibacterial benefit.
-- Manuka honey has a long shelf-life when not expose to heat (bathroom storage for skincare purposes may not be ideal), but I'd still recommend decanting into a smaller container if you intend on using regularly that way you don't have to dip into your giant tub regularly (I have a small 1oz jar I refill).
I feel like I could continue talking all things honey, but maybe this is more for a YouTube Live? Let me know if you'd like to talk all things honey with me at some point!
**Some links may be affiliate links. This implies that I will receive a small commission if you chose to shop through those links.
