Manuka Honey for Skincare: Science-Backed Benefits You Need to Know
Manuka honey is well-liked in the wellness and beauty community for many reasons. It is different from regular honey because it contains naturally occurring antibacterial compounds. These compounds make it great for wound healing, digestive health, and immune health. And it is antioxidant-rich! Truly an esthetician’s dream.
Manuka honey is derived from the nectar of the Mānuka tea tree and must pass specific guidelines before being sold, making it a very special type of honey. This medicinal honey is used internally and externally for its various health and beauty benefits; today, I’m focusing on its external skincare benefits.
scrub me secret: Manuka honey has UMF or MGO ratings, and some honeys will have both. An MGO rating tells you the levels of MGO in the honey. Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a naturally occurring compound only found in Manuka honey with potent antibacterial properties. UMF stands for unique manuka factor. UMF is a grading system from New Zealand used to certify the authenticity and quality of Manuka honey.
Manuka Honey Skincare Benefits: What Science Says
Since mauka honey has special, potent antibacterial properties, it is particularly helpful for healing scarring, blemishes, scabs, and other superficial wounds like cuts and scrapes. Medical studies have shown that manuka honey is effective for wound healing because it proved to promote the growth of tissues for wound repair, suppresses inflammation, and helps the body heal itself.
What Is UMF/MGO? Choosing the Best Manuka Honey for Skin
I touched upon the UMF and MGO ratings briefly above. Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) is a grading system that lets us know the quality and authenticity of the manuka honey we purchase. Because we use manuka honey for its special antibacterial and antioxidant properties, we want to make sure we get great quality from trusted sources. An MGO rating will tell us the levels of Methylglyoxal in the honey, which is the naturally occurring antibacterial component.
MGO rating range from 30+ to 1500+ with 1500+ being the most potent. Manuka honey with an MGO rating above 1200+ is rare and harder to find. An MGO rating of 850+ has the right levels for wound healing and skincare and is more readily available. UMF ratings range from 5+ to 20+. These ratings speak to the quality of your manuka honey: generally, honeys with a higher UMF rating have higher levels of MGO. I recommend a manuka honey with a 20+ UMF rating for skincare use.
Now you can speak about manuka honey like a true expert! 💡
scrub me secret: So which is better when shopping for manuka honey? A UMF rating, AN MGO rating, or both? UMF ratings speak to the quality and authenticity of the honey, while MGO ratings tell you more straightforwardly the levels of Methylglyoxal in your honey. if your honey doesn’t have a UMF and MGO rating, I would feel better choosing one with an MGO listed. Remember, 850+ for skincare benefits.
Manuka Honey for Skin - How to Use It
These are brands of manuka honey that I suggest using for skin ⤵️
Manukora (Get the 850+ honey)
Wedderspoon (Get the 850+ honey)
Activist (Get the manuka honey mask)
Manuka Health (Found at Costco!)
How to use manuka honey to treat your skin ⤵️
Add a teaspoon or 2 of manuka honey to your favorite hydrating mask!
Add it to your favorite hydrating mask
Apply it to your clean skin as a healing & anti-aging mask
Apply it to areas with blemishes
Apply it to small cuts or scrapes
Use it as a lip mask
DIY Manuka Honey Face Mask Recipe for Radiant Skin
This is my favorite mask to mix up using manuka honey. It’s simple, uses clean ingredients, and yields great results! The oats (or chamomile if you choose) are calming and help take away redness, and the manuka honey is antioxidant-rich, deeply healing, and gives your skin a radiant glow.
Apply this mask to clean skin all over your face and neck. Let it sit on your skin for 10-30 minutes
2 TBS Manuka Honey
1 TBS Ground Oats - Use Ground Chamomile Tea if You Have an Oat Allergy
1 TBS Purified Water
Mix your ingredients in a dish until they are blended well. I like to apply this mask to my skin with clean fingertips
FAQs
Can you use Manuka honey on acne?
Yes! Manuka honey is helpful for healing acne. You can apply it as a healing mask and skin clearing to your skin after cleansing.
Is Manuka honey better than regular honey for my skin?
Yes, because Manuka honey is rich with Methylglyoxal, a natural antibacterial, it has more skin benefits vs. regular honey.
What’s the best UMF/MGO rating for skincare?
850+ MGO rating and/or a 20+ UMF rating is what I suggest for the Manuka honey you apply to your skin.
Does Manuka honey help with eczema or psoriasis?
Manuka honey can help soften and heal skin, reducing redness or texture caused by eczema and psoriasis, but more studies and research need to be done to fully support claims.
Can Manuka honey lighten dark spots or scars?
Manuka honey cannot fade hyperpigmentation spots, but it can help heal new scarring so that pigment doesn’t set in.
Should I wash my face before or after applying Manuka honey?
Wash your face before applying Manuka honey, and remove the honey with lukewarm water and a clean cloth after masking.
Can Manuka honey replace my moisturizer?
Manuka honey has amazing antioxidant and healing properties, but it isn’t a proper replacement for a moisturizer.
Are there any side effects of using Manuka honey on my skin?
The only side effects would come from a specific honey or Manuka honey allergy. Always do a patch test on your skin before applying a new product to your full face to make sure you don’t react.
scrub me secret: Some people also like to ingest manuka honey by eating a spoonful daily. This is said to have benefits for your immune system and digestive system and has antioxidants that are helpful for total body health. I haven’t dived deeper into the world of ingesting manuka honey yet. Leave a comment if you want me to learn and write about that!
These are statements and suggestions from a licensed esthetician, not a medical professional.