Honey is one of the best natural treatments for acne and dry or oily skin, making it appropriate for use on all types of skin. Honey can help scars to fade and even out your skin tone on your face.
The best type of honey to use on your face is raw, unpasteurized honey, because its antibacterial and antioxidant properties remain intact when it is not processed at high temperatures or filtered extensively.
You can put honey directly on your face as a sort of face mask, and leave it on for about ten minutes, or you can use products that include honey as an ingredient to take advantage of its many benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Putting Honey on Your Face?
There are many benefits of putting honey on your face. Honey can be used to control Candida yeast overgrowth on your face, heal eczema and psoriasis, and treat and prevent acne. Honey is also a natural exfoliator, meaning that it removes dead skin from your face and allows the new skin to shine through.
Treats Acne
Raw honey has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, meaning that it can help balance the bacteria on your skin and keep your skin healthy. Acne is often caused by an imbalance of skin bacteria, especially an overgrowth of certain genetic types of Propionibacterium acnes. Raw honey can help to reduce the levels of these bacteria and therefore can be an effective treatment for acne. Honey can be used as a face mask or as spot treatment for acne.
Heals Eczema and Psoriasis
Honey can also help to heal skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. While both conditions cause itchy, red rashes on the skin, eczema is caused by an overreaction of the immune system to irritants, while psoriasis is caused by an overgrowth of skin cells.
While the studies on honey as a treatment for eczema and psoriasis have mostly had fairly small sample sizes, they do indicate that honey can help with eczema and psoriasis by speeding your skin’s healing process.
In the study on honey for psoriasis, the honey was found to be about as effective as aqueous cream BP, a cream that is commonly used to treat psoriasis. In the study on honey for eczema, it was found that manuka honey specifically has the potential to heal the rashes that are common with eczema, and reduce bacterial infection at the site of the rash.
Stimulates Collagen Production
Honey also has some anti-aging properties, mostly due to the fact that it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. As we age, we lose collagen and elastin, which are proteins that help keep our skin firm and plump. This is what causes wrinkling and sagging during the aging process.
Honey contains gluconic acid, which increases the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, meaning fewer wrinkles develop and skin sags less. This gives honey its anti-aging properties.
Balances Skin Moisture
Honey is an excellent moisturizer for the skin, and it works without making the skin feel oily or greasy. Honey is a humectant, which is a substance that absorbs moisture from the skin. Honey can absorb moisture from oily, greasy skin, leaving it moisturized but not oily. Honey can also help to moisturize dry skin, meaning that it is an excellent skin care product for any skin type.
Helps Scars Fade
Honey also has properties that helps scars to fade. Honey contains a compound that breaks down and produces hydrogen peroxide, which works as a gentle bleaching agent. This can help to fade dark scars by gently lightening the skin. Honey can be applied directly on scars and left there for any amount of time to help them fade.
Exfoliates the Skin
Honey is an excellent exfoliator, meaning that it removes the top layer of dead skin on your face and reveals the brand new skin underneath. Honey is gentler than many commercial exfoliators, making it an excellent choice for face masks and exfoliating products.
Helps Heal Herpes Outbreaks
If you have symptoms of one of the two herpes simplex viruses, you know how uncomfortable it is to have cold sores on your lips and face. Luckily, honey is also an excellent treatment for herpes, and can reduce the length and pain level of herpes outbreaks. According to the linked study, honey is actually a better treatment for herpes than acyclovir, a commonly prescribed herpes medication. Honey can be used as a spot treatment for herpes sores, helping them heal and be less painful.
How Do You Apply Honey to Your Face?
There are many ways to apply honey to your face, but the simplest is to just take your raw honey and use it as a face mask. However, you can also purchase products that contain raw honey to reap the benefits of honey for your face.
Raw Honey Mask
The easiest and simplest way to use honey on your face is simply to use it as a face mask. To do this, just take your raw honey and apply it to your entire face as you would a face mask. If it is too sticky, you can mix it with a small amount of water to make it easier to move around. Then, leave the honey to dry on your face for about ten minutes before washing it off.
Products That Contain Honey
You can also use products that contain honey to help with your skincare routine. Probably the best kind of honey to look for as an ingredient is Manuka honey, but any raw honey will do. You can purchase exfoliating creams, face wash, and face masks that contain any kind of honey and use them on your skin as directed.
What Kind of Honey Should You Use on Your Face?
When using honey to help with skin conditions such as acne or eczema, it is essential that you use raw, unpasteurized honey. If you use highly processed honey, it will not contain the same antioxidant and antibacterial properties that raw honey does, and it will not have the same effects.
Additionally, there are some types of honey that are especially good for facial applications. These include Manuka honey, Buckwheat honey, and Thyme honey. Manuka honey is slightly less moisturizing than Buckwheat and Thyme honey, but because it comes from the flowers of tea tree bushes, it is incredibly good for the skin. If you are looking for a cheaper, more moisturizing option, Buckwheat or Thyme honey are excellent options.
How Long Can You Leave Honey on Your Face?
You can leave honey on your face as long as you would like to. It will not cause any damage to your skin, and the worst case scenario is simply that you will be pretty sticky for as long as it is on your face. Typically, using honey as a face masks for ten minutes once or twice a day is enough to help with most skin conditions.
What Happens if You Put Honey on Your Face Every Day?
Nothing bad will happen if you put honey on your face every day. Honey is excellent for the skin for many reasons. It stimulates collagen production, fades scars, and helps reduce acne. If you put honey on your face every day, you will simply experience the many benefits of honey for your skin.
Can Honey Damage Your Face?
Honey will not cause damage to your face. While it may make you feel pretty sticky while it is on your skin, there is nothing in honey that will damage your skin, dry it out, or make it more greasy. Honey is antibacterial and antimicrobial, meaning that it prevents damage rather than causing it. Honey is an excellent product to use on any skin type.
