by Amanda Beisel 

Manuka honey was a super-powered discovery for me in 2017. I’d been familiar with Manuka Honey but really formed a loving relationship with it last June. At first, I added it to my matcha latte to add a little sweetness and before long I was layering it on my face to help with breakouts.  

Manuka honey comes from New Zealand. Made by bees that pollinate the manuka bush, it’s the most powerful and healing honey in existence and has a nearly endless list of healing benefits. 

Heal Breakouts and Soothe Eczema

Manuka honey has a pH of around 4.5 which helps lower the skin pH, keeping it optimally acidic. Alkalinity makes the skin dry and prone to eczema and other skin disorders. The antibacterial and antifungal action of manuka honey helps to control the microbial overload in the skin pores,which prevents acne.

Apply manuka honey to your face in a thin layer and work it in with your fingertips. Cover your face with a wet towel soaked in warm water and then wrung out. This helps the honey to penetrate the skin more deeply and allows it to hydrate the skin by drawing in water and acting as a humectant. Wash your face and apply moisturiser.

Heal cuts and burns

Honey has long been used for treating cuts and burns, but manuka honey is exceptionally good healer because it is more highly microbial than ordinary honey. Honey’s mechanism of action is multipronged. On contact with water and body fluids, its hydrogen peroxide reacts by releasing oxygen and disinfecting the wound. Its hygroscopic nature draws out water and pus from the wounds, making it impossible for microbes to survive. Thanks to its magnesium oxide content, manuka honey can effectively fight harmful pathogens, while triggering cytokine production, accelerating body’s own defense mechanisms.

Support Youthful Skin

Manuka honey’s antioxidant content can provide protection against tissue damage by neutralizing free radicals.  A manuka honey mask can exfoliate the skin and keep it healthy. Manuka honey may also act as a natural moisturizer that can improve skin hydration, since it can absorb moisture from the air and draw it into the skin. It possesses skin pH balancing, softening and brightening effects that’ll help your skin achieve a nice glow.

What to Look For When Buying Manuka Honey

Look for the United Manuka Factor Honey Association(UMF) label. The organization measures the amount of non-peroxide activity (NPA) in the honey and audits producers regularly. A higher number on the label means that the honey is more pure and active

Remember if the honey you’re buying is inexpensive, it’s not manuka honey.Once the sticker shock wears off and you have a chance to explore the amazing benefits of manuka honey, you’ll be glad you made the investment.