We all love a good DIY skincare product. When we think of DIY skincare, our minds immediately go to apple cider vinegar, coconut and olive oil, oatmeal (more here), and raw HONEY!
Honey is one of the most used ingredients when it comes to skincare. Gentle cleansers, oils, toners, moisturizers, lotions, hair serums – you get the point – all contain honey. But, why?
This natural by-product of bees has long been known for its healing properties. For years, it’s been used to treat different types of skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Honey is a humectant, meaning it hydrates and nourishes the skin to keep you looking young and healthy.
Really though, honey can provide a ton of health benefits, both inside the body and out. It is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and loaded with antioxidants. Plus, honey is literally a natural preservative for the skin. Bye-bye wrinkles and fine lines. Hello natural skin.
The benefits of honey are too many to ignore and if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that honey is an excellent cleanser. That’s why we’re dedicating this article to using honey as a FACIAL CLEANSER.
Alright, let’s turn this honey face wash into a spa day adventure! Forget boring routines, we’re going full-on golden goddess (or god!)! First things first, imagine you’re a bee, buzzing with excitement for some sweet honey washing! Grab your trusty teaspoon of honey – think of it as your magic potion for glowing skin.
Here’s our step-by-step guide for washing your face with honey and all the tips you need to maximize it’s amazing benefits:
How To Wash Your Face With Honey
Step 1: Choose your honey.
Be sure to choose the proper honey. When it comes to choosing honey, you want to pick one that’s all natural. All RAW, baby. No added ingredients. No preservatives. And no added sugars. You can almost always find an all natural honey at the grocery store, and definitely on Amazon.
You can use any organic honey on your face. We like this one but, for the best results, we recommend manuka honey. According to various studies, manuka honey is basically regular honey on steroids. Everything regular honey does, manuka honey does better. From cleansing all the way down to hydrating.
Step 2: Gently remove makeup with a natural oil or balm.
When washing with honey, there’s no need for a harsh cleanser. Grab a cotton ball and your favorite natural oil/balm and cleanse away the day’s makeup, dust, and dirt.
Not sure what type of oil or balm to use? Pick one that contains some naturally cleansing ingredients. Think jojoba oil, Vitamin E, pomegranate seed oil, sweet almond oil, and so on. Our absolute fave pre-honey cleanser is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. It’s a must-have in our book, which is why you’ll find it in The Skinny Confidential x Elemis kit.
Step 3: Wet your face with warm water.
Prepare your skin for cleansing by splashing some warm water on your face. This will soften the skin, open up those pores for cleansing, and prevent the honey from sticking.
The water should be warmer than lukewarm, but not HOT. Hot water can be super damaging to the skin, even in small amounts. All you sensitive skin sufferers out there know exactly what we’re talking about. Remember, warm but not too warm.
Step 4: Gently massage your face with honey.
Grab 1⁄2 tablespoon of your chosen honey and massage it into your face, just like you would a regular cleanser. For the best results, rub the honey in small, circular motions all over the face. The circular motion helps to REALLY unclog the pores.
Take your time, and really get all those hard to reach places. The jaw and hair lines, the lips, tiny nose crevices, the corners of your mouth – all of it. Let that honey sit for a bit, like it’s throwing a mini-party on your face. You can even do a little dance while you wait! Those magical honey enzymes are working their wonders, giving your skin care routine a major boost.
Cleanse for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then get ready to rinse.
Step 5: Rinse and apply toner/moisturizer.
After thoroughly cleansing your face, rinse with warm water. Again, warm but not too warm. The warm water will make removing the honey easy. Then, gently pat your face dry with a soft towel or baby washcloth. (Learn more about why you need them in your life ASAP.)
Finally, apply your toner/moisturizer. Technically, the natural ingredients in honey have already helped balance your skin’s pH, so toner isn’t completely necessary. But, we love an extra boost of hydration. So we say, follow up your honey cleanse with your most hydrating toners/moisturizers. More products for balancing skin’s pH, HERE.
And don’t just stop at honey, honeys.
One thing we love about washing your face with honey is that it’s basically double cleansing. And using products like HONEY won’t leave your face feeling all tight and dry.
Can You Use Honey On Your Face?
Absolutely! Honey is a skincare powerhouse that is safe for almost every skin type. Because it is a natural antibacterial, it works wonders for those struggling with hormonal breakouts or stubborn acne. It creates a protective barrier on the skin while simultaneously deep-cleaning the pores. However, the golden rule is to always perform a patch test on a small area of your neck first. Since honey is derived from flower nectar and pollen, those with bee or pollen allergies should proceed with caution. If you pass the patch test, you’re ready to embrace the glow. Raw honey contains gluconic acid, a mild alpha-hydroxy acid that gently brightens the complexion without the irritation often caused by synthetic chemical exfoliants. It is truly nature’s most versatile liquid gold for your face.
How Long Should You Leave Honey On Your Face?
The duration depends entirely on your goal. If you are using honey as a daily cleanser, thirty to sixty seconds of massaging is plenty of time for it to bind to impurities and refresh your skin. However, if you want to use it as a therapeutic mask, you should leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. This allows the humectant properties to fully draw moisture into the deeper layers of the dermis. Since honey does not “dry down” like a traditional clay mask, it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils if left on a little longer. Just be mindful of the “drip factor”—honey warms up with your body temperature and can become quite runny. Pro tip: wear a headband and lay down with a towel behind your head to avoid making a sticky mess of your clothes or furniture.
Honey For Glowing Skin
If you want that “lit from within” look, honey is your best friend. For maximum radiance, apply a thin layer of raw Manuka honey to damp skin twice a week in the morning. Applying it to damp skin is key because it helps the honey spread thinly and evenly, ensuring your skin absorbs the nutrients without feeling suffocated. You can also mix a teaspoon of honey with a pinch of turmeric for an antioxidant boost that fights dullness. Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water to seal the pores. For an overnight glow, try mixing a tiny drop of honey into your evening moisturizer. This creates a “sleeping mask” effect that leaves your skin incredibly supple and dewy by the time your alarm goes off. It’s the easiest way to look like you’ve had 10 hours of sleep when you’ve really only had five.
Honey For Skin Rash
Dealing with an itchy, angry skin rash is the worst, but honey’s anti-inflammatory enzymes can provide instant relief. To treat a localized rash, apply a dollop of chilled raw honey directly to the affected area. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels to reduce redness, while the honey’s medicinal properties soothe irritation and prevent infection. For widespread heat rashes or eczema flares, you can create a honey-oatmeal paste. Mix equal parts honey and finely ground colloidal oatmeal with a splash of water. Apply this to the rash for 15 minutes before rinsing. This combination acts as a biological “band-aid,” calming the nerves in the skin and reducing the urge to scratch. Always ensure the honey is raw and unfiltered, as the “processed” stuff in plastic bear bottles often lacks the living enzymes needed to actually heal a rash.
Honey For Dry Skin
Dry skin is often a cry for help from a compromised skin barrier, and honey is the ultimate repairman. For those with flaky or parched patches, try the “Honey Press” technique. Apply honey to your dry spots and use your fingertips to gently press and lift (dab) the skin. This stimulates blood flow and pushes the honey’s moisture deeper into the tissue. For a full-face hydration treatment, mix honey with a mashed avocado or a teaspoon of Greek yogurt. These fats work in tandem with the honey to lock in moisture for days. Apply this mixture in the evening after your shower when your skin is most receptive to hydration. Because honey is a natural emollient, it fills in the microscopic gaps between skin cells, instantly smoothing out rough textures and making your skin feel like pure velvet.
Tips For Applying Honey
Since we last checked in, the skincare world has discovered some game-changing ways to level up your honey game. First, let’s talk about “Honey Tapping.” This involves applying honey and tapping your skin rapidly with your fingers for two minutes; it acts as a manual lymphatic drainage massage and leaves your face looking incredibly snatched and lifted. Second, always store your skincare honey in a glass jar in a cool, dark place. While honey doesn’t expire, heat and light can degrade the delicate enzymes that make it so effective for anti-aging. Lastly, if you find raw honey too thick to work with, try warming your hands together before touching your face. The heat from your palms will liquefy the honey just enough to make the application seamless and luxurious.
SKIN BENEFITS OF RAW HONEY
The benefits don’t stop at cleansing. Use your honey to whip up a super hydrating and firming body, lip, or face mask. Add it to your diet for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits. Or, use it to heal your acne, eczema, or psoriasis. The options are endless with this delicious and ultra-healthy superfood x DIY skincare product!
Okay, the ball is in your court. Add honey to your skincare routine and let us know how your skin feels. Does your face feel rejuvenated? Are you glowing? Do you feel snatched? We can’t wait to hear about it.
Oh, & if you’re looking to up your skincare game, we got you.
+ PINK BALLS: the ultimate facial massager to keep you chiseled & sculpted.
+ HOT MESS: the Rolls-Royce of ice rollers to depuff, contour, soothe & ease redness.
+ HOT SHAVE RAZOR & CREAM: the ultimate duo to remove peach fuzz, creating the smoothest canvas for your skincare & makeup. Plus, the shave cream is the first ever women’s facial shaving cream & leaves your skin nourished beyond your dreams.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ stalk the benefits of using turmeric on your face.
++ check out what we learned from former pornstar, Lana Rhoades.
SHOP THE POST:
I started washing my face with honey this week, because I 1.) cannot keep spending $$$ on skincare while living abroad in Europe and 2.) wanted a more natural approach. I read this article, went and bought some honey at the market (the real shit!) and started washing my face. I’m having post-period breakouts right now and its helping reduce the redness, tone my skin, and leaves it so moisturized! Copenhagen is cold and rainy, and I think my skins lowkey freaking out due to dehydration and just the weather change so the honey is helping a lot 🙂