Ever since I was a little kid my mom would feed us spoonfuls of honey to boost our immune systems, and we'd use honey in homemade face masks to add a bit of glow to our skin. As I've gotten older (and a bit lazier), I've transitioned from DIY skin care to products featuring some of my favorite homeopathic and Ayurvedic ingredients, including honey. Recently, I've noticed that Manuka honey has gained traction in the skin-care world, particularly among New Zealand-founded brands — much like how Kora Organics noni oil comes from Australia and Tatcha rice water hails from Japan.
You might recognize Manuka as the pricier honey option at health stores, but its cost is justified by its numerous benefits, both when ingested and applied topically. Produced by honey bees that pollinate the Manuka tree, which is native to New Zealand, this honey has unique properties that are highly beneficial to the skin. Below, we ask two experts to explain the advantages of Manuka honey, what distinguishes it from regular honey, and what to look for when shopping for new products.
Rachel Nazarian , MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group. Ginger King is a cosmetic chemist. Manuka Honey Benefits For the Skin The benefits of manuka honey on the face range broadly.
According to board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, Manuka honey has been scientifically recognized as a natural antimicrobial ingredient and an effective source of accelerated wound hea.