How to clean yourself with honey
Simple, natural and effective: honey for acne is a real beauty secret! There's nothing like it to awaken the dormant Cleopatra in us. So, ready to try this millennial ritual to cleanse your skin?
If you followed the free method , you already know it: I love the use of honey for the skin. For what ? Because honey has two qualities: it is both:
antibacterial , so purifies impurities
and humectant , so helps retain moisture in the skin
It's a rare combination. You can therefore use it if your skin is dehydrated or acneic… or both! It will help you regain well hydrated skin, and help fight pimples.
But above all, as a cleanser, honey offers a great advantage: it does not strip. This is why it is also appreciated by sensitive or sensitized skin and by those who suffer from mild acne rosacea or eczema.
But above all, as a cleanser, honey offers a great advantage: it does not strip. This is why it is also appreciated by sensitive or sensitized skin and by those who suffer from mild acne rosacea or eczema.
The indispensable allergic reaction test
Like all hive products, honey can cause reactions. That's why before you start, you must do a reaction test. Nothing could be simpler: you apply the honey 24 hours in advance to a small area that is hardly noticeable. The elbow bend is a good example. If 24 hours later you don't notice any reaction (redness, itchy or swollen skin, for example...), you can start.
When to use it:
Honey is not a good makeup remover. If you have acne, or oily skin, it won't remove sebum effectively either. So at the end of the day, it does not replace a real regular double-cleansing, like the one I recommend in the free method .
On the other hand, in the morning, it can be great!
On the other hand, in the morning, it can be great!
How to proceed:
Above all, do not use honey on dry skin: it will be very difficult to spread and you risk irritating your skin.
Instead, adopt one of the following techniques:
You moisten your face first, dry lightly with a towel to remove excess water and then evenly distribute half a teaspoon of honey.
OR
You take half a teaspoon of honey on your fingers, add a few drops of water to soften it, then spread the honey all over your face evenly.
Ideally, wait ten minutes , then rinse well with lukewarm water. That's all!
For acne specifically…
All honeys have antiseptic properties. They will, to varying degrees, be beneficial for acne. Thyme and Rosemary honey have a good reputation. However, the one I have always used is Manuka honey .
It is ideal for acne because the Manuka tree is a cousin of the Tea tree. This is the reason why it is very purifying. Manuka honey is very present in the United States, I have seen it used in medical settings there. There is no doubt: it is powerful!
How to choose your honey?
This is the thousand euro question, because it is never easy to choose a honey. Many are tampered with, contain sugar syrup, are heated to high temperatures… you can imagine that this type of honey will have little benefit for the skin.
Also Read: Recipes for honey face masks
For my part, I find it wise to follow the recommendations of this article , for Thyme or Rosemary honey: a French honey, with the mention " harvested and potted by the beekeeper" will always be my preference.
For Manuka honey, it's different: the Manuka tree grows mainly in New Zealand, so there is no French Manuka honey. Important will be the MGO index, which measures methylglyoxal. It is the active antibacterial molecule of Manuka honey. For skin care, I recommend having at least an MGO 200+ index , which is the universally accepted value for wound care.
Traps to avoid:
Most honeys do not stay soft indefinitely. They tend to crystallize. It is a natural phenomenon, which does not call into question the qualities of honey. But this can be a problem for the skin: the crystals can be too hard for fragile skin and irritate it. If ever your honey has crystallized: you can find its original texture by transposing it into a glass container and then heating it very slightly in a bain-marie . Attention ! Above all, do not put it in the microwave: extreme temperatures are never good and always alter the ingredients of a product.
Also, if you have active acne, be careful not to massage the honey : Any skin stimulation can easily bring the infection that was in the pore (in short, the pimple that was waiting patiently) to the surface. Just spread the honey over your face evenly, and rinse it well after 10 minutes.
What should we expect?
Most users find that with honey their skin is more radiant and hydrated, almost instantly. It doesn't have to be, in my opinion, the only cleanser in your panoply, but it is an excellent addition to your beauty routine if you are looking for radiance and softness in the morning. So if you're lucky enough to have a good jar of honey, especially Manuka, don't just use it as a mask. Think of it on those mornings when you need a gentle, moisturizing cleanse!
