When friends, family and readers inquire about a product suggestion for the treatment of acne, my constant recommendation is honey! Actually, you don’t need to ask, I’ll point my finger to your spot and tell you to “just rub a little honey on it”. I must strongly emphasize that I am not referring to just any honey, but specifically raw, organic manuka honey with an activity level of 12-16. You can rub any run-of-the-mill honey into your skin until you are red in the face and not receive the benefits specific to this certain variety.
Manuka Honey hails from New Zealand and is collected from honeybees that pollinate the native Manuka bush and it is powerful! No prescription strength cream or OTC spot treatment works in the wondrous ways as this “medical honey.” With naturally occurring antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (due to a naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide component) it works in numerous ways to treat, heal and prevent pesky break-outs. Manuka Honey is also a natural humectant and helps to draw moisture into the skin.
Manuka Honey has been achieving a ton of buzz as it has been revealed a skin care staple for some well-known celebrities including Jessica Alba, Karlie Kloss and Petra Nemcova, and its no surprise. This special variety is a skin care superhero of sorts for treating a multitude of skin concerns, while leaving your skin soft, smooth and glowing. You can incorporate honey into your skin care in a multitude of ways. Use it as a cleanser, mask (alone or mixed with other powdered masks or spices) and as a spot treatment. Since Manuka Honey works wonders on the prevention of breakouts, its rare that I need to use it as a spot treatment, as long as I am using it regularly. A few of my favorite spices to add to a Manuka Honey mask is cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg or raw cacao. For a super hydrating and exfoliating mask, I mix in avocado and plain yogurt. I whole-heartedly recommend ingesting this magical nectar as well.
#beeaware
When it comes to choosing a honey, Wedderspoon sets the standards for providing RAW, NATURAL and UNPASTEURIZED honey and they are the first and only Non-GMO verified Manuka Honey nationwide. As a eco-conscious brand, Wedderspoon has teamed up with the Rodale Institute (a non-profit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach) to celebrate honeybees. This campaign was created to raise awareness around the decline in honeybee populations due to the effects of toxic agricultural chemicals (CCD). As I have discovered the benefits of Manuka Honey, I have gained a great amount of love and respect for our honeybees. They are an integral part of our food system as pollinators. So join me in helping to support our honeybees by following the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #beeaware.
