Mānuka honey has become a popular skincare ingredient and for good reason.
From magazine articles to TikTok videos, everyone has been praising mānuka honey for its incredible medicinal properties and skincare benefits. So what’s so special about mānuka honey? And can it actually relieve and improve the appearance of your skin?
Since ancient times, honey has been used as a medicine, treating everything from wounds to stomach pain to sore throats. But using honey as a remedy isn’t just an old wives tale. Honey is packed with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And mānuka honey, in particular, has powerful antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-aging, and hydrating properties.
While mānuka honey has historically been used for medicinal purposes, these days mānuka honey has become a game changing ingredient in beauty and skincare products.
What is mānuka honey and why is it so special?
Mānuka honey is honey that is produced from bees that gather nectar and pollen from the mānuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium). The mānuka plant, or tea tree as it’s also known, grows in New Zealand and parts of Australia. Mānuka is the Māori word for the tea tree and the indigenous people of New Zealand have long used the plant and mānuka honey for food and medicine.
So why is mānuka honey so special? And what makes it different from other types of honey?
First, what distinguishes mānuka honey from regular honey is in the sourcing of the nectar and pollen. Regular honey comes from the pollination of a variety of flowers. Mānuka honey, however, is derived solely from the mānuka bush. As a result, it is believed that the purity of the pollen makes the mānuka honey so much more potent, endowing it with impressive health and skincare benefits.
While regular honey has been touted for its antibacterial properties, mānuka honey is said to have even stronger antibacterial powers, thanks to the compound methylglyoxal. Mānuka honey has a high amount of methylglyoxal or MGO, and a high MGO presence reflects its strong antibacterial properties.
Measuring the strength and authenticity of mānuka honey
So how do you know if your mānuka honey is truly from the mānuka plant? In order to verify the authenticity and strength of the mānuka honey product, you’ll want to check its MGO and UMF number.
You already know that what makes mānuka honey so special is the presence of MGO. Mānuka honey is graded on the amount of MGO that it contains. If you’re looking to treat uneven skin, blemishes, and post-acne marks, then make sure that the mānuka honey you’re using has a high MGO number, such as 500 or more.
In addition, the Unique Mānuka Factor, or UMF, grades the mānuka honey on its potency and authenticity. So you’ll want to make sure that your mānuka honey product has a UMF of 15+.
By checking the MGO and UMF number, you can be sure to receive the full benefits of this amazing ingredient.
The benefits of mānuka honey
Mānuka honey offers a multitude of benefits. It has long been used to treat wounds, soothe sore throats, prevent gingivitis and plaque buildup, and even treat ulcers. Mānuka honey is also considered a prized ingredient in the skincare industry, with its ability to revitalize, hydrate, and repair your skin.
Here are just some of the benefits you can experience when incorporating mānuka honey into your skincare routine.
1. Mānuka honey helps treat acne prone skin
Thanks to its potent antibacterial properties, skincare products made with mānuka honey have been praised for their benefits on acne prone skin. The antibacterial properties will help cleanse your skin of the bacteria that causes acne. And it achieves this without harshly stripping away essential moisture from your skin.
2. Mānuka honey keeps your skin looking youthful
Mānuka honey is said to help fight the aging process by boosting your skin’s production of collagen, a protein that is known for keeping your skin firm and hydrated. The older we get, the less collagen we naturally produce, so it’s helpful to get a boost through our skincare products.
3. Mānuka honey improves the appearance of your skin
Mānuka honey was originally used in wound care as its antimicrobial properties helped keep toxins out, while its nutrients and vitamins repaired and moisturized the skin. So if you’re trying to heal post-acne marks or blemishes, mānuka honey is a powerful but soothing antidote.
4. Mānuka honey keeps the skin moisturized
If you suffer from dry skin, then you might know how frustrating it can be to apply layer after layer of moisturizer, without seeing any hydrating results. What you need is a “humectant” that helps your skin not only draw in moisture, but keep it once it’s there. Mānuka honey is a natural humectant, so it will help your skin absorb and retain moisture.
5. Mānuka honey is good for sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, that means your skin is reacting negatively to a harsh chemical or ingredient in your beauty product. A solution is to look for skincare products, like ones made with mānuka honey, that are specifically made for sensitive skin. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, mānuka honey is gentle enough to use on your skin as a cleanser or moisturizer. Make sure to always select the fragrance-free option to avoid irritating your skin. You can also test the product first by applying a small, quarter-size sample to your elbow and monitoring your skin’s reaction.
It’s important to check the source of your mānuka honey
Because mānuka honey derives its powerful benefits from the mānuka plant, it’s important to make sure that you check the sourcing of your mānuka honey. Mānuka trees that grow in their native environment will yield honey with stronger antibacterial properties. That’s why you’ll want to confirm that your mānuka honey product comes from honey that has been harvested in New Zealand and not elsewhere.
At Apo.Ge, we ensure the efficacy of our skincare products, by using high-quality mānuka honey that has been sourced directly from a small family-owned apiary in New Zealand.
