There’s a buzz in the air about honey! With a whopping 85.5 million Google searches for ‘honey skincare’, everyone wants to know more about the benefits of honey skincare and what products to use. You may already be experiencing the benefits of honey without realising it as many cult-favourite skincare products, including best-selling GUERLAIN Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil, contain honey to enhance their formulas.
Honey feels oddly comforting and accessible in the world of skincare, but its true natural power may surprise you…
What Does Honey Do In Skincare?
Honey is an antioxidant that rapidly accelerates the skin’s healing process, and strengthens the skin’s barrier to improve the skin’s overall health. We’ve even noticed a rising trend in DIY honey skincare with a quarter of a million video tutorials across blogs and YouTube.
Though suitable for all skin types, honey is commonly used in anti-ageing products as it smooths the skin and adds a youthful glow. Honey is also antimicrobial (fact: honey never grows mould) which means it’s excellent to clarify blemish-prone skin without being drying or overly harsh – it is a humectant, which means it hydrates the skin without turning it oily, a win-win in the skincare world.
Honey is gentle enough to be used every day. It’s found in every type of skincare product from lip balms to cleansers, but don’t worry, many brands protect the bees that give them bountiful honey, including the 5 below.
Your Everyday Honey Skincare Routine
So now that we’ve talked about the benefits of honey, let’s dive into some stand-out products dripping with honey goodness…
1. The Gentle Cleanser
Gentle enough for sensitive skin but an effective cleanser, the L’Occitane Cleansing Infusion Cleansing Milk melts any makeup off your face, including pesky stubborn eye makeup. You may be asking what benefit does honey have in a cleanser? Not only is the delectable fig scent given a honeyed sweetness, but the honey-infused formula moisturises the skin to feel silky smooth without that tight, dry feeling or any excess oil. The antibacterial properties of honey leave your face feeling fresh and oh-so clean as the natural sugars work to stop bacteria or microbes from multiplying.
2. The Luxurious Serum
When writing about honey, it’s hard not to include the bee-branded GUERLAIN! Honey experts, their Abeille Royale range harnesses the power of Black Bee honey harvested from the island of Ouessant. A cult favourite amongst beauty influencers and skincare lovers alike, the GUERLAIN Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil is brimming with anti-ageing benefits. It firms the skin, reduces wrinkles and the protected Ouessant honey creates a coveted radiant glow. The glow feels extra special and clean as the Black Bees who made it have been mostly untouched by any pollution on the remote island off Brittany and are considered the ‘Queen Bees’ of pure honey.
As someone with oily skin, anything with oil in the name can seem a bit intimidating, but this serum absorbs instantly. Those with dry or mature skin will especially reap the anti-ageing benefits of this honey serum. It feels so luxurious and is the perfect pick-me-up on a cold winter’s morning.
Leaders of bee conservation, GUERLAIN protect their native Ouessant Black Bee colonies and harvest only the highest quality honey up to two times a year, dedicating resources to bee industry research to keep the bees healthy and thriving. All the bee lovin’ makes me even more obsessed with the watery oil!
3. The Strengthening Moisturiser
Intensely hydrating, Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream is like your shield to face the outside world, strengthening your entire skin barrier. The sun’s UV rays and pollution can damage your skin barrier so it needs long-lasting protection. The sustainably sourced manuka honey is an antioxidant to restore the skin and provide instant nourishment.
My favourite thing about this product is that you press and squeeze the manuka honey moisturiser out of the jar to add a moment of joy into your skincare routine. It gives the same satisfaction as popping a huge spot but with a much more rewarding outcome.
4. The Smoothing Lip Balm
Another cult-classic, the Nuxe Reve de Miel Honey Lip Balm, answers to a chapped lip S.O.S. All the bee-made ingredients are used in full force; honey, propolis and anti-inflammatory beeswax repair damaged skin and make your lips insanely soft while smoothing away any fine lines.
The lip balm can be patted on top of lipstick to add a boost of hydration throughout the day and a subtle sheen. For an extra boost of hydration, slather the balm on the lips as an overnight lip mask to rejuvenate your lips whilst you sleep.
5. The Rejuvenating Face Mask
For a 2-times-a week honey boost, check out this nourishing mask…
The Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask has you covered if you have blemish-prone skin. The natural and organic brand harnesses New Zealand-exclusive manuka honey to deeply hydrate and calm any irritated blemishes on the face, drawing moisture to the surface without making skin oily
If your skin is sensitive or reactive like mine, don’t panic, honey’s antibacterial properties keep any reaction at bay, soothing irritated skin or breakouts. The perfect pamper evening treat; I love how silky smooth the mask is, fighting all of my spots without drying the rest of my skin out!
