What is Manuka Honey? A unique honey for your skin

Manuka honey is unique honey mainly obtained in New Zealand and Australia. It's specially harvested from bees feeding on manuka blossoms. As a result, Manuka honey has higher concentrations of some of the more beneficial, naturally occurring pollen that exists in honey. It’s also higher in amino acids, has more propolis, and overall is more of a medical-grade of honey.

Most honey derives its antibacterial nature from hydrogen peroxide, but the manuka variety is unique in that it contains both hydrogen peroxide and another component called methylglyoxal.

What should you know about manuka honey?

Skincare products include manuka honey as an antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and humectant ingredient. In addition, this honey aids in wound healing, draws in moisture to the skin and soothes irritated skin conditions such as psoriasis.

Anyone looking for hydration and soothing can benefit from manuka honey, and it may also be beneficial for those with eczema and acne.

One of the distinctive properties of manuka honey is methylglyoxal, an antibacterial component. Antibacterial components in skincare can improve conditions such as fungal acne, prevent wound infections, and help the wound healing process.

Manuka honey works synergistically with other antibiotic ingredients and other wound-healing ingredients. When combined with other hydrating ingredients, such as shea butter and glycerin, it also works well to moisturize the skin. There are no specific ingredients known to have a negative interaction with manuka honey. However, it's best not to pair it with potent active ingredients (retinoids or acids) to be safe.

Benefits of Manuka Honey for skin

This particular type of honey can deliver various benefits for the skin, addressing everything from medical to cosmetic issues.

• Has solid antibacterial properties: Because manuka honey contains hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal, it can be effective against various bacteria.
• Gently fade scars: As manuka honey contains trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide, it has mild lightening properties, which could help lighten hyperpigmentation and acne scars.
• Soothes skin conditions: Raw honey showed to help aid conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.
• It's a natural anti-inflammatory: The anti-inflammatory properties of manuka honey are exceptional compared to other types of honey. Anti-inflammatory factors are essential for healing skin conditions like acne and atopic dermatitis.
• Antioxidant protection: Manuka honey may down-regulate skin-damaging reactive oxygen species (caused by exposure to free radicals), which is beneficial for anti-aging purposes. 

If you're allergic to bees, you shouldn't use manuka honey since there may be a risk of allergic reaction.

How can you integrate manuka honey into your care?

Medical purposes aside, you can add manuka honey for its hydrating, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties to your care. Look for it in a cleanser, balm, or mask, using them according to your skin needs.

At Craft and Care, we believe in gentle and natural skincare for a complete treatment. Our Soft Balm is a simple composition of five organic ingredients that act gently on sensitive skin. One of the components of this balm is beeswax, which is rich in anti-irritant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects.

We wish you much well-being and good results in your care!