As the buzz around honey as a skin care ingredient continues to swirl, we're giving you the lowdown on what's real and what's just hype. In this installment of our series The Internet Made Me Ask, we're diving into the world of honey-based skin care products to separate fact from fiction.
Honey has long been touted as a natural remedy with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties that can benefit your skin. But is it really worth swapping out something in your current routine for a honey product? We spoke with two board-certified dermatologists - Dr. Ava Shamban, founder of Ava MD, and Dr. Anetta Reszko, a New York-based dermatologist - to get the scoop on what honey can do for your skin.
One of the biggest benefits of honey is its ability to lock in moisture, making it an excellent ingredient for dry, dehydrated, or irritated skin. "Honey acts as a humectant, meaning it helps attract and retain water in the skin - this can improve hydration and leave the skin feeling softer and smoother," explains Reszko.
But that's not all honey has going on. Some types of honey may also have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making them helpful for supporting the skin barrier and soothing redness. "Certain types of honey may also have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties," says Shamban. "Because of this, honey-based skin care products may be helpful for dry, dehydrated or mildly irritated skin."
Honey can even help smooth out texture and refine the look of your pores. "Honey is also a great natural clarifier and exfoliant," says Shamban. "It can help to gently slough away dead skin cells, keeping pores clean and clear." Unlike some physical exfoliants that can feel abrasive, honey's exfoliating action tends to be mild, making it a more approachable option for people who want the benefits of cell turnover without the risk of over-scrubbing or aggravating sensitive skin.
Of course, not all honey is created equal. While it might be tempting to swipe some honey from your pantry straight onto your face, experts suggest avoiding that. "Raw honey may provide temporary hydration and soothing benefits, but I generally prefer a properly formulated skin care product rather than recommending food-grade honey directly on the skin," says Reszko. "Because it is not standardized for dermatologic use, its composition can differ depending on the botanical source and processing."
In other words, the honey in your kitchen cabinet hasn't been tested or formulated for your face the way a skin care product has, so results can be unpredictable - and cleanup is a lot messier, too.
So, what are some great honey-based products to try? We've rounded up our top picks below, each with a four-star or more average rating from hundreds of customers:
When shopping for honey-based products, experts suggest prioritizing properly formulated products that combine honey with other ingredients designed to work together harmoniously. "Most people can tolerate honey-based skin care products," says Reszko. "That said, anyone with a known allergy or sensitivity to honey, bee-derived products, pollen or plant allergens should be cautious."
And remember, just because honey is generally well tolerated doesn't mean it's right for everyone. If you fall into that category, it's worth patch-testing any new product on a small area of skin before applying it to your face, and checking in with a dermatologist if you're unsure about your sensitivities.
With that said, go ahead and give honey-based products a try - your skin might just thank you!
Written by: Shred & Dread | The Citizen Edition
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