Honey Extract: An All-Natural Ingredient for Sweet Skin
A Brief History of Honey
According to an article from the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, honey is arguably one of the oldest skincare ingredients to still be used. Evidence from around 4500 BC shows honey as an ingredient in some eye cream recipes.
So, why was this ingredient popular even back in ancient times? One big reason is its shelf life. Unlike other animal bi-products, honey takes years to spoil and is a natural preservative. Honey has been removed from Ancient Egyptian tombs, kept for literally thousands of years in ceramic pots, and was still unspoiled.
The reason honey has such a long shelf life is due to a few factors. First and foremost, it’s low moisture. Bacteria can’t survive without ample hydration. Honey is also naturally acidic and kills bacteria. Aside from the Egyptians, several ancient societies used honey as a medicinal product due to its bacteria-killing properties.
During the Ming Dynasty, a mixture of honey and ground orange seeds was used by women to keep blemishes at bay and create a glowing complexion. Cleopatra, a true queen bee, was known for using honey daily to keep her skin smooth and firm.
How It’s Extracted
You can’t get honey or honey extract without, well, extracting the honey from a honeycomb. This process isolates honey extract into the pure liquid form we want to see in our skincare and cosmetics. But how does that happen?
Honey is stored by honey bees in their beeswax honeycomb. In beekeeping, they used framed beehives, and the honey is stored on the frame. Once the frame is filled, the honeycomb cells are sealed by a coat of beeswax made by the honey bees.
The extraction process begins when beekeepers break or remove all of the seals. The beeswax seals are rich in honey and are typically drained of it with the help of some heat. This wax is also seen as valuable and used to make other products like candles.
Once the seals have been removed, the frames are placed in a honey extractor which spins and removes the honey. For this to work properly, all the frames have to be loaded correctly. Otherwise, the honey won’t flow out properly. Once extracted, the honey is then strained so any bits of wax are caught, and clean liquid honey passes through.
The Sweet Benefits and a Whole Hive’s Worth of Uses
The short, sweet, and simple truth are that products with honey extract are always a great addition to your skincare routine. Using products with honey extract regularly is known for giving results beyond your wildest dream.
Firstly, honey is extremely moisturizing since it’s a humectant. It also has soothing properties, antifungal properties, and antioxidants. According to accredited cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller, it also has antibacterial properties to help fight acne.
Here are a few more benefits of using it:
Acts as a pore cleanser
Is a gentle exfoliant
Lightens scars
Helps heal sunburns
Has anti-aging properties
Gives your skin a natural glow
Fights skin infections
Known for helping heal wounds
Has anti-inflammatory properties
Reduces wrinkles
Amazingly, there is even some evidence that suggests honey can aid in the treatment of skin cancer. The studies focused on how honey can help slow the growth of reproduction of cancerous cells in the body.
Despite the claims this study makes, it is still vital you see a doctor and follow their orders in the treatment of such serious conditions. Treating skin cancer with honey alone is not a reliable treatment, and will not work. This study show results where honey was used in tandem with typical treatment.
If you’re looking to use the honey extract more simply, like your daily beauty routine, there are a plethora of products you can get.
Moisturizers should be the first thing that comes to mind since it’s one of the key benefits honey is known for. This also means face and neck creams with honey can help keep things soft and supple.
Not only does honey extract moisturize, but it cleanses as well. For those of us with acne or pimple-prone skin, a facial cleanser with honey extract can make a world of difference.
A more surprising skincare product you can find honey extract in is foot powders and sprays. Because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties, it’s a great ingredient for keeping those toes in tip-top shape.
Honey extract is also used in several different makeup products. When used in mascara, it can help thicken lashes for a more bold effect. As well, the antibacterial properties can lower your chances of getting an eye infection from your makeup.
Since honey extract makes your skin super smooth and soft, pairing it with pigment makes an undoubtedly great lip product.
The Sting of Allergies
We are sad to say that some people aren’t able to use products with honey extract. Anyone with an allergy to honey, as well as pollen or bees, should avoid applying products with honey and/or honey extract in them.
For people without known allergies, it is still recommended to do a skin test before using larger amounts of a product with honey and/or honey extract.
The Doctor’s Recommendation
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that overall, “honey-derived ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices.” That being said, it is important to note that not all honey is created equally.
Some honey-based products may contain impurities, such as pesticides. Due to this, it’s recommended by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel that companies monitor and limit these impurities in their products.
The type of honey can also make a difference in the level of quality. With different honey comes different floral sources, and therefore different compositions and properties. Typically, the darker the honey the richer the antioxidants.
Shereene Idriss, a dermatologist with Union Square Laser Dermatology, suggests sticking to products with raw and unprocessed forms of honey extract. The reason for this is that they contain the most potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and healing properties. Idriss suggested Manuka honey for more serious skin issues because of this.
Acacia honey is also a popular choice because its high fructose content makes it more water-soluble and easier to use in cosmetic formulas.
The Takeaway
Overall, honey is an excellent addition to your skincare and beauty routine. Just make sure you know the type of honey and how processed it is. As well, always consult a dermatologist if you have any doubts or specific questions.
