Different ways to use manuka honey for beauty

I love honey very much and try to use it whenever I can either in my food or my homemade  masks. Honey is an excellent substitute for sugar, and if you get the Manuka honey with UMF, it has more antibacterial properties than in regular Manuka honey. Honey is very useful for homemade masks or any other topical uses because it is renowned for its healing and anti-inflammatory qualities. It is also a popular remedy when taken with lemon mixed in water to help soothe the throat. When used as a mask, it leaves the skin feeling softer and moisturized and reduces the redness of acne.

What is UMF
Manuka honey is honey that is collected from Manuka flowers by bees. And UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor. It has been standardized around 4 years ago, and only Manuka honey that has a high and additional antibacterial component are allowed to be label with the UMF number. The higher the UMF number, the more potent the active antibacterial ingredients are, however, anything lower than UMF 10 does not differ much from regular Manuka honey. Manuka honey in general is known for the hydrogen peroxide antibacterial that gives healing properties. Manuka honey with UMF is stable and effective in healing topical wounds compared to the regular Manuka honey.

Benefits of honey
1. Cures acid reflux and prevents stomach ulcers
Acid reflux is also known as heartburn, when the stomach acids flow back into the esophagus and throat. This results in a burning pain in the chest and top of the stomach. Manuka honey is used as a home remedy to alkalinize the stomach and coat a protective layer over the stomach preventing stomach acids to cause pain, and keeping acid reflux at bay.

2. Antioxidant that prevents the body from various cancer
While more research is still needed to thoroughly prove the effects of Manuka honey on existing cancer cells, there has been promising studies that show an increase in antioxidant activity in the body when taken regularly. Antioxidants are known to be beneficial for skin and can prevent
premature aging and cancer.

3. Wound healing
Because Manuka honey has antibacterial properties and high hydrogen peroxide content, it has an ability to heal external wounds on the body.

4. Anti-inflammatory properties to aid in treating acne and eczema
With its anti-inflammatory properties, Manuka honey is often used as skin care ingredient for products targeting those who are acne prone. Besides being a natural skin softener, it helps promote a healthy and balanced skin and reduces redness and inflammatory. Manuka honey can also be used on eczema as it soothes and moisturizes the skin, stopping dryness and itchiness when used.

My home made mask for brightening the skin
I really like to use honey for my face masks because it smells so delicious and the texture is gooey like caramel, and the child in me thinks making it is really fun. For my face I will mix two tablespoon of oatmeal flour with one tablespoon of Manuka honey UMF 15, with a tea spoon of lemon juice and mix into a paste. Leave it on the face for 15 minutes and you’re done! I normally do this once to twice a week depending on my time. If you’re afraid of using lemon, you can skip that ingredient. I only added lemon to have a brightening effect after washing it off.

Honey candy
I thought of this when I was craving for honey and started fantasizing of ways to eat it. What you do is add 3 parts honey and 1 part room temperature water and mix well. Then add it to a fanciful shaped ice cube maker if you have one, and freeze! I think you can put a stick in each of the ice cube so when it hardens you can take it out and eat it like a real lollipop, but I’ve never tried that before but would imagine it to be fun though.

Conclusion
Honey is one of my pleasure foods to go to when I am craving for a snack or something sweet. Some people add honey to their tea but I’ve yet to try that. In general, honey is a very useful and delicious ingredient to incorporate into your meals and routine.

Comments

  1. Carrie says:

    Yup! My mom and I also use honey in our DIY masks and we surely love to eat it too ? Though I do find that, while Manuka honey is beneficial for our health on a regular basis, if I consume it on an empty stomach, it is actually going to cause me stomachache. So personally I wouldn’t take honey when I am feeling hungry, I must have it with a bit of food. Not sure if others have the same problem as I do…?!

  2. Fevrier says:

    Right now i have manuka honey MGO 100, i think its equivalent to UMF 10 ? And organic manuka active 15%. I used them as face mask to help with my breakouts but… Hmm.. I dun find they help at all… I read people raved how manuka honey helped with their acne… Well, maybe i didnt apply the correct one? Or maybe coz i put the mask every nights ? So now im purchasing umf 22+ its still on its way.. Urrgh… I hate the wait >.< fingers crossed, hope this one would work.

  3. fwy says:

    Yup.. I add honey into my camomile tea or any other tea when I feel like it….

  4. EcoBeauty says:

    I don’t think I can ever live without Manuka Honey. I use it almost for everything.
    DIY Beauty, tea, smoothies, juices, etc. When I’m sick, I take half a spoon and it helps me recover faster.

    By the way, I read that you shouldn’t use metal spoons especially with Manuka Honey as metal reacts with its ‘active’ properties, which nulls its UMF values. Not sure how true this is but I try to avoid since most sellers of Manuka Honey specifically remind me to only use plastic, ceramic or wooden spoons.
    EcoBeauty last post is: Wash Your Hair Backwards and be Silly…NOT!

  5. Joshua says:

    I love Manuka Honey! I used it with great results on my tattoos when they were healing and there was little to no scabbing at all! ( I have sleeves on both lower arms). I recommend it to anyone who will listen to me! LOL Great write-up! ?

  6. Cassie says:

    Hey! I thought it was just me! But I get that short, intense tummy ache when taken on an empty stomach too. I just assumed it was the active bacterial that my stomach is sensitive to.

  7. Cassie says:

    When I used it on my acne, it relived redness and soreness, but I’m not sure if it will prevent further breakouts. Maybe the cause of your acne is something else? Hang in there and wait for the umf 22 one that you bought, maybe that will help, because ‘active’ is not the same as umf. ?

  8. Cassie says:

    I need to try honey with tea soon!

  9. Cassie says:

    Yeah I read that many times but I keep forgetting!! I sure hope I didn’t kill all the good bacterial in that large tub of honey. >_<

  10. Cassie says:

    That’s an interesting one! I have never thought of using honey when I was recovering from my tats. Not sure if I will get a chance to try it in future though, but will keep that in mind. Thanks! ?

  11. Vonvon says:

    Oh no, I have always used my metal spoon to scoop out my honey…. Gotta use something else now.

    First thing in the morning, I try to drink a cup of Manuka honey and lemon juice mixed with warm water. It seems ok to me, no stomachache.

    And I have substituted sugar in my tea with honey, Manuka or not, for a while. Sugar is only with my coffee.
    Vonvon last post is: My Birthday Look

  12. Cassie says:

    My tummy is fine when I mix the honey in water, but when taken raw on a spoon on its own I get the tummy aches. Not sure why though…

  13. Rinny says:

    Hi, Cassie! This is awesome, I love honey too ? Such great suggestions for use, as well. But I have a question, is Manuka honey available in the US? I’ve never heard of it before.

  14. vivavoomz says:

    Thanks, that was helpful. Any particular brands to recommend? I’ve read the higher the UMF, the heaty it gets. Is it true?
    vivavoomz last post is: Gmarket Hauls: Korean Tops

  15. fwy says:

    Honey taste good in most English tea besides camomile…..

  16. Cassie says:

    Hi Rinny, I’m glad my post helps! I’m not sure but I believe you can buy Manuka honey with umf online. As for stores, I’m really not too sure.. Sorry! ?

  17. Cassie says:

    I’m glad you like this post. ? The brand I use is the one in the picture above. I’m not sure if there’s any other brands available because it’s quite hard to come across Manuka honey with umf (or it could be I don’t shop around enough). As for the ‘heatiness’, I can’t confirm that cause I’ve yet to hear it gets ‘heaty’ as the umf gets higher. But I think it shouldn’t be the case because honey is often used to treat sore throats, so I think it doesn’t add to the ‘heatiness’.

  18. joe says:

    SO glad I read this I just finished a jar & every time I took it on an empty stomach I got a belly ache!

  19. Rose says:

    I’m getting my first tat and want to use something natural, I once used manuka on an infected wound and it healed quickly. What method do you reccommend for using it on tattoos?

  20. Charlie Armstrong says:

    Thanks for sharing. Is it available in Asian countries?

  21. Pearl says:

    Thanks for posting such a nice post. I also use Manuka honey a lot. I bought the Manuka honey from Manuka Honey USA, and it tastes really good.

  22. MaunkaHoneyUSA says:

    Wow, Very in deep knowledge given in that content. Thanks for sharing this content about the Manuca Honey.
    MaunkaHoneyUSA last post is: California Attorney General Calls Out Insecticide Regulation

  23. Manuka Honey USA says:

    Thanks for sharing the in deep knowledge about the Manuca Honey.

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