So why is manuka honey so awesome for acne and acne scars?
Last video, I let you know how I was experimenting with my skin care routine a bit and how happy I am so far with this new system. I mentioned that one of the magic ingredients for fighting acne is manuka honey.
What is Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey is a special medicinal grade honey made from bees that collect the nectar of the manuka bush – only found in New Zealand. When I say medical grade, I mean that that it’s incredibly nutrient rich, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti inflammatory – but without side effects! Normal honey has these properties too, but it’s nothing compared to manuka honey.
Manuka honey can be taken internally for all sorts of problems, but it’s also fantastic stuff to use directly on the skin as a facial mask. What can it do?
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It has a unique function of drawing the moisture out of bacteria in an affected area, essentially killing it.
And it seems to work well on all sorts of bacteria, even resistant strains.
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It can prevent future breakouts by drawing impurities out of the pores.
Keeping pores unclogged is important because a clogged pore is where bacteria gets trapped and festers. This eventually leads to the immune system creating inflammation in that area.
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It’s an anti-irritant
Irritating our skin makes it more likely for clogged pores to become inflamed. Irritating facial products are bad news, but luckily manuka is safe even for sensitive skin.
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It nurtures, protects, and moisturizes the skin
This not only leads to better and brighter skin texture, but also the super quick healing of pigmentation red marks caused by spots!
Like I said in my last video, I’ve been using it to wash my face like I used to do with regular honey, and when I have the time before bed, I will wash my face and leave the honey on it like a facial mask for a half hour or so. I also mix it with a bit of jojoba oil, and between the two of them, it leaves my skin soft, hydrated, and radiant. The clogged pores on my forehead are also beginning to break up and smooth out!
Okay so what do you need to know about getting your hands on some of this manuka miracle?
Well first of all – I have to say that it does not come cheap! I knew all about manuka honey when I was first beginning my journey to clearer skin, so why didn’t I use it from the start?
Well, I guess I was just too cheap! But I finally decided it was time to give it a go, and I’m glad I did – even if I did drop 40 bucks on a 17 oz jar of it! It shouldn’t cost you that much though, especially if you order it from somewhere like Amazon.com. It was likely just the markup at the local health store plus my remote location. Expect to pay at least 30 though for quality stuff.
And how do you know if it’s quality?
Manuka honey has a few different rating systems called UMF (unique manuka factor), OMA (organic manuka active), or MGO, which let you know how useful it is for your acne fighting and medicinal needs. Not all manuka honey contains the special antibacterial powers, and the words “raw”, “organic”, or “natural” will not guarantee that it does, so the UMF, OMA, or MGO is the most reliable way to know how good the honey really is.
When you’re picking a manuka honey to buy, make sure of these six things:
1. It says UMF, MGO, or OMA clearly on the front of the jar
2. It says “Active” on it
3. It is packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand
4. It’s from a New Zealand company that is licensed to use the name UMF (which is actually a trademarked name), OMA, or MGO
5. It has the UMF, OMA, or MGO licensee’s name on the front label
6. It has at least a rating of UMF or OMA 15+ or more, or if it is MGO, then at least 250+
Apparently 16 is the highest rating that is naturally found. While there are manuka honeys rated above 20, I’ve heard that some companies artificially reach this lofty rating for marketing purposes, so I’m sticking with 16 and probably wouldn’t go lower than that.
0 – 10 is pretty much just normal honey, and while ratings 10 – 15 are less expensive and have some beneficial properties, they don’t have as much as we’d like. I figure that if I’m going to shell out for honey that’s pricier than normal, I may as well go ahead and get the real good stuff!
For those of you who would like to know, this is the exact honey that I bought.
UPDATE: There seems to be a bit of a question as to whether or not Wedderspoon (the brand of manuka honey I usually recommend as per the link above) has recently changed their practices and lowered the quality of their honey. If this is the case, these are other brands of highly active manuka honey I can find that meet all the right standards:
Manuka Health New Zealand
Natural Solutions East Cape
Haddrell’s of Cambridge
Comvita
Okay! So there you go! Manuka honey is highly recommended for acne and clear skin!
I just got my hands on some Manuka honey today! I still have some mild acne that I’m trying to cure, so hopefully this will help w/ your mask recipe. Another product I have tried is calcium bentonite clay (aka Aztec Clay). I do a mask with apple cider vinegar which helps draw out clogged pores. You might wanna give it a go! Thanks for all the awesome advice!
Yeah I’ve heard about clay masks but haven’t gotten around to trying them… I will one day!
I’ve decided to try out a manuka mask a few days per week. I hate to use up the jar so fast, but it does expire soon, so might as well use it and then get some more. I’ve only been using it for spot treatments up until this point. Last night was luxury time…regular honey wash, followed by bentonite mask, followed by sauna-like conditions (torso and limbs immersed in a hot bath while face perspires), followed by a manuka mask, followed by 99% aloe vera. Life is good!
Nice! Sounds lovely!
if you just use proper manuka honey it should never expire! that’s another beauty of honey it’s shelf life!
I freaking love this honey! I’ve been using the exact same one as you Tracy, I got mine from amazon.com I think it was $30something. Just to throw out there: while this honey is expensive, it does last a looong time. I purchased mine 2 months ago and it’s not even half way gone yet (I wash with it twice a day). My face looks pretty clear when I wash with it and it seems to be helping with my scars as well. Definitely would recommend this to everyone.
I know, it’s so awesome. I’m glad to hear another excellent review of it, Christa!
How do you use it as a wash?
You just rub it into your face and rinse it off, like you would any face wash
Tracy do you think that Manuka Honey is as good to eat as it is to put on your face? I am wondering what you think about the internal benefits Of this. Thank You, lots of love- Paula
Yes, apparently it is… it can help with heartburn, acid reflux, stomach aches, stomach ulcers, stomach flu, IBS, diarrhea and other digestive issues… damn I wish it wasn’t so expensive or I’d take it internally as well! :/
Is it OK to gently heat manuka honey?
The honey is grainy and abrasive on my face. Exfoliation is good, but it’s not something I want to do everyday.
If I gently heat the honey by placing it in hot water (in water in a pot on a stove with the burner on the lowest setting, with the honey jar resting on a stand to insulate it from direct heat), will the heat destroy the honey’s medicinal properties?
Hi Mary!
Hmmmm wow, you know, I never thought about the fact that manuka honey would be grainy. The Wedderspoon brand that I had was so smooth. The kind I have now seems to be a little bit grainy but not too much to worry about, but it kind of surprised me. – no source I’ve ever read about it, even the ones for skin care ever mentioned this!
Anyway, I think it should be totally fine to heat it a little bit…. don’t boil it or anything, but yeah… gently heating it to un-crystallize it may help! Please let me know if it works!
I had the api health brand before (UMF 20+) and that was the one that was grainy. It was also a very rich, dark color. I’ve just bought the Wedderspoon and find it to be very smooth! And light-colored and creamy. I am very surprised by how different the two brands are. I know honey color and consistency varies, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the different rating systems used. api health uses UMF, while Wedderspoon uses OMA. I was hesitant to try the OMA rating, but it was cheaper and you had results with the Weddderspoon, so I’m giving it a go. I’ve heard honeys that use MGO raiting or, worse, no rating whatsoever, could be fake (as in, they don’t have good activity level).
Hey Tracey can you do a youtube video showing how you wash our face? I believe you said you was it with manuka honey and jojoba oil, do you put them both on at the same time? I would love to see ho you do it! thank you
Sure, I can probably do that at some point… for now: yes I put them both on at the same time. I get a jar and pre-mix a bunch of it in a 1:1 ratio and use that as a makeup remover, cleanser, moisturizer, and face mask all in one
awesome thanks Tracy! you rock
LOVE your article on Manuka Honey as an acne treatment! We are just as passionate as you about including Manuka Honey in our daily skin care routine, so we’ve gone one step further and included a UMF 18+ in our sunscreen line. Check it out – we’d love to send you a sample! Cheers -
Hi Tracy!
First of all I would like to say thank you so much for all your help! Seriously. My skin is getting so much better and I owe it all to your great advice! I do have one question for you about Manuka Honey though…
I have super dry skin, and sense the honey draws moisture out of the bacteria in infected areas wouldn’t it do that to my whole face and dry my skin out? Should someone with dry/sensitive skin use a Manuka Honey with a lower UMF?
Thank you again so much for your help!!!
Hi Taylor!!
So happy to hear that.
That’s so good to hear about your skin getting better
As for the manuka honey drying out your skin… I think it draws impurities and toxins out, but not really sapping the moisture… in fact it’s supposed to be moisturizing, although I can see how it may dry some people’s skin out. I normally have dry skin and it’s fine for me…. especially if you mix a little jojoba with it, or put some jojoba on there after.
Have you actually tried manuka and it’s drying out your skin? Or you’re just wondering if it will?
Is Honeymark Acne Cream any good do ya reckon?! It contains manuka honey +16…
Maybe… it also has a thousand other things in it, so if you really want the manuka goodness, I probably wouldn’t count on this…. the problem with products like this is that they advertise it as “honey moisturizer” or “aloe vera soap” when really the actual ingredient they are advertising is in it in such minute amounts compared to everything else. Maybe it’s a good product still though – I don’t know. The advantage to this over real manuka though is that it’s probably not sticky so you could use it overnight or whatever. But it does have chemicals.
Hi Tracy! I love your site!
I just started using Manuka honey on Sunday (now Thursday). I started off with +12 which is all I could find, but my +16 just arrived in the mail so I’m using that now (both Wedderspoon). I suppose I’ll eat the +12!
Anyway, do you think one could expect an initial breakout from Manuka honey? Things were looking clearer until today, and I feel like I have a bunch of new spots and a whopping cyst. I’m not sure if I would have gotten them anyway, or it’s something to do with Manuka honey (yet I’m at it again with a mask on!). I was adding tea tree and jojoba oil to masks, but I’ll cut that out in case that is it. Maybe my skin is flaring up from stopping all the other acne meds that didn’t work? Or stress? But I want to think it’s not the Manuka, so I’m curious if you think it could cause any breakouts or initial purge.
Hi Emily!
Well I don’t think it would actually cause an initial breakout… but I do think that switching your skin care no matter what can kinda disturb your skin a bit till it gets used to it…. plus yes, quitting acne meds can have a slight rebound effect. And of course…. it could just be something unrelated! People do like to blame their skin care on coincidences haha… it’s yeah… keep with it, things will get better.
Hi Tracy,
I’m finding it difficult to get a hold of UMF/OMA Manuka honey. I’ve been finding a lot that say “Active 16+”, but no mention that its UMF. So is there a difference with the Manukas that say active to the ones that say UMF? And is it a must to have Manuka that states UMF?
Thanks,
Andrea.
Hi Andrea!
Yeah apparently there is… the UMF has some kind of antibacterial quality above the active ones without the UMF ratings… apparently to be the VERY BEST manuka it must have UMF (or OMA rating) AND say active on it. And be about 15+ or over.
I understand your pain wading through all these different manukas they have here, because I picked up the wrong one…. the one from Natural Alternative Active 18+ … I didn’t realize until just now that it didn’t have the UMF rating… grr. So I’m back to square one at recommending which one that you can get in Australia!
I’m still going to use it though since I bought it. It’s still a really high quality honey with antibacterial properties.
Well, here’s one that’s active UMF that you may be able to get: http://www.manukahoney.co.nz/startsession.cfm?language=1
Hello! What do you think of:
http://www.amazon.com/Comvita-Manuka-Honey-Active-UMF/dp/B000TIQH28/
I’m almost done with my jar, and looking for something else. This is super pricey, but I don’t mind, as long as it’s worth it!
Thanks!
It looks good, although I don’t know why its twice as much as the wedderspoon stuff!
Hi Tracy! I’ve just purchased manuka honey, and was wondering how you wash with it. Is it just to put on your face and make circular movements? Or do you leave it on for some time and then wash away with water? When I use it as a mask how long should I leave it on before removing it?
That was a lot of questions! Hope you can answer them
Thanks
Hi Meta,
Yep just massage it around on your face in circular motions and then rinse it off. I think it works better if you can leave it on as a mask for some time… half hour maybe? It doesn’t really matter though, leave it on as long as you want. Sometimes I leave it on for no time, sometimes I leave it on for ten minutes if I have a little time, and sometimes a couple hours if I forget about it and am doing something else.
Hi Tracy,
I came across Comvita Manuka Honey UMF Active 15 & 18+, but it states to not use topically, instead to use a sterilised UMF Manuka. What does this mean? I was therefore reluctant to purchase it. The shop also had Natural Alternative UMF Active 10+. Does this still do the job? I know you say 15+ is best. Eventhough my face is clearing it always seems red, not only the marks. Do you think Manuka can help take that redness away?
Thanks,
Andrea.
Hi Andrea,
I have no idea what that means, or why you couldn’t use it topically if you are allowed to eat it. Doesn’t make any sense to me, I’d probably just use it. It really is best to get 15 or more UMF, otherwise you may as well just use a good raw honey and save your money. I think it could help the redness… do you just mean your skin is blotchy? Or like.. i don’t know hahah… it’ll help the red marks.
yeah blotchy, sometimes in areas, but when I’m hormonal all of my face.
Okay, well it sounds like it’s definitely something that’s happening due to internal things, so … the manuka may help some but I’m not promising any miracles
Hey tracy,
I love the work and effort you have put into your site and I have found it helpful. I did have one question concerning the honey remedy for acne though. I just recently heard about this amazing treatment and started about a week ago. At first it healed up my active acne really well but now my skin is broken out more than it ever has in the past. Is this a normal sign in the beginning stages of using the honey treatment showing its getting rid of toxins? And if so how long should I expect to wait until my skin turns the corner and really starts to clear up??
Any advice would be so relieving as Im a little scared of making my skin worse. Thanks!!
Hi Allie,
Yes it does seem like many people do have a bit of a purging reaction after starting the honey…. or their skin just freaks out a little after switching products. Like it could have more to do with what you quit rather than the honey itself – your skin withdrawing from the chemicals from acne medications or face washes or whatever. Either way… I think it’ll pass, it does concern me a little that you say you’re breaking out more than you ever have…. so only use it if you feel you want to! I don’t want to force you to use anything that you don’t feel good about.
Thank you for the advice!! That calms my worries a lot. I think Im going to stick with it for at least a couple weeks so I can let the honey do its thing. Plus I love all natural remedies and face masks. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly (:
Hi Tracy! Thanks for the great article. I’ve been using UMF 20+ Manuka honey for around 3 weeks now but I’m starting to get more breakouts . I should mention that I leave the honey on for around 2 hours after cleansing(cetaphil gentle cleanser), followed by topical acne medication , then moisturiser(cetaphil). Could it be that I’m leaving the honey on for too long? 30 mins sounds a little too short to me but I could be wrong.
Greetings from Singapore
Hi Nicholas… I’m not sure… does your face seem irritated afterward? I sometimes leave mine on for that long, depending on what I’m doing, I dont seem to have a problem with it.
Can you use this honey on your body too? I suffer from chest and back acne, even though I use natural products and take very good care of my skin and health it just keeps getting worse of the last couple months, do you think using this as a mask in the morning could help the acne on my body as well as my face?
Yes, you can use it on your back…. if you can reach it! I don’t have any experience with using it on back acne though so I really can’t say too much about it, whether it works or not
Tracy, will Manuka honey help out with blackheads? I don’t have too many red blemishes but instead bumpy skin from black and whiteheads that are pretty frustrating. Any recommendations please? Thanks for all you help.
It seems to a bit… or at least to keep pores looking small… I find the oils help more though for blackheads, because they dissolve them. Between the two, i find it does help a lot with the congestion issue
I left my Manuka Honey out a couple times overnight (forgot to close the lid after applying) I’m such a dork.
Is this bad for it? Do you think it’s lost any of it’s “majikal” properties?
Cheers!
I don’t know, but I doubt it’s a problem.. I’d still use it!
[...] then it’s definitely worth it. The better quality the honey, the better it’ll be for your skin. Manuka honey is expensive but is meant to be the best. I currently have [...]
Hi Tracy. I have a question…okay well, I started using raw organic honey as a facewash for my skin. It horribly broke me out. It gave me big, painful white heads on my forehead and chin. I know I’m not allergic to honey because I have used it in my tea and on other foods. I thought maybe my skin was just getting used to the change so I continued using it for a few weeks, but it just got worse. So, I stopped using it. My face has gotten better since I stopped. Do you know why it made me break out? Is Manuka honey a lot different than just regular honey?
Hi Sarah,
Read over this to find out what other people’s experiences have been:
http://www.thelovevitamin.com/2790/manuka-honey-initial-breakout/
Hi Tracy,
awesome blog you’ve got! I just stumbled across it while I was doing some research. I’m trying to cure my acne naturally as well. I used to have it really bad and then went on the pill for almost 10 (!) years! I don’t think the pill was doing me much good anymore so I stopped and my acne came back straight away. I’m doing quite well though with a good diet (Except for tonight as I am stuffing my face with cheesecake
) and it’s getting better. I really think you are onto something with the Mauka honey- I live in New Zealand and we actually have some skincare ranges that have Manuka honey in them! What I also discoverret is to use Sea salt on your skin as it is antibacterial, alkaline and helps healing. I noticed that during the warmer months when I swim in the ocean a lot my skin got way better. It went worse when I stopped swimming. So now I dissolve salt in some warm water and splash my face in the evening and let it dry- I think it really helps!
Thanks a lot for sharing your blog, you rock hun, love form nz
I have mild acne and decided to use this to get rid of it completely. I followed how to use it as a mask, first wash with hot water, dry face, layer on the honey, set for 15 minutes, wash off with cold water then cold water to close pores. It made my face much worse. My friend used it for severe acne and it brought the pimples to a white head. DON’T USE ON MILD ACNE, MUST BE SEVERE TO EFFECT POSITIVELY.
Hi Tracy
LOVE this article and your advice. Thank you so much for posting this. Manuka honey is amazing! It’s hard to believe it actually works until seeing it for yourself
. I got my honey from http://www.nzmanukanatural.com. They have a pretty good range. One question for you: If I use Manuka face creams and things like that, will it have the same effect/benefit of using the pure honey? I don’t want to waste my money on creams if they don’t work!
Thank you
Amy
Hi Amy – I’m glad to hear it’s working so well for you!
As for the creams – I can’t say how well they work, but personally I would just prefer to use the real stuff. Creams and products always have extra ingredients – usually synthetic – and these things can be irritating. But hey – if creams are more convenient for you, I’m not saying they don’t work – maybe they would work just as well for you.
Oh, also, i guess there is the question of what type of manuka honey they are using in their creams – is it a high UMF? Is it legit, active, manuka honey?
True, good points about the creams. I don’t think I’ve actually found any Manuka honey creams that have a UMF rating or anything. Is that how I’d know it’s legit? Also, as you seem to note, it could just be a pinhead of Manuka honey and the rest synthetic stuff. And to add to that, the Manuka honey in it may not even be active!
Don’t use manuka honey every night… I used it every night (1 hour before bed) for 6 days straight and it messed me up. My cheeks are very raw and red right now, I’m hoping I can get them to recover quickly.
Ah, it sounds like the full strength manuka honey can be too much for some people’s skin – or they have a contact allergy to honey. Sorry to hear this is you, Dan – your skin should recover soon!
[...] cleansers I use, so I’m willing to give alternative methods a try. The Love Vitamin swears by Manuka honey herself, but she also recommended ghassoul/rhassoul clay. Moroccan women have been using this stuff [...]
I’m excited to try this Manuka honey! Just got some on Amazon last night.. the weddington kind! Tracy that company should be paying you commission for every one you sell. or at least for endorsing their product. you’d be rich :-p
Lol – I do actually get a commission from Amazon when people buy things from my links… but it’s like … a few cents. Really, it amounts to nothing, aside from a bit of pocket change haha…. you’re right, I should hit up Wedderspoon’s!!
Is there any pictures like before and after thank you
Tracy,
First of all thank you so much for all of the amazing advice! I am going to school for herbal medicine at Bastyr in Seattle next year and I think your book etc has definitely helped give me a better understanding of the body and nutrition which will be very useful! Also, I have a question about the manuka honey I bought: MGO 250+.. It seems to help heal the nastiness on my face, but I’ve been reading it might be fake? Did I spend $ for no reason? Maybe I should eat it instead? Lol I really appreciate any tips, you’re great
Hi Megan
I’m glad you enjoyed the book! That’s great, and good luck with the schooling! Herbal medicine – sounds awesome.
As for the manuka honey.. I’m pretty sure MGO is a legit rating? Either way – if it works, it works. It does suck if you could have gotten away with a less expensive honey, but I’d say keep using it if you are seeing results!
hi tracy could you suggest how long shall i apply it on face before i get it washed?
It doesn’t matter – you can just massage it around for a few minutes and wash it right off, or if you have some time, you could also leave it on for up to 30 minutes or so as a face mask and then rinse it off
Hi Tracy, I recently used the new manuka honey for an infection on my foot. To my surprise it worked flawlessly, but after having it on for a week I was left with dry crackly skin. What should I do? What do you recommend I put on it. Thanks.
Hmm, I didn’t know it would do that! You’re sure it was the honey, and not just a natural effect of a healing wound? Either way, I’m not really sure what to suggest, sorry. Try googling “natural remedy for cracked feet” or something similar. If you find something that works, let us know!
Hi Tracy–
I was wondering if you recommend baking soda as an exfoliant with the Manuka honey. I have tried this and my face seemed cleaner but I have been braking out horribly. Im not sure if this is a cleansing process or just plain bad for my skin?? It has been at least 5 weeks. I tried just using the honey and jojoba oil as a face wash and it did not get all of my makeup off….also, do you recommend coconut oil instead of jojoba oil? I wasnt sure if the jojoba oil was breaking me out so I thought I would try coconut oil.
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Rachel
Hi Rachel – I am not so sure about baking soda, because it’s so alkaline – the skin is naturally acidic, so I don’t tend to think it’s a great idea to use. If you need something to get your makeup off, look into Jane Iredale Magic Mitt – I hear it’s good. And coconut oil, it works for some people and not for others, like all oils. Here is my article about it: http://www.thelovevitamin.com/1177/is-coconut-oil-an-acne-menace-or-an-acne-miracle/
Hi Tracy,
seems to be the only thing gentle enough to.
I use Manuka honey as a facial cleanser also, and its really cleared up my skin
But I’m going on a holiday in a few weeks to Thailand and want to bring it with me because my skin is prone to breakouts when I switch routines.
My problem is A) how to store it to bring it with me, and B) will it be ok in the heat of Thailand.
Hope for your reply, thanks heaps.
Love your blog…
xx
Hi Mikaela,
Great to hear manuka honey has worked so well for you
I say put a little bit of the honey in a different container so that it’s not obvious it’s a food item. I don’t think Thailand is a country that’s so strict about these things anyway (not like some countries), I don’t think it would be a problem. No one is going to check it and test it there, especially if it looks like it’s a different product because it’s in a different product container. It should be fine in the heat too.
Hi Tracy!
First, just want to say I love your blog! So much useful information here. For a couple years now I’ve tried to practice more natural skin care along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, so needless to say I think you’re site is fantastic.
Anyway, I have a question about manuka honey and acne. I’ve been using manuka honey for a couple months now in my daily skin care routine and while I’ve seen improvement in my acne, especially my inflamed acne, it has a tendency to dry my skin out with prolonged use. My skin is very hard to moisturize (it doesn’t tolerate oils well, not even jojoba or grape seed… and yes, I’ve tired organic and cold pressed). I just try to use as few products on it as possible so it is able to moisturize itself without being stripped of its own oils, ya know? Sort of a modified caveman regimen I guess. My question is, does manuka honey still work for acne if it is eaten instead of put on the face? I know it has helps with gastrointestinal issues if eaten but can it kill the acne bacteria from the inside out? I was just wondering if you – or anyone else reading – had experimented with this and had any results. I love manuka honey but it just dries my skin out too much. And for some reason leaving something sticky on my face for 30 minutes bothers me. I always seem to get it on my clothes or in my hairline. I figured eating it would be less messy. Plus I LOVE the taste of it!
Thanks in advance!
- Lauren
Hi Lauren!
Yes, there is definitely a good chance that taking it internally could help with acne. Internally manuka is supposed to improve digestion and reduce systemic inflammation, both of which are huge factors in many people’s acne issues… I say give it a go
Hi Tracy, First of all I’d like to thank you for introducing me this amazing honey!!
I use this honey with my probiotics. I mix them together and spread all over my chin for a night. Next morning my acne is less imflamed or almost disappeared.;) Here’s my quesiton, do you think my skin could build resistance against even a natural antibiotics like manuka honey? I am kinda worried..
I have mild~severe acne on my chin area. (Adult acne) It gets worse during my period time. I’ve done antibiotics topical gel, retin-a etc. They worked for 4months and my acne came back stronger..(Tears..)so I was trying to find more natural ways to control my acne and I was so lucky to find ur website!
That’s great to hear this works so well for you! Yay!
Hmm I don’t know about the resistance!! This webpage seems to think it’s not much of a problem though: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20549529
Hello! I am a teenager so I have many pimples on my face. I got Manuka Honey and I found it is helpful for my pimples! But “UNF 10+” was written on the jar. Does it also effective for pimples? And one more, how can I use to get rid of acne?
Well the higher the UMF the better when it comes to manuka… like 16 or higher. But, I mean any raw honey can be beneficial for acne so it’s not like a lower UMF is bad, but if you’re going to spend money on manuka honey, you may as well get a higher rating.
I was curious about buying this honey so I went to Amazon, as you suggested, and began looking for honeys based on your description/criteria. I came across this statement and wanted to know your thoughts…
“Confused about what Manuka Honey product you should purchase? Manuka Health New Zealand rates their products healthful benefits by the most up-to-date system available.Concerned about UMF level? Don’t be!! UMF is no longer the most accurate way to rate Manuka Honey! MGO = Methylglyoxal What is that? It is the scientific compound responsible for giving Manuka Honey its health-giving antibacterial quality.What’s another benefit? It is SO much easier to rate products. MGO 100+ = 100mg dietary Methyglyoxal per kilogram. Identifying the amount of dietary Methyglyoxal in every batch of Manuka Honey sets a New, Stringent, Higher Standard for quality Manuka Honey. UMF is not standardized and does not measure anything particular in the honey. Unless you see the MGO level there is no way to know what healthful properties are available, if any. It could even be classified as Table Honey!”
Lol – well, who wrote that? Was it someone selling MGO rated manuka honey?
Hmm… Have you heard of Live Live Bee Yummy Skin food? It’s apparently a honey moisturizer but there isn’t any preservatives or anything. It’s all natural ingredients. You can buy it from highonhealth’s shop.
Yep, I’ve heard of it.. does sound like a good moisturizer
I was researching manuka honey and I came upon this website which puts down wedderspoon for making misleading claims over their umf rating. I am not really sure if this is true, I did see some lawsuits talking about this but I am not sure… What do you think of it let me know because now I’m just paranoid/skeptical:
http://www.zimbio.com/Natural+Skin+Care/articles/M9DGaRfJd7e/Honeymark+Sues+Wedderspoon+False+Advertising
Hi Penny,
Hmm that’s interesting. I have this vague feeling like I heard about this a long time ago and then researched and found that it was bunk… but now googling it, I can’t find anything except talk about Honeymark suing them. In the end, I really can’t comment on whether it’s true or not because I don’t know. I hope it’s not :/
Hi.. Do you think using manuka honey can unclogged pores? because have some few blemishes..
I can’t believe how amazing this stuff is. I’ve tried everything, barely withdrawing from using benzoyl peroxide after 4 years. It just stopped working & started making my acne bright red. But after using this Manuka honey & jojoba oil wash. My skin feels so much better and soft and alive. Compared to the stuff dull face I had while using the benzoyl peroxide. I’m going on my 6th day using this regimen and I can’t believe my horrible embarrassing breakouts on my cheeks and chin are all gone or flattened and redness faded. I’m so happy to have found this site
for best results leave the honey on for longer I noticed that cleared it faster. Like on days where you have nothing to do and aren’t planning on going out leave it on. I left it on for 8 hours and my face looked new after. Thanks 
Yay! That’s awesome
I was pretty nervous to just drop my cleansers in the trash, especially since I was just getting into more natural products, but I’m so thankful that I did. The combination of manuka honey and jojoba oil feel a thousand times better than any new scrub or wash ever did! I just think my skin is so relieved to have good old nutrients back again, and is showing it’s gratitude by clearing up!
Not saying I’m 100% spot-free or anything, but my face does feel less irritated and nothing new has popped up since I’ve switched. It just feels better, that’s all I’ve got to say. So if you’re considering it, take advice from the amazing Tracy and just try it out.
I know I would have liked to have read this years ago.
You’re the second comment I got today raving about success with manuka honey… way to go … glad to hear it’s worked so well for you
Hey if you haven’t noticed, Wedderspoon brand has removed their OMA label on the front. In fact, it is no longer organic . I called the company and it was confirmed. The operator told me nothing was different about the product they just didn’t want to pay for the OMA labeling on the front. I do not believe this one bit because I have both jars , the one with the OMA label and the one without. Everything is different about it. The smell , taste , potency and results were much more apparent in the OMA labeled manuka. I use it for my face and gastritis and have been using it for almost a year now and believe me, there is a difference. Just wanted to let you know and hope that you let the people know that this no longer should be their go-to brand.
Thanks for listening
Oh wow, crazy. Thanks for the heads up. I haven’t bought a jar since I started the caveman regimen instead of washing my face, but keep my jar of wedderspoon’s around for wounds, scabs, etc. Sucks that it used to be good and now it isn’t :/ Now I gotta find a different brand to recommend that is legit! If you find one, please, please let me know so I can change my recommendation!
Absolutely ! Yeah I am so disappointed! I am in the process of trying different kinds and will let you know which has the most potency and results. Thanks for everything Tracy ! You turned me onto manuka to begin with !
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FBD3J2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This one seems to work well for me, but then again, the jar doesn’t really tell you too, too much about it.
Who knows? Maybe this one just works for me because it’s still raw honey and I haven’t tried the magical completely organic manuka honey yet?
Hi,
I used today for the first time this manuka honey with venom active 12+ I noticed my skin turned a bit tight an dry and this evening I got some black head I’m not allergic to honey Im using regular organic pure honey but no reaction like this .Any suggestion?
Hi Pykes, it sounds like the manuka could be too strong for your skin (it is for some people). I say go with the regular honey.
Thanks will follow your advise.
Hi Tracy!
You have so many helpful ideas! THANKS!!
I went to the store last night and bought MANUKA HONEY. I bought the Manuka Health brand BRONZE MGO 100+..I also read the same thing Jennifer commented on..I should have gotten the 250+..oh well ill try this first…waste not want not right?
I dabbed some onto the Cysts last night…and they seem to have gone down…I am a stay at home mom so I will put some more on later this aft for a few hours! Ill do anything to have these gone by wedding DAY!
Ive been suffering from Cystic Acne since I was pregnant with my sons. It hasnt flared in a long time…but of course I am getting married April 6th and I have 3 HUGE ones on the left side of my chin ..from beside my ear to my chin!! SO here is to hoping they disappear for the big day!
Great, I hope you continue to find that it works nicely for you!! Congrats on the wedding Lisa
WOW!! I’m so glad I stumbled upon this site. I’ve never tried manuka honey on my own skin, but I’ve seen it heal wounds that have failed every other type of treatment. Manuka Honey is simply amazing!! In my 10 year nursing career, Iv’e never seen anything heal a wound like manuka honey!! It’s especially wonderful to use on my Hospice patients-destroys wound odors, debride’s dead tissue, promotes wound healing, gentle on their skin-just to name a few. I can’t wait to use it on my own face!!!
Hey that’s awesome Holly! I know it’s crazy how amazing manuka honey is for healing wounds and such. And yeah. It’s great for acne
Good luck with using it on your face, hopefully you see the same amazing results as you’ve seen with your hospice patients.
Forgot to add—– The hospice agency I’m employed with uses manuka honey UMF 16+ straight from the jar and not a manufactured dressing that claims to have honey.
While researching Manuka honey tonight, I thought ‘Since it kills the bacteria in wounds and can be used topically, I wonder if it could be used to treat acne’….so I googled it and….bam!!! I found this site!! Thanks so much for sharing this amazing information.
I have been using WeeBee honey, I think it’s just plain honey but unfiltered so it still has all the pollen and stuff in it! Do you think it is okey to use? I have yet to order the Manuka honey.i found manuka honey in whole foods but it was active 15 so I wasn’t sure… If feel much comfortable just following your instructions! Good vibes sent your way!!!!
Hi Nelsy,
Raw honey is great to use as a face wash, but if it still contains the pollen, it might be too grainy to use on the skin… the grains might be too abrasive and irritating. I prefer the stuff that has it removed, or it’s creamed.. that ways it’s smooth and not irritating
should i buy the manuka or just stick to a less grainy honey? organic honey is easier to find in my area, verses manuka honey. although i could always just order online it is more pricy. i am howeever willing to pay for what is better qulity..
i saw the comment of wedderspoons honey, im not sure about purchasing it… i might just stick to raw honey in fact! hmm…. i wish i knew of a good raw manuka honey!
Raw honey is great, manuka has just got an extra special property that heals wounds and skin really well.. either way… you’re right, I do need to figure out a new brand of Manuka honey to recommend, because I don’t know what happened to Wedderspoon!
Okay, I’ve done some research and updated the article to include several other brands of highly active manuka honey that meet all the standards, just in case Wedderspoon’s really has gone to the dogs
Hi tracy,
Im curious, are u using honey daily to wash? Ive heard some people say it yellows their skin, so im wondering if youve noticed this? Your blog is terrific, and has helped me learn a lot about manuka honey as well as other things too!
for those who prefer not to use honey daily, like myself, i would like to mention that i really like desert essence gentle nourishing cleanser. it has only one unnatural ingredient and the main ingredient is apple juice. its very gentle. also, evan healy’s line is fabulous!! to exfoliate, i am sensitive to grainy scrubs, so i like dermalogica microfoliant, once or twice a week. and The plum island Soap Co has a few clay scrubs that are natural and gentle if you dont mind the grainy texture. i hope this info is helpful!
i dont have an acne prob, so i use the honey about twice a week, sometimes more. sometimes just to wash and sometimes as a mask. i love it, i just worry about skin yellowing. also manuka is a bit strong for non oily/acne skin.
God I love this honey! I just bought the wedderspoon 16+ honey. And my scars are healing so much faster, even my mom can see it. Sad thing is, the honey tastes so pure and awesome… I finished a jar in 5 days. Luckily I ordered 3 but still! I need to restrain myself from not eating it all up!
I ordered Wedderspoon Manuka Honey from Amazon in February and I think Amazon stated the UMF, but I just looked an its not on the bottle. I take a tablespoon of honey daily and use as a mask once a week. I have noticed a difference with my skin, softer and clearer skin. Still having some breakouts. I think I will try the Haddrell’s of Cambridge Manuka Honey next to see if that works better. Thanks for the update!
Hi,
I tried find organic manuka honey active 16 + in UK.
Do you have experience with this one?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wedderspoon-Organic-Inc-Manuka-Active/dp/B00501N51U
I ordered another but active 15+.
I couldn’t find earlier.
It’s that alright and work similar to 16+?
Yes, 15 is just fine and works similar!
Hello there,
I just purchased Manuka Honey! Thanks for the info, a good moisturizer that works on me is from MyChelle -clear skin balancing cream. It is a bit expensive less than 20$ for 1 FL oz/30 ML. On the small bottle it says: “This oil free,balancing,nourishing cream normalizes oil production and reduces inflammation and irritation. Daisy flower extract is effective treatment of open lesions and bruising, while willow herb provides additional anti-bacterial,anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties. Essential for healthy skin,zinc has been shown to be especially effective in the elimination of residual acne red spots.”
ALso, I read blogs that green tea and spearmint tea is great for anti-imflamatory and spearmint help balance hormones…?
Including turmeric powder with Raw honey has helped me as well with my acne. Suffering with acne sucks! hope this helps! oh and the product line by Alpha Hydrox helps too with my acne & wrinkles. Try the resQ night serum and the soufflé cream. I read reviews on ‘www.makeupalley.com’.
Hi there,
Noticed that most of the audience here are females, but here’s one experience to share with everyone and in particular with the males =).
I’ve basically suffered with severe acne since I was 18 and over time it has subsided with topical treatments, facials, short intake of antibiotics but I was never completely clear and would get breakouts on and off. Im in my mid twentys now and suddenly Im breaking out bad. I attempted the holistic approach of eating healthy, juicing in hoping to detox my body. And as expected, the breakouts got far worst; and I know I have to be patient but Im not sure coz after 3 weeks i’m still breaking out almost daily esp around my chin/neck area.
Im gonna try your Manuka honey treatment Tracy, and was wondering if you would endorse this brand “Watson & Son Manuka Honey 20+”? It costs about $60 AUD here in Australia.
Anyway I look forward and hope to contribute my experiences to this community; and I must say your blog is fantastic Tracy! Keep it up
I’m not sure about Watson & Son’s.. when I was researching which brands to recommend, I couldn’t figure out whether they were certified, active, and all the rest. It says they are certified, but doesn’t state UMF or MGO, or OMA. However, reading the amazon reviews on them, it sounds like everyone is saying it has pretty dang legit healing powers. I do remember seeing it when I was in Australia, and the price is pretty expensive, so I’m thinking it probably is a good bet to try.
Hi Tracy,
Yup I’ve placed an order on them and thanks! Will keep everyone posted on the results when I start using them.
Cheers!
Can I reccommend Manuka Honey 400+ ( UMF 20+ ) it’s going to run you about $52.30AUD. Delivered straight out of NZ. I’m out here in QLD. Ordered mine last Tues and recieved it 2 days later on the Thurs. I “had” me the similar severe achne problem which left alot of un-appealing scars. After exactly a week of applying a homemade Manuka Honey & Cinnamon face mask directly on to my affected areas and leaving it on overnight (uncovered) everynight, my scars have faded up to 60% in 7 dats, my achne has cleared rapidly, redness has reduced a significant amount, drastic changes in my skin tone & complexion are visible & my skin has never been so smooth & bumpless EVER!
Return2health.com, keyword: “Manuka”. If you can’t decide bro, bless!
Hey EC,
Thanks for the tip, though I actually went ahead with my purchase for the Watson & Son 500 gm 20+ @ $120 for 2 jars a mth ago. I can attest to the part where my skin is getting smoother than before after applying the m. honey as a mask at night but Im not seeing major improvements on the scaring in terms of redness unfortunately. So im not sure if this manuka honey is really working for my acne.
ps: for those trying the detox program; it took more than a month before the magnified breakouts stopped for me, so the duration can prolong more than 3 weeks and I guess persistence is key.
Hi Tracy, I’m super new to your site. I just started to make the switch from my medication to natural means of getting rid of acne. I was concerned about the price of Manuka honey, and having read stories of it making people break out I’m really nervous to spend money on something that might not work. Is it still worth it? Thanks so much.
Hi Amanda,
If you want, you could try out smooth raw honey instead of the manuka to start with… see if you like using honey as a cleanser! I used to use raw honey before switching to manuka. It worked well, but manuka just has a little extra healing oomph
Hi tracy, I suffer from severe hyperpigmentation on my cheeks and I am Asian. It has being there for like 4 months and I am just wondering if it works for old marks? And if the umf is 15+ but it does not indicate ‘active’ , is it fine? Best regards, ashley
Hi Tracy and fellow Love Vitamin readers!
Does anyone know what difference(s) there is/are between the dark amber manuka honey and the golden manuka honey? I found both colors with similar MGO/UMF, etc. ratings. Is it just a color difference or does it mean there’s a difference in potency? I read one reader commented that manuka could “stain” skin slightly yellow, so maybe the golden would be better for this reader (and me, too – I’m fair skinned)?
HI Tracy,
I know this is an older post, but I just bought some Manuka honey and have been using it for a few days. It definitely seems to be sucking everything out of the pores. I have noticed a few zits popping up, but they were lying dormant beneath the surface of the skin and have started coming to a head since using the honey. It’s purging my skin it seems, and I don’t think it’s actually causing new acne, just clearing out the pores that I usually have to squeeze to get the gunk out (I know, I know, squeezing is the enemy!). Did you experience this as well when you first started?
Thanks as always, the love vitamin has been a life saver! I am truly noticing a difference with your advice:)
Michelle
No I didn’t, but many people do. It should pass!
Glad to hear my advice is helping you! yay!
Hi Tracy! I found your website about a month ago and your tip about the manuka honey worked WONDERS for my nasty scabby pimple. My health food store sells small packets of the stuff and I’ve been using that for the past month but now I’ve decided to invest in a jar. My question is: what are your thoughts on Medihoney vs. just regular mankua honey like wedderspoon? I find Medihoney appealing because it seems so much more convenient, packaging wise (though I guess it IS more expensive, by weight). Have you tried Medihoney? Do you think it will work as well?
Thanks!
Hi Ellie,
I’d never even heard of Medihoney – so they’re like dressings with manuka in them for using on wounds? So like would you want to put the dressing on your face, is that how you would use it?
Yes (sorry I took so long to respond!). I usually put it on healing acne and cover it with a band-aid when I sleep. I find that the honey is most effective the longer you leave it on. Again, I can’t tell you how much it has helped me – manuka honey is probably the best skin product I have ever tried. It’s amazing to me that I’ve tried so many prescription and over-the-counter products and the most effective thing all this time was !