Does Honey Darken Skin?
Looking for natural skincare alternatives has become a way for us to customize and control what is being applied to our skin.
In addition to the specific concerns that the ingredients address.
While researching and shopping for specific ingredients in mind is one way to find the skincare solutions you are looking for,
some of those ingredients already exist in our own homes, and more specifically, in our kitchens!
DIY at-home skincare ingredients are a unique and effective way to find solutions to specific concerns, often without even having to leave the house.
One of the ingredients that seems to receive a lot of buzz, both in professional skincare products and at-home remedies, is honey.
It is a multi-use powerhouse ingredient that can target a variety of different skincare concerns.
Whether you are looking to target acne-prone skin, even out discoloration, or add an extra soothing and hydrating ingredient to your skincare routine,
honey seems to be the product that can do it all.
However, while it can effectively treat certain areas, there are also concerns about how the skin will look and feel after use.
As well as whether it will darken or lighten specifically treated areas.
So, does honey darken skin?
Honey will not darken skin. In fact, it has been shown to brighten and even out the skin tone. Primarily for acne scars or blemishes, honey utilizes its natural properties to fade and brighten the skin, resulting in an even and clear complexion.
Below, we delve into the details of how honey works on your face as a skincare ingredient, the benefits it delivers, and how to incorporate it into your skincare routine best.
Can You Use Honey on Your Face?
Honey is a naturally derived ingredient that can absolutely be used on the face as a skincare ingredient.
Most recently, it has become a popular at-home ingredient that can be used in various methods to treat and soothe the skin.
It is a natural substance that is mixed with bacteria, plant matter, and enzymes naturally found in the plant it derives from, and is produced and sourced from bees.
The live bacteria and enzymes found in honey possess numerous healing, soothing, and hydrating properties when applied to the skin.
However, suppose you plan to incorporate honey into your beauty routine to reap its benefits and improve your skin’s appearance.
In that case, it is essential to ensure the honey is raw and unprocessed.
Raw honey, such as Manuka honey, retains all its natural properties and benefits, including its active ingredients.
With all the benefits raw honey offers the skin, it is an ingredient suitable for all skin types.
It works particularly well for individuals with dehydrated skin, as well as those prone to frequent acne breakouts or scarring.
As honey is sourced from bees and is a natural ingredient, allergic reactions or skin irritation are possible.
While there are no known side effects of using raw honey on the skin, performing a patch test before applying it all over in a mask or wash will help prevent an unexpected allergic reaction.
Suppose you have an allergy to bees, bee venom, or pollen. In that case, it is best to avoid using this ingredient in your skincare and look for a natural alternative that provides similar benefits.
Does Honey Darken Skin?
One of the primary benefits of incorporating raw honey into your skincare routine is its ability to brighten and even out the complexion.
While it does not darken the skin, honey can be used as a method to rid your skin of dark marks or discoloration.
Among its many active ingredients, raw honey also contains traces of hydrogen peroxide, which can gently brighten the skin.
Being able to brighten areas of the skin works ideally for reducing the appearance of acne scars or general scarring.
It can lightly fade the marks left behind by scars, while also encouraging the skin to repair itself.
If you have acne-prone skin or are prone to breakouts that leave behind areas of discoloration, raw honey can be a natural solution for reducing acne marks and evening out your skin tone.
With steady and continued use over time, scars can fade, and the overall complexion can appear brighter.
Raw honey is also a natural exfoliator, which can contribute to the skin appearing brighter and more evenly toned.
As it can exfoliate away any dry or dead skin cells, the new and clear skin underneath is revealed, resulting in a complexion that looks brightened and even.
Exfoliation helps prevent the skin from appearing dull by eliminating dead skin cells and also helps fade any darkness left behind from acne scars.
Benefits Of Using Honey On Your Skin
As mentioned earlier, incorporating raw honey into your skincare routine offers numerous benefits.
Aside from brightening and evening out the complexion, honey also helps reduce breakouts, speeds up skin recovery, alleviates inflammation, and hydrates the skin.
It also helps reduce excess oil for oily skin types by deep cleaning the pores to help prevent breakouts.
Raw honey is rich in antioxidants, which help protect the skin from environmental harm.
It is also an ingredient that exhibits antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It works not only to protect the skin but also to soothe it.
Raw honey is a powerful ingredient that can help calm skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema.
Honey is also used topically to treat injuries, as it encourages and increases the skin healing process.
It works well to soothe wounds or burns, while also aiding in the recovery process by promoting the growth of new skin cells.
Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to soothe and heal the injured skin in general.
As a natural humectant, honey can be ideal for hydrating the skin.
Humectants work to attract moisture, while also protecting the moisture already existing in the skin.
By locking in the skin’s moisture and exfoliating away dry, dead skin cells, honey is an ideal ingredient for dry skin types.
By hydrating the skin, while also soothing and comforting, it helps the skin to feel soft and supple.
Combined with its brightening effects, the skin will appear clear and glowing.
Breakout-prone, oily skin will also benefit from using honey on the skin.
As it has exfoliating properties that deeply cleanse pores of excess dirt and debris, it helps improve overall appearance while reducing the chance of breakouts.
How To Use Honey On Your Skin
Much like the numerous benefits honey offers for the skin, it can also be used in various ways to achieve optimal results.
Honey is most commonly used as a face mask treatment, but it can also serve as an exfoliator or spot treatment.
Honey can be used on its own or mixed with other at-home ingredients to target specific concerns with natural products.
Although the stickiness factor of honey can be a deterrent for some when incorporating this natural ingredient into their routine, once it is mixed with water, it becomes less sticky.
The stickiness is reduced, and it will not feel as tacky on the skin.
The primary method of using honey is mixing it with water, regardless of the type of skincare product for which it is being used.
Face Mask
To use the raw honey as a face mask treatment, apply the product onto damp skin, avoiding the eye area.
Let the honey sit on the skin anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes to allow the active ingredients to deliver the full benefits to the skin.
Once the allotted time is up, rinse thoroughly with water and gently pat dry.
Depending on your skin type and how your skin reacts to the honey mask, you can use this treatment multiple times during the week.
If you don’t want to use honey on its own, or would like to experiment with different results,
take a look at this video from iamvanessae on YouTube, which shows several DIY honey face mask recipes.
Exfoliant
To use honey as a skin exfoliator, mix it with water to achieve this effect.
After cleansing the skin with your regular face wash, combine the honey with warm water and gently massage it onto the skin.
Based on the natural exfoliation properties found in the ingredient, any dry or dead skin cells will be gently sloughed off to reveal a brighter and clearer complexion.
Spot Treatment
Raw honey can also be used as a spot treatment to target breakouts.
The antibacterial benefits of honey are ideal for targeting breakouts, while its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce irritation and redness that can occur with a breakout.
The honey can be applied directly onto the spot in question and left to sit for several minutes.
After leaving the treatment on for about 10 minutes, it can be rinsed away and followed by the rest of your skincare routine.
Healing Salve
Honey has been used for decades as a healing salve due to its soothing and restorative properties.
It can also be used on the skin to fade and treat dark marks left behind by breakouts and acne scars.
It can be applied generously to the targeted areas, with excess rinsed away.
Most of these treatment methods can be used multiple times throughout the week, depending on your skin type and the specific concern being targeted.
The different methods can also be interchanged, as our skin is constantly changing.
While one day it might seem like our skin needs a hydrating mask, the next we could see breakouts that we want to treat and eliminate early.
However, as mentioned above, before trying any of these methods,
it is crucial to perform a patch test to ensure your skin is receptive to the honey ingredient.
It will not cause any breakouts or irritation.
Can You Use Honey With Other Ingredients?
Honey is an ingredient that can be used on its own or in combination with other natural ingredients, depending on the specific concern you are looking to address.
As mentioned previously, the honey you use on your skin should be raw and unfiltered, with several options available for your choice.
While Manuka honey has become the most popular choice for use in skincare products, Kanuka honey is also frequently used.
It is an ideal option for addressing skin conditions such as rosacea or psoriasis.
Suppose you want to incorporate honey with other types of ingredients, especially in a DIY at-home setting.
In that case, it is essential to perform a patch test of all the ingredients first to ensure an allergic reaction does not occur.
Many types of ingredients can also be used in conjunction with honey, once you determine the kind of concern you are looking to address.
For example, if you have dry skin that needs additional moisture, a honey and papaya enzyme mask may be able to deliver the hydration you are looking for.
Conversely, if your skin is more oily or prone to breakouts, you may find a lemon and honey face mask to be more beneficial for your skin.
The lemon and honey mixture will be able to deeply cleanse and exfoliate the pores, reducing the appearance of potential breakouts.
The combination of the two ingredients will also work to fade discoloration left behind by acne marks or scars.
However, if you are using a lemon and honey mixture, it is also best to avoid excess sun exposure, as it can cause your skin to be extra sensitive.
Overall, honey can be combined with various ingredients, depending on your skin type and the specific concern you are targeting.
Conclusion
As detailed above, honey offers a myriad of benefits for your skin, including hydration, soothing, and brightening the overall complexion.
While it may be tempting to run to your pantry to start applying honey right now, it is essential to note the type of honey you are using for skincare purposes.
Raw, unprocessed honey, especially one like Manuka honey, is what you want to look for when incorporating this ingredient into your skincare routine.
Many professional skincare brands have also begun highlighting Manuka honey, or other raw honeys, in their product lines.
It is a powerhouse ingredient that works for most skin types and can also work in conjunction with other natural or synthetic ingredients already present in your skincare routine.
Honey is an ingredient that can treat acne and breakout-prone skin due to its anti-bacterial properties.
It can help soothe irritation in sensitive skin, especially for individuals with specific skin conditions, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
As it also contains traces of hydrogen peroxide, it can help brighten and even out discoloration left behind by scars or acne marks.
Honey has been used effectively to treat burns, wounds, and other injuries for years, and it is now getting the attention and recognition it deserves for its beneficial skincare properties.
While honey works for almost all skin types, keep in mind that if you have any potential or known bee allergies,
you should steer clear of this ingredient to avoid an allergic reaction.
However, if you are interested in incorporating more DIY at-home, natural ingredients into your skincare routine, working with raw, unfiltered honey is an ideal place to start!
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