Honey - A Great Skin Cleanser

May 12, 2008

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I have always had large pores and oily skin, and because of this felt that I needed to use a facial cleanser specifically formulated to fight acne. If it didn’t contain salicylic acid, I thought my skin would erupt into an oily, broken out mess. But then I started noticing that my skin was getting worse. I was looking worse than I did in high school! The brand I was using was actually trapping the blockage inside my pores by drying out the top layer of my skin; which would then get inflamed. I knew I had to try something different, so I began to research natural skin care.

What I discovered is that honey is a gentle, effective cleanser for acne prone skin, due to it’s healing and antibacterial qualities. It has been used for centuries in the dressings of wounds and burns, but only more recently has the chemical properties explaining these benefits been discovered. The pH level of honey (3.5 - 4.5) is closer to that of the acid mantle (the mixture of sebum and sweat protecting it from the elements) on our skin (4 - 5.5) than other skin cleansers, which may use strong detergents. This mild acidity helps discourage the growth of bacteria and fungi. If the acid mantle is disrupted or loses its acidity, the skin becomes more prone to damage and infection. Honey also contains antioxidants and vitamins in concentrations similar to fruits and vegetables.

From the first day I tried honey on my skin, I began to see benefits that have caused me to stop the use of acne wash forever. First off, I noticed how soft it felt to smooth it on my skin. You don’t have to worry about stinging soap getting into your eyes, and if some drips into your mouth it doesn’t taste awful! Though I still have pores that are prone to blackheads, their size has been reduced, and no longer is my skin so tight and dry on the surface. The blockages are more easily removed. I have less redness on the areas of my skin that were prone to rosacea. I find I no longer have to use moisturizer on my entire face, because that ’squeaky clean’ dry feeling is eliminated. I’m using a touch of olive oil around the tender skin of my eyes and that’s it. I have also read that hazelnut oil makes a good, light moisturizer for oily skin. On days when I need a little more moisture, I also use 100% pure aloe vera gel on my t-zone. About once a week, I exfoliate by adding a little brown or cane sugar to the honey and very gently massage the least sensitive areas.

I’m saving money by using these natural ingredients that are found in every grocery store. I used to spend $6.99 on each bottle of acne wash, plus another $4 - 6 trying out different moisturizers that always seemed to break out my skin, no matter how gentle they claimed to be. Now, honey costs me around $2, the olive oil is already in my kitchen, and a bottle of aloe vera can be bought for a dollar.

If you’re having issues with your skin, I urge you to give these simple and natural measures a try and see if it doesn’t improve it!

Article by: Marisa Miller is the co-owner of Business In Color - a t-shirt screen printing and graphic design business she runs with her family from home.

Posted by Christina | Filed Under Beauty & Style 

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One Response to “Honey - A Great Skin Cleanser”

  1. Suzanne B. (Crunchy Green Mom) on May 13th, 2008 8:32 am

    I LOVE this article. I am always looking for new ways to help my daughter with her acne issues, and this seems like the best option for the family and for her (Oh, and definatly of the environment!) I’m going to have her try it.

    Have you noticed an increased strength in certain types of honey? Or just honey as a whole?

    Suzanne B. (Crunchy Green Mom)s last blog post..5th Annual MommyFest

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