Manuka honey contains 4 times the amount of nutritional properties as regular honey; this means more amino acids, more minerals, more vitamins and more immune system support.

Manuka Honey 101 + Skin Mask

Nowadays, we have so many cosmetic and body care choices that is becomes rather difficult choosing what to buy. And if you are anything like me–an ingredient reader–it can be quite time consuming picking out a mere travel deodorant. Let me give you an example of what we face: organic vs. synthetic, cosmeceutical vs. natural, cream vs. gel, cheap vs. expensive, etc., etc. I could go on and on, but at the end of the day, I always go back to the same idea: if you can’t eat it, then it shouldn’t go on or in the body. This really starts to narrow it down. Funny enough, I sometimes end up leaving a store completely empty handed due to my ultimate buying question: Can I make it myself? Almost 100% of the time I can firmly say, yes! This brings me to our recipe–one that is so truly natural–you can eat it.

I was inspired to create this Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Mask after a weekend spent entirely with 16 girls for a friend’s bachelorette party in Santa Barbara, CA. Yes, we did all the things girls do: shop, brunch, sail, yoga, watch Magic Mike, and most importantly share beauty secrets. The highlight of our beauty talk centered around Manuka honey and the multi-purpose health properties this buzz-worthy treat offers. After hashing out all of our non-toxic beauty secrets, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a small jar of this honey bee “gold” and do a little more research on why it is so magical.

Benefits of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey comes from New Zealand and is by far no ordinary honey at all. In fact, Manuka honey is basically a medicine. Because this honey is produced from bees who pollinate the Manuka bush (better known as the Tea Tree bush/a.k.a Tea Tree Oil), this gives the honey incredibly strong antibacterial properties. Moreover, it is said that Manuka honey contains 4 times the amount of nutritional properties as regular honey; this means more amino acids, more minerals, more vitamins and more immune system support. However, not all Manuka honey is created equal. There is actually a standard of measure called “Unique Manuka Factor,” to ensure the medicinal or antibacterial strength of this special honey. Genuine UMF Manuka Honey should state UMF 10+ or more. The higher the number, the stronger the antibacterial properties. UMF16 and up is considered a superior quality. Keep in mind, genuine UMF Manuka Honey should come from New Zealand and have the UMF label, as well as the company’s name and license number. The key to take away: due to Manuka honey’s strong antibacterial properties, it is effective against a range of very resistant bacteria…think acne!

Other Key Benefits of Manuka Honey (and why you should eat it)

Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Mask

I created the Manuka honey skin brightening mask from only two edible ingredients: 1) Manuka Honey and 2) Fresh Lemon Juice. Yes, this mask is so healthy, you can eat it…and you really should!

Ingredients:

• 1-2 teaspoons of Manuka Honey (I used Manuka Doctor 20+)
• 1-2 teaspoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

1. Mix equals parts of the two ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to skin with fingers. Leave on skin for up to an hour or spot treat over night to fade age/sun spots. *Repeat 1-2 times per week until you see desired results.

In Divine Health,

Kristin

xoxo

References: 

Dr. Axe. “10 Proven Manuka Honey Uses & Benefits.” Retrieved from https://draxe.com/manuka-honey-benefits-uses/

The World’s Healthiest Foods. “Lemon/Limes.” Retrieved from http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27

Miller, P. (2012) “How to Lighten Skin Naturally.” Retrieved from http://blog.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/2012/05/09/can-lemon-juice-really-help-lighten-your-skin-2/