If you’ve scoured the internet for natural acne remedies I’m sure you will have come across the oil cleansing method. If not, it involves cleansing your skin of impurities with only oil. Sounds terrifying right?! However, I’m not talking about the greasy vegetable oil that you find in the supermarkets I’m talking about organic, cold-pressed oils like Hemp Seed, Jojoba and Rosehip! I used to be afraid of oils too, convinced that any type of oil was going to cause a horrific acne outbreak. But over the years I’ve learned that some oils won’t clog your pores they can even make your skin less oily! You can read more about the Oil Cleansing Method or (OCM) here.

Honey cleansing for acne prone skin

Anyway, this post isn’t about oil cleansing. It’s about a lesser know cleansing method, but one I think is much more beneficial to the skin. I’m talking about honey cleansing! You’re probably thinking I’ve gone mad, but hear me out! Honey is a fantastic natural acne remedy and is often used in homemade face masks and DIY beauty treatments. I personally think that the benefits of raw honey are just too good to be used as a once-a-week face mask and I think everyone should get into the habit of Honey Cleansing for clearer skin – especially those of us with acne!

Raw honey benefits for acne prone skin:

• Honey removes dirt and impurities without stripping your skin of its natural oils. You know those conventional foaming acne face washes? Guaranteed they’ll contain SLS which just strips your skin leaving it dry and prone to excess oil production.
• Honey contains high levels of natural antibacterial and prebiotics which are great at reducing and preventing breakouts.
• Honey is high in antioxidants which neutralises free radicals which can damage the skin.
• Honey is a great moisturiser – the sugars act as a natural humectant and emollient that increases hydration and reduces dryness in the skin. I definitely noticed the difference in the softness of my skin after just one use!
• Honey is so gentle it can be used on all skin types – even those prone to eczema!
• Honey regulates the skins pH which helps promote tissue healing and regeneration.
• You might think a jar of raw honey is expensive, but it’s much much cheaper than a store bought cleanser – even an expensive jar of Manuka Honey will still be cheaper than most natural and organic cleansers – and it’ll be more effective at fighting acne too!

What type of honey is right for you?

Honey cleansing, just like oil cleansing, is all about quality. The cheap rubbish just won’t do! It’s gotta be organic and raw! But with hundreds of different types out there, which honey is best?

There are hundreds of different types of honey – depending on the primary type of blossom the bees are feeding on. For example, Lavender Honey is made from bees feeding on lavender blossom. If you like a specific plant oil for your skin, then you may benefit from choosing a honey which is made from the blossom of that plant! For example, I love using Thyme for acne prone skin – so I’m intrigued to see if Thyme Honey works better at battling blemishes as study done by Leeds Metropolitan University showed Thyme tincture actually has a greater antibacterial effect on acne than standard concentrations of benzoyl peroxide! You can read more about the benefits of Thyme for clear skin here. Anyway, with this in mind, I’m going to make a blend of Manuka and Thyme honey to use as my daily cleanser and see if there’s any difference!

There is evidence that the darker the honey, the more antioxidants it contains! Tests carried out at the University of Illinois showed that Buckwheat honey had the highest amount of antioxidants, with about three times as more as acacia honey – which is much paler in colour. So if in doubt, go for the darkest coloured honey you can find for extra skin-friendly antioxidants.

Manuka Honey is made from the New Zealand Manuka bush and boasts superior acne-fighting antibacterial and healing properties so if it’s a powerful blemish busting cleanser you’re looking for, it’s worth splashing the cash for a pot of Manuka. Look for the highest number you can find (i.e 12+ or 16+ etc) – these numbers indicated the UMF/AMF – or Unique/Antibacterial Manuka Factor, which is a grading system that assures purity and quality of the honey. The higher the number – the more goodness you’ll be giving your skin!

How to honey cleanse for acne prone skin

• I like to honey cleanse both morning and night as it leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth. However it doesn’t work for removing make-up so it’s still important to oil cleanse to remove any traces of make-up before honey cleansing. In the morning I simply warm my skin up with warm water before honey cleansing.
• Take about 1/4 teaspoon of honey and warm it between your fingers (I keep a small 1/4tsp measuring spoon in my bathroom specifically for my honey cleansing routine!)
• Smooth it across your face and massage it slowly into your skin
• Rinse the honey off with warm water then splash your face with cold water.
• Pat your skin dry and finish with a couple of drops of your favourite facial oil.
• I try to leave the layer of honey on for at least 5-10 minutes when I can – I leave it on while I brush my teeth and hair or while I finish the washing-up!

So there you have it, raw honey cleansing for a clearer complexion. Remember, raw honey has lots of natural anti-bacterial properties and contains enzymes and probiotics which make it excellent for the skin, especially acne-prone skin but acne is usually the symptom of an internal problem with digestion or hormones, or both! So if you’re suffering from persistent acne then it’s worth looking at you diet too!

Give the honey challenge a go!

I challenge you all to honey cleanse at least once a day for two weeks! I guarantee it’ll give your skin a gorgeous glow and you’ll never go back to a normal cleanser again! Let me know if you give it a go in the comments below – I’d love to hear how you all get on!

Peace, Love & Clear Skin