DIY All-Natural Honey Face Mask

Picture this: it’s 2009, and I had just started puberty to discover I was destined to live my teenage years with acne. Real bad acne. As a kid who was already shy and quiet, it caused me to withdraw into myself even further. I was desperate to restore my skin to its prepubescent state, but… I had no money, of course, and my father didn’t entertain me wanting to try another face wash or cream every time we entered the store for long. 

Luckily for me, there were hundreds of do-it-yourself skincare “remedies” running rampant on YouTube, with ingredients already in my house! Unfortunately, I ran with them.  From dabbing the household toothpaste on my pimples to slathering the yogurt I found in the back of the fridge all over my face, I had tried it all (I also tried straight olive oil as an alternative to shaving cream and almost caused my father to slip and fall in the shower… it was indeed an era). 

Following the disappointing results which often irritated my skin further (and what did I expect, using toothpaste and over processed yogurt?), I had given up on do-it-yourself skincare. 

Years later, however, I came across a raving review from someone who used honey to improve her acne. For some reason, I was compelled to give it an attempt, and I am so very grateful I did. 

What is Honey and How is It Made?

Honey is made by bees. Bees will leave their hive and forage for sugary nectar from flowers. Bees will use their proboscis to suck the nectar from the flower and store it in their second stomach (also referred to as the “honey stomach”) which does not digest the nectar.

The bees will return to the hive with the nectar and another worker bee will retrieve the foraged nectar. The worker bee who retrieves the nectar chews it, removing water and adding enzymes to break the nectar down, to form a simple syrup. The syrup will then be distributed over and deposited into the comb of the hive, where water will continue to evaporate on its own as well as from the bees fanning their wings. Once the syrup is at the correct consistency and water content level, the syrup is now considered honey. The bee will “cap” the comb with beeswax to store it, and a beekeeper will harvest the honey.

The Skincare Benefits of Honey

According to Healthline, “the unique process that creates honey makes it especially valuable for cosmetic uses.” Honey…

  • Balances bacteria
  • Speeds healing process
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Exfoliates
  • Brightens and lightens
  • Evens skin tone
  • Fades scars
  • Softens

What Honey Should I Use?

Whenever I am purchasing honey, I look for organic, raw honey

It important to ensure the honey is raw. Raw honey is the closest to you will get to “as it exists in the beehive.” Raw honey is unprocessed: it is unfiltered and unpasteurized, which reduces the chances that any of the beneficial pollen, bacteria, nutrients, and antioxidants are destroyed. Additionally, this eliminates the chance you pick up a bottle that contains added sugar and/or sweeteners, which is not what we are wanting to put on our face!

Organic honey is that which is produced and harvested from a bee farm that does not use pesticides and chemicals, as it is following the USDA Organic Regulations. I don’t know about you, but if I have the choice, I am getting the honey that has not come into contact with pesticides or chemicals. However, what is most important is that you at least get raw honey.

How I Use Honey for my Skin

(Before applying honey to the entirety of your face, do a test patch on a small area of your skin to ensure your skin will not have an adverse reaction.)

While many will recommend you mix lemon juice with the honey, I do not do this. It is not that I believe this will have a negative effect, it is just that I tested honey on my skin without adding lemon juice and found the results to be remarkable on their own! Besides, it means no mixing, no extra containers, just a simple one-ingredient face mask.

I keep a bottle of the honey of my choice in my bathroom, however, you can pour your honey into a separate container to keep in the bathroom should you want to use the same honey in the kitchen.

After washing my face, I pull my hair back with a spa headband and simply squeeze some honey onto my fingertips. I start applying it to my face in a thin layer, just enough to coat the skin and be tacky to the touch. If you apply too much, it will drip, and it’s not fun to get sticky honey on your clothes or in your hair, and the sensation doesn’t feel great, either. I then leave the honey on my face for at least thirty minutes, but you can leave it on your face for longer. When your desired time is done, rinse the honey from your face, pat it dry, and continue with your skincare routine. I typically follow this step with the Thayers Witch Hazel toner and moisturize with the Thayers Witch Hazel moisturizer.

When I was testing honey on my face, I used it every night for about a week straight and found it did not irritate my skin. However, I typically use it twice a week now, as I alternate with the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask… and let’s be honest, there are some nights I don’t want to have the extra step, as simple as this honey face mask is! 

Have you included honey in your skincare routine? What do you differently? Do you combine it with other ingredients? Drop a comment below – we would love to hear from you.