Almost everyone knows that honey is a delicious addition to various dishes and desserts, but few realize that it’s also a powerful skincare ingredient. It may seem counterintuitive to apply sugar to your skin, but honey can be extremely helpful in healing your skin from multiple concerns. That said, knowing how to use it properly is one of the most important factors when it comes to adding honey to your skincare routine. Follow along to learn how long you should leave honey on your face for the best possible results.
As a Daily Cleanser
If you know anything about skincare, you understand the importance of having a reliable daily cleanser for your skin. While you most likely grab yours from the beauty section, you might consider ditching your usual product for honey. Interestingly, honey harbors antibacterial, pore-opening, and hydrating properties, making it the perfect choice for a cleanser.
Simply wet your face with warm water and apply a small amount of honey. Massage it in using circular motions for at least 30 seconds before rinsing—continue with your usual skincare routine.
As an Acne and Scar Treatment
Because raw honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it works great when it comes to battling active breakouts and acne scars. If you’ve ever struggled with acne, you know that it can be painful and diminish your confidence. While you might’ve tried various acne treatments from the beauty aisle, honey is a natural acne-fighting solution.
Think of using honey as a spot treatment for your acne or scars. Be sure to start with clean skin, and apply raw honey directly to the affected areas. Leave it on your skin for at least 20 minutes, but you can wait up to an hour to reap all the benefits.
As a Brightener or Lightener
Because raw honey is relatively acidic, it has minor bleaching effects. With that in mind, many enjoy using it to increase their skin’s brightness or to treat hyperpigmentation. There’s nothing worse than feeling dull in your skin; fortunately, honey can help.
If you want to use honey to brighten or lighten your skin, consider adding it to your moisturizer. Doing so allows its brightening and lightening properties to reach your entire face, and you can leave it on without issue.
As an Exfoliant
Interestingly, honey is a natural exfoliator—helping to remove dead, dry skin cells from your face. As a result, you can achieve smooth, hydrated skin by using natural ingredients to speed up your skin cell turnover rate.
Using honey as an exfoliator is simple—combine it with a splash of apple cider vinegar and apply a thin layer to your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly; do this twice weekly for the best results.
Now that you know how long you should leave honey on your face, you might want to buy bulk raw honey to use in your skincare routine. Although raw honey is an excellent ingredient for your pantry, it’s one of the most effective solutions to the most common skin woes.