What Is Manuka Honey?

Manuka Honey Gets Its Name from the Plant It’s Derived From, Which Is Native to New Zealand. “Manuka Honey Is Produced from Bees That Pollinate the Tea Tree Bush, Sometimes Called the Manuka Bush [Or Tree], ” Says Benjamin Knight Fuchs, R Ph, a Nutritionist, Pharmacist and Beauty Chemist, Who Is the Founder of Truth Treatment Systems Skincare Line. “All Honeys Result from the Actions of Bee Biochemistry Upon Nectar Gathered for Different Flowering Plants. in This Way, Manuka Honey Is Simultaneously Similar to and Unique from Other Types of Honey. ”

The Benefits of Using Manuka Honey for Skin

Think of Manuka as a Supercharged Version of Honey, at Least When It Comes to the Skincare Benefits It Offers. “Like All Honeys, Manuka Honey Is a Source of Enzymes, Hydroxy Acids and Vitamins That Can Provide Skin Benefits, ” Says Fuchs. but That’s Not Where This Substance’s Advantages End. Not Only Does Manuka Honey Have Antibacterial Effects, but It Also Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties Said to Be “More Significant” Than Other Honeys, According to Fuchs. and This Is Great for Nourishing and Healing Those Who Have Distressed Skin. Below Are a Few Skin Conditions That Can Benefit from Treatment with Manuka Honey.

1. It Heals Acne, Wounds and Sunburns

Uzzardi Says Manuka Honey’s Antimicrobial Properties Make It an “Ideal Treatment for Wounds and Healing, Including Acne. ” for Poe, Its Soothing, Anti-Inflammatory Properties Can “Calm Sun-Kissed and Irritated Skin While Reducing Redness. ”

2. It Treats Certain Types of Dermatitis, Psoriasis and Dry Skin

Erica Marie Gatt, Esthetician and Founder of the Skincare Line Em Skin, Says Manuka Honey Can Soften and Smooth, Thanks to Its Chemistry as a Humectant, Which Allows It to Draw Moisture into the Skin to Hydrate It. Manuka Honey Can Also Work Wonders on Irritated or Inflamed Skin, Says Gatt. “It May Help Reduce Redness and Calm Sensitive Skin Conditions, Like Eczema or Rosacea, ” She Adds.

3. It Reverses Aging or Dull Skin

“Manuka Honey Also Has a Low pH That Can Help Stimulate Growth Factors and Skin Cell Growth, ” Says Fuchs. to That End, Poe Adds That Manuka’s High Levels of Polyphenols Can Provide Some Protection Against Fine Lines and Wrinkles That May Be Caused by Free Radical Damage from the Sun and Environment. This Helps Skin Look More Youthful and Glowing.

How to Make a Diy Manuka Honey Face Mask

Just Like Other Honeys, the Texture of Manuka Honey Can Be Thick and Sticky. So It Can Be Mixed with Other Ingredients to Make It Easier to Apply. Uzzardi Recommends Adding in a Bit of Oil, Like 2 Tsp. of Olive or Avocado Oil to 1 Tbs. of Manuka Honey and Using a Facial Brush to Coat Your Face Evenly. Let Sit for 15 Minutes, Rinse, Then Apply Skin Care.

How to Pick a Manuka Honey for Skin

Whether You Choose to Apply Manuka Honey Straight to Your Skin or in Some Kind of a Mixture, All Versions of the Honey Aren’t Created Equally. “To Target Skin Concerns Such as Breakouts, Post-Acne Marks or Redness, Use at Least a Umf 15 or 500+ Mgo Manuka Honey, ” Says Poe. “Higher-Rated Manuka Honey Ensures More Therapeutic Results. ” One to Try: New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey.

The Best Skincare Products Made with Manuka Honey

Don’t Want to Go the Diy Route? There’s Plenty of Manuka Honey-Infused Skin Care Products to Test Out. Keep Scrolling to See the Ones the Beauty Pros We Talked to Recommend.

Best Manuka Honey Cleanser

Kiwi Botanicals Purifying Honey Melt Facial Cleanser

Bonus: How Hair Benefits from Manuka Honey

The Beautifying Benefits of Manuka Honey Doesn’t Stop with Skin — Hair and the Scalp Can Reap Manuka Honey’s Healing Properties, Too. “I’ve Seen Manuka Honey Used to Treat Dandruff and Scalp Irritation, ” Says Uzzardi. “I Also Have Clients Who Have Seen Increased Hair Growth from Regular Use. ” She Suggests Using Manuka Honey as a Hair Mask and Thoroughly Rinsing It out in the Shower Post-Treatment.

Manuka Honey for Skin: How to Reap Its Benefits

Q: How to Use Manuka Honey for Skin

Clearly, Manuka Honey Is Hyped for a Reason. Now That You Know About All the Pros It Has to Offer, the Next Question Is How to Best Use Manuka Honey for Skin. It Turns out That You Can Apply It Straight out of the Jar as a Spot Treatment for a Blemish or All over Your Face, Like a Moisturizer or Mask for Hydration. Either Way, Uzzardi Suggests Putting Manuka Honey on at Night, When the Skin Goes into Repair Mode.

By Sophia Al-Mansoor

• Oct 8, 2026 • 10 min read

Manuka Honey for Skin: How to Reap Its Benefits

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Honey Has Long Been Touted for Its Healing Properties — People Have Been Adding It to Tea for Centuries to Soothe the Throat. Manuka Honey for Skin, Though? This Buzzy Variant from New Zealand Is Just Starting to Hit Its Stride in the Beauty World. and Thanks Goes to Its Special Composition That Makes It Extra Calming and Healing When Used on the Face and Body. but If You’re Wondering Where to Start with Manuka Honey — How It Works, the Best Way to Apply It and Why You Should Try It — You’ve Come to the Right Place. We Talked to Four Skin Pros About How to Use Manuka Honey for Skin (And Hair Too). Read on for All You Need to Know About This Sweet Ingredient.

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Global Business & E-Commerce Reporter

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.

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