Honey Face Mask for Clear, Glowing Skin
I recently visited the Honey Hive in Taupo, New Zealand and now I’m fascinated by bees! I’ve always loved honey, but now I have an even greater appreciation for it. One bee will visit thousands of flowers in its lifetime and will produce only 1/2 a teaspoon of honey. And yet that honey holds amazing nutritional and healing properties. Honey is naturally antibacterial and contains powerful healing enzymes.
Honey is obviously tastes great as a sweetener in your tea or baked goods, but there are heaps of external uses as well. It can be used as a natural antibiotic on burns or scrapes, and it can be used as a natural acne treatment!
The Search for Clear Skin
Can I be straight up with you? Is that OK? I’m 26 and I still deal with acne. It’s gross, I know. I’ve wondered for years when I would “grow out of it.” But since I’ve been getting back to my roots and learning about true nutrition, I’ve come to realize that everything I could have done wrong through my life, I’ve done.
Bummer, huh?
Just about all skin conditions originate in the gut–from an imbalance of good & bad bacteria. There are lots of things that can cause that imbalance, and unfortunately I’m the walking poster child for many of them. So here we go:
- I was bottle fed as a baby
- Took antibiotics for every cough & cold growing up
- Drank pasteurized milk
- Ate a regular diet of processed & packaged foods (including waaaaay too much sugar)
- Took birth control pills for years
- Then stripped all the natural oils from my face with harsh chemical products.
Sigh. So I’m working on restoring a good balance of bacteria in my gut by taking a high quality probiotic supplement, cutting sugar and pasteurized dairy out of my diet as much as possible, and starting to implement fermented foods.
I’ve tried a number of natural acne face washes and lotions from the health food store, but they didn’t do much good. I finally just quit washing my face altogether and instead only used coconut oil as a moisturizer (it’s antibacterial as well). Surprisingly enough, washing or not washing my face didn’t make an ounce of difference in my acne, but it did restore the balance of oil on my skin. No more time wasted scrubbing my face twice a day with smelly sulfur based soap! And I no longer deal with oily or dry skin. (Score!)
So, back to the honey. You’ve probably already surmised that I’m going to tell you about a honey face mask for acne. Not only does putting honey on my face keep my acne at bay better than almost anything else (what I eat is the most important), but it has improved the quality of my skin within days.
Here’s how I do it:
How to Make a Honey Face Mask
1. Pull your hair back well with with head band and remove any makeup (or not, but definitely remove eye makeup with this natural make-up remover).
2. Take about a teaspoon of raw honey from the jar using a spoon or the tips of your fingers.
3. Rub your fingertips together a bit, then smear the honey on your face evenly. I find it helps to dot it on first, then smear gently.
4. Leave it on your face anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. (Fix your breakfast, wash the dishes, brush your teeth, read a book. There are plenty of things you can do with honey on your face.)
5. Rinse off with warm water, then pat your face dry. You’ll be surprised at how easily it comes off!
I often follow my honey mask with an apple cider vinegar toner, then moisturize with coconut oil. Don’t worry–the wonderful fragrances from the honey and coconut oil override the potency of the vinegar.
A few notes for you about the honey mask:
- You can moisten your face with a small bit of water before applying the honey. This makes it way easier to spread, but you don’t want to water down the honey. Try splashing some water on your face, then patting it almost dry with a towel.
- Do this every. single. day for at least 2 weeks to get started. Twice a day is ideal, but once a day is alright, too. After a while you can reduce the frequency of honey masks and just use coconut oil.
- Choose a raw, unpasteurized honey to make sure all the enzymes and nutrients are in tact.
Who’s willing to try putting food on your face? If you deal with any kind of skin problem, honey can be incredibly beneficial. And you can’t get much easier (and truly cost effective) than one simple ingredient for a homemade beauty product.
As a side note, I’ve also learned that mead (fermented honey wine) is incredible! If anyone has had experience making their own mead, please let me know. I want to learn!
Who’s in for the honey face mask challenge? Have you already tried using honey on your face? What has your experience been like?
This post is linked to Monday Mania, Simple Lives Thursday, Fight Back Friday
Comments are closed.
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit
September 26, 2011 at 6:38 amI’m a poster child too! That list seems all too familiar. I used to use honey as a face mask, but I found it left me with all these tiny zits. It was so odd. It felt fantastic though.
Lori Winter
September 26, 2011 at 4:16 pmIsn’t it frustrating?! I feel your pain.
And I’m glad you mentioned that about seeming to break out more when doing the honey. I totally forgot to include this in my post. As the honey does it’s work, your face actually can get worse before it gets better. It’s just pulling all the toxins out to the surface. I used to be scared to try things like this before because I didn’t want my face getting any worse, but once you cross that barrier things get much better! :)
Ethan Prusiecki
November 6, 2012 at 12:33 pmI heard you can also put cinnamon in the honey for the mask, is that cool?
Chan
August 13, 2013 at 6:43 pmHi Lori. Can you tell me which prognostic you use. Thanks
Monique
August 23, 2012 at 9:38 pmI tried it to and got little small bumps
pendingroad
September 25, 2012 at 10:44 ami got small bumps all over my face, places where there was never bumps before. and i dont even suffer from acne. just normal combination skin. i wanted to try this out to achieve better skin over all via natural methods.
and had a visit to the doctor today whom prescribed some cream and oral medication.
im not allergic to honey, been consuming and using it externally for cuts and insect bites.
however when used as mask, my face reacts totally the opposite.
i understand that it gets worse before it gets better.worse how? pls clarify as im fricking out. how long til the ‘get worse before it gets better’ phase pass?
thank you and looking fwd to ur reply
Becky
October 15, 2012 at 11:39 amI believe that the honey pulls out the toxins from your face, which is why it appears to get worse before it gets better. Same with doing a big detox or cleanse, or changing to a really healthy diet – your body is ridding itself of toxins. Some people may get sick, and then think that the diet or cleanse is hurting them, but really it’s all of those gross toxins coming out of your body – after they’re gone, you will feel great!
Peyton Alexandra
June 8, 2013 at 3:45 amTry steaming your face while wearing the honey mask. It will open up your pores and let them “breathe” which is very helpful in clearing up acne and clogged pores. Helps your skin push out all the nasties c:
I haven’t tried steaming with the mask on, but it would make sense that it might drip off with all the sweat and water, which I would think would be okay if you kept reapplying the honey. Or, better yet, honey mask, steam, honey mask, rinse, moisturize.
Hope this helps someone even though I’m a couple years late!
Aaron
June 26, 2013 at 7:53 pmThanks for this information! It’s really helping!
nichole
September 14, 2014 at 4:48 amwhat happens when you use the honey mask is that it brings all the toxins under your skin to the surface so those little zits you see are the toxins that were lying in your pores. the zits you can see are actually about two weeks old.
olivia
October 27, 2014 at 11:47 amI have been washing my face with hot water, (it open pores) leave on for 20 minutes. Then I was my face hot water, ( not extremely hot), then pad my face, get a ice cube (closes pores) and rub all through your face, neck or where ever you are doing the honey.
I have been doing it for a month, then my niece came by and asked me what have you been doing to your face, it looks so smooth.
So, I have to tell you it works!
Brit
March 12, 2015 at 12:17 pmHi Lori,
How long did it take for your skin to stop purging? i’ve used the honey mask now for a few days and I am starting to get those little tiny pimples all over my face, but less of the big zits.
Erica
September 26, 2011 at 4:23 pmI am totally in for the challenge! I’ve had problems with my face breaking out all my life, and I too, was put on birth control when I was younger…So I am totally going to try this!
Great post as usual, Lori! Thanks for sharing the info :)
Lori Winter
September 26, 2011 at 4:37 pmThanks Erica! Bring on the honey :)
I’m looking forward to your report in two weeks!
Chan
August 13, 2013 at 6:44 pmDarn auto correct…. :) probiotic
Sarah
April 12, 2014 at 7:05 pmCan I use honey that isnt raw?
Melissa@CelluliteInvestigation
September 26, 2011 at 6:56 pmI love honey masks too, Lori! I never tried doing them everyday, though. I like to mix it with an egg yolk for the phospholipids. It’s really good at restoring hydration to the skin.
I recently figured out that my chronic acne was caused by fluoride in my diet. Crazy, huh!
Fabeien
March 12, 2013 at 4:56 amMorning How are you,
I am in Rwanda in Eastern African and I want to ask you to how I can find a markwet of Honey.
My e-mail is: tuyisenge.fabien@yahoo.com
Ashley a
July 22, 2014 at 11:58 amCaused by flouride?? Omg please do tell as all the flouride in the water is a big concern of mine
jill
September 26, 2011 at 9:45 pmHi,
This post is so informative. I would love for you to come
share it at FAT TUESDAY. I hope you will
put FAT TUESDAY on your list of carnivals to visit
and link to each week!
http://realfoodforager.com/2011/09/fat-tuesday-september-27-2011/
Detox Baths | Yolks, Kefir, and Gristle
October 3, 2011 at 6:52 am[…] Honey. It seems I’ve been seeing a number of people talking about using raw honey as a face mask, and I thought to myself, why not use it as a full-body pre-bath mask, like I often use the clay? […]
xXcybeleXx
November 5, 2011 at 11:15 ami didn’t do honey masks on my face per se, but i did use raw honey as a cleanser and leave it on my face for a bit before washing off. i was on benzoyl peroxide which worked but i’m getting icky from the chemicals. needless to say, after 5 days, i broke out in tiny bumps in places i never had before. i think the honey purges my pores (it was pretty congested) and i used propolis as spot treatment (it works so well!). but honey does leave my face very comfortable. am now using epsom salt solution to draw out the bumps into whiteheads. i’ll let you know how it goes!
brlracincwgrl
November 30, 2011 at 8:56 pmI just tried the honey mask and it has left my face feeling amazing! So should i do the honey mask every day for 2 weeks, or just the pure honey left on for 10 minutes for 2 weeks?
Lori Winter
December 5, 2011 at 9:58 amIsn’t it fantastic?! I would recommend using the honey on your face every day whether that is a full hour long mask or just a quick application for a few minutes. The mask would obviously be ideal, but even a quick wash with the honey will help your skin immensely.
elita
September 24, 2013 at 11:06 amtry mixing the honey with ginger olive or pumpkin seed oil ans lemon juice. ginger is an anti-inflammatory, the oils provide vitamin e and pumpkin seed oil offers so much more! i love this one or pumpkin, yogurt, olive oil honey and cinnamon. this will sooth, reduce the redness and help heal your face from the purging.
elita
September 24, 2013 at 11:09 amoh and i forgot but drinking two cups of ginger tea helps sooth your stomach and your intestinal tract, i mix ginger tea with two table spoons of braggs apple cider vinegar and honey with lemon. it’s delicious and fights on the inside while you treat your outsides!
Stillwater92
January 19, 2012 at 4:35 pmHi! Just stumbled by your blog :) !
I am a 19 year old girl and it’s been a week since I have started using honey on my face – and I can feel the difference already!
However, I am not using “raw” honey as I didn’t realise that it was the best when I was buying it…but I will get that one once this pot is finished :)
Do you think the effects of the processed honey is less?
Thanks! :)
Lori Winter
January 20, 2012 at 2:03 pmGlad to hear you’re loving the honey! I would imagine the non-raw honey would still be great for your face, but you’ll be getting so many more enzymes from the raw. If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, they carry a couple versions of great organic, raw honey at great prices!
Ashley
February 3, 2012 at 2:18 amHello! I know this post is a little old, but I just stumbled on your blog!
I started using honey masks about a year ago, and then stopped for some reason. But I’m back on it again! It’s wonderful. I also put a little bit on baking soda in it to make an exfoliater.
I did have a question about moisturizing after – you mentioned coconut oil. I’ve used the oil before but never for my face, how exactly do you use it to moisturize your face? Is there any certain method, or how much to use?
Thanks!
Lori Winter
February 9, 2012 at 4:48 pmGreat idea to add baking soda as an exfoliator. I’m going to try that!
As far as the coconut oil goes, I just take a very small amount on my fingers and spread it over my face. Start small, then add more if you need it, otherwise you’ll be a bit greasy! But the great thing about moisturizing with coconut oil is that it will help balance your skin’s natural production of oil. I used to have super oily skin in the summer but dry, flaky skin in the winter. Now I don’t deal with either!
Jdaxx
April 17, 2012 at 1:05 pmBe careful with Coconut oil! It WILL clog pores. Try Jojoba, Argan or Tea Tree oil for moisture instead :)
haarp
August 30, 2012 at 9:31 amNo it won’t.
Nikki
October 24, 2012 at 9:04 amIt did for me. The tiny clogged pores still haven’t gone away yet
Yvette
November 3, 2012 at 6:20 pmIt clogged my pores very badly too; on my legs, my underarms, and face. I did wish I was going to be able to use it to replace some skincare products. It is comedogenic (look it up.) Be careful if you have sensitive acne prone skin. Try grapeseed oil mixed with some tamanu oil. Works great for me!
Deb
December 4, 2012 at 7:21 pmI used to use it on my face all the time and it didn’t clog my pores (I used cold pressed organic coconut oil). some people seem to experience bumps after using it, particularly on their face, and others don’t have problems with it. It seems to depend on the individual and their skin. however I switched to moisturizing my face with extra virgin olive oil and I like it better.
Simone
January 2, 2013 at 1:24 amOrganic cold pressed coconut oil is non comedogenic. It will NOT clog ur pores!! Look it up.
Tina
January 3, 2013 at 12:03 pmfrom experience, i can say, it use to clog my pores when i put on my face during the day. however, now i put way less and rub it all the way in. because i have naturally oily skin any small amount of excess oil (even one as good as coconut oil) can cause me to break out.
it has been a miracle for my back and so i decided to retry it on my face and it has helped with some improvement, but the thing that has helped most is the magnesium treatment with the spray bottle Lori suggested.
but all skins are different. just because coconut oil does not clog a majority’s pores, does not mean it will not either for a small minority who may be allergic to coconut or just have problems with it setting on the skin.
Leslie
April 17, 2013 at 10:17 pmHow can you tell if it is cold pressed?
Selina
July 1, 2014 at 10:11 pmCoconut oil can block your pores it has a comedogenic rating of 4! That is high! You can use this list to help choose an alternative. It really helped me in thinking about the rating when turning to natural skincare. https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html
I’m currently creating an oil cleanser for acne prone but sensitive skin I’ve written my tips on choosing oils on my blog myeczematales.com
I’m doing honey cleansing atm though. Thanks for all your helpful Tips In different ways of doing it!
Veronica
August 27, 2012 at 3:06 pmI would recommend mixing honey and pure sugar as an exfoliator. The sugar is gentle and dissolves with water.
sima
February 18, 2012 at 12:48 pmHey, I checked your site because I wasnt sure how often I could use honey on my face. Thanks for telling me I can use it everyday!
I totally agree with you abt honey — I’ve only used it for 3 days and I can see the difference ! (And that’s saying a lot because I’m 55!)
Great stuff – honey. Thanks!
Molly
March 4, 2012 at 2:30 amI love honey too! I just made a /scrub of: sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, and water (you can use green tea or roobios tea instead of the water) I rub this on my face in circular motions and left on for ten minutes. It washed off so easily, and my face was left so smooth and soft with a bit of a glow. I am a 15 year old girl and suffer from acne and rosacea, act and honey are so soothing on my skin I am glad i use them now. I also make a toner from rice water and acv and dab it on my face with tissue or cotton balls after washing my face and I leave it on. :)
Molly
March 4, 2012 at 2:30 amFace mask/scrub*
Brad
March 24, 2012 at 11:53 amHi Lori,
So the regimen is (only) honey on face for 10 mins to a hour, then rinse (no soap) then coconut oil every time? or coconut oil only after 2 weeks? Also possibly a cider toner in between. thank you I am trying it for the first time.
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shivani
September 10, 2012 at 7:55 ami used also honey on my face with lemon is it right or not but i hv some acne on my face i want cleaar skin plz give me sollution
Gillian
March 27, 2012 at 11:25 amI am a honey addict. I love to eat it and put it on my skin. It is one of the most nutritious foods ever and takes an extraordinary amount of effort to produce. I love the new face mask I have bought from mama nature which has honey and other bee ingredients (royal jelly, propolis). As far as i am aware it is the only face mask that has is based around bee ingredients. Queen B is up there with the best skin care products and home made face masks i have used. Also check out some of the burts bees products – especially their body lotion.
floridagal
March 31, 2012 at 7:06 pmI’ve been using coconut oil on my body for about a year now and love the effects but never considered using it on my face. As we seem to have the same skin type (oily in summer, dry in winter) I’ll give it a go. I recently ordered some raw organic shea butter though, do you think that would work as well as the coconut oil?
Lori Winter
May 16, 2012 at 12:43 pmShea butter is fantastic! It makes a great moisturizer — just like coconut oil.
CDF Freak
April 27, 2012 at 1:17 amIm afraid I don’t see much of a difference yet. So wondering. How long do you think it will be before it really starts working? FYI I’ve been doin it for a week
Lori Winter
May 2, 2012 at 1:46 pmOh definitely keep it up if you’ve only been at it for a week. Keep in mind that there are lots of factors that play into clear skin. What you eat is huge. Stress (or lack thereof). Nutrient deficiencies. The whole ‘get worse before you get better’ concept plays a part here too. The honey will put out impurities to the surface from under your skin, but that’s a good thing in the long run!
Keep me posted! ;)
corina
March 8, 2013 at 12:32 amIs the honey mask good for all skin tones and genders?
Brenda Peters
April 9, 2013 at 8:01 amHi, I used the honey and lemon facial and after a week my face broke out so bad at first I thought I had measles, chicken pots whatever, I was scared. After reading all these I am thinking that is what it is suppose to do so do I continue to use the mask? How do I clear up the tons of bumps on my face or will they go away on their own?
Laura
August 19, 2013 at 12:13 amHey, I am having the same exact problem right now! I have only been doing the honey mask for a week and I understand that it will take some time to show any results, but my skin has gotten so much worse! I’m willing to stick it out, but seriously how long does it need to “bring all the toxins to the surface”?! I start a new job in a week and I don’t want to go in with worse acne than a teenager. :-/ Is there any way to hurry along the process? Is it a lost cause? How have so many people seen such improvements after only a few days??
Eva
May 2, 2012 at 1:01 pmOmg! I have desperately been trying to find a natural solution for my breakouts on my face and I have to tell you i’m very excited to get home and try this mask out! I also use coconut oil for my hair and it does wonders but never tried using it as a moisturizer so will def. try that too. Thanks for the info and best of luck to you and all the readers.
Lori Winter
May 2, 2012 at 1:47 pmGlad you found me Eva! Washing my face with honey has been revolutionary. It’s not a magical cure, but for me it has played a big part in clearing up my face.
Let me know what you think!
danalynn
May 2, 2012 at 11:27 pmHey there girlies. I have been using homemade face masks for years. One of my favorite masks is a mix of organic honey, grapeseed oil (which I know sounds scary because it’s oil but it’s not!!), egg whites and a splash of milk. I use this mask after I do my weekly facial which includes peels, microderm, enzyme masks, etc. I know this is all about not using chemicals on here, but regardless, after I treat my face with these products I follow with this mask to restore hydration, calm the skin, and give myself a glow. I never have a problem with dry skin, peeling, any of the normal aftermath of a facial. Awesome stuff!
ABIGAIL
July 19, 2014 at 7:35 amis honey good for black skin
Rebecca Morsching
May 7, 2019 at 12:53 amOf course it is. We have the same pores and skin concerns as anyone else. Try it!
Anika
May 3, 2012 at 2:48 amHi,
this post is absolutely useful and thats for sure. I myself had acne problems for real, i used to have them all over my forehead and trust me, honey actually works like anything! But ofcourse i add some more ingredients into it. I am from bangladesh, and we have this Multani Mitti Powder …its a clay for facial masks, and sandal wood powder which helps in cleaning and bringing glow to the face. take one tablespoon of mitti and one teaspoon of sandal wood powder and 1 tea spoon of honey and mix it with a bit of water and make a thick paste. leave it on ur face for 20-30 mins or till it dries. do it for everyday at first few weeks and then reduce it to 2wice a week. And trust me…you will see the result in TWO DAYS. ur skin will have the perfect glow that you will feel like going out even without makeup! but the hardest part ofcourse is i usually live in canada but came to my country for a couple of months and i have access to all this powders here. I am really concerned that when i go back to canada, where would i find those. So, any idea?
jj
May 3, 2012 at 3:52 pmcan i do 2 hours of the honey mask back to back? in other words let it sit for one hour, wash it off, then do another hour with new honey? (instead of doing it at two different times a day)
Lori Winter
May 3, 2012 at 3:57 pmThere aren’t really any hard and fast rules when it comes to doing the honey mask. Personally, I would just try leaving it on for a bit longer than an hour if you wanted, but pay attention to how your skin reacts. Everyone’s experience will be slightly different. I’ve found simply doing it on a daily basis, regardless of the length of time, works very well for me.
Avenging Jayde
September 27, 2012 at 8:48 amI am 13 and this may sound weird but I’m near the end of “changing” and want to get rid of zits and pimples for good. So I am taking this challenge I quill reply in a few week with the results
Ps I have done a honey face mask before just not regularly
CDF Freak
May 3, 2012 at 8:16 pmThank you ^_^
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hela
May 13, 2012 at 12:30 ami’am from tunisia. i am a honey addict. couple weeks ago i made a discovery : almond honey directly from producer. it is more mutch better than all other honeys i have ever tried. 5 to ten minutes-every day, once a week, as you feel it. it is of visible whitening, smouthing and unifing. after it put argan oil or sesam oil. it’s also magic
KeriT
May 15, 2012 at 7:50 pmThank you soo much! I have very oily skin, which is very acne prone, and after my first application, I noticed a difference! My skin was not as oily, my pimple that I had was smaller, and my skin was so smooth! I’m a teenager, so naturally I will have acne, but this calmed it down. I did notice lots of tiny pimples that I hadn’t known were there.. is this normal?
Xoxo – Keri
Lori Winter
May 16, 2012 at 12:47 pmHi Keri! It’s definitely normal to see a slight increase in pimples when you start using the honey. Sometimes you have to get worse before you can get better as the honey is pulling the toxins to the surface of your skin. But don’t worry – you want to get all that junk OUT! ;)
It also pays to eat well. The vast majority of skin conditions (including acne — which doesn’t have to be inevitable, even if you are a teenager!) begin in your gut. Stay away from sugar, refined grains, pasteurized dairy and processed foods and you’ll notice a difference!
Nazia
July 28, 2013 at 12:08 amHey lori, iam frm india n im 13.. i hv used honey oly once with a facemask and it didn’t cause any harm at all.. But nw i hv decided to apply a mixture of honey n curd to my face..wil it help?
nycook
May 17, 2012 at 1:31 pmHi, Lori. I stumbled upon your great website. I am intrigued with the honey facial. I read it with much interest and all of the comments, too! My question is this: Can I use honey on my non-acne-prone skin? Will it provide beneficial results for my normal skin, as well? Thanks for the great information!
Lori Winter
May 17, 2012 at 2:46 pmThanks so much for stopping by! You can absolutely use the honey mask even if you don’t deal with acne. The antibacterial properties make it a great cleanser and make-up remover for any type of skin. It will help balance your skin’s natural oil production and hydrate at the same time. It may be something you want to do just once or twice a week, or you can use it every day. Regardless – it feels (and tastes!) amazing! :)
Shraddha
May 18, 2012 at 4:29 pmHi LOri, its a great website. After reading the post I have also started applying honey and it works great on face. But I am having small acne and scars on my back, what should i do for that?
Iver
July 13, 2013 at 5:21 pmHey,
i’ve got this oily face and when i wash it it becomes so dry thatwhen i smile it leaves lines and after some time it becomes oily again. And i also have abit of pimples. I really hate this. Please tell me will honey help? And i dont have coconut oil. I really need your help! Please!