Manuka honey UMF 20+ for skin - my experiment
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free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:51 pm

Thanks for all the comments guys!

The brand I ordered was Comvita, they are one of the biggest international suppliers of good quality bee products. I believe they are the only company that produce UMF 25+ and 30+ grades. Perhaps if you contact Comvita directly, they can give you some overseas suppliers, or simply just google 'umf 20+/25+' etc

I came across an article about using high potency manuka honey being good for gastrointestinal bacteria (despite the high sugar content) and I think it would be really good to use in conjunction of some sort of probiotic supplement to rebuild intestinal flora as well.

Anyhow, back to the subject of vanity - my results of using manuka honey overnight --

I had used diluted honey on top of my regular Zenbiotic products (toner, oxygen replenish, phyto moisturiser) and I also did a Dr H clay mask and exfoliated with the honey. I dilute the honey by mixing a dab in the Zenbiotic toner and mixing in my hands - honey emulsifies with water VERY well.

Firstly, I experienced the slightest tingling sensation, most likely because I had just scrubbed my face anyway. I also used the diluted honey on a few out of character spots on my upper arms and my entire chest area.

The main thing I was worried about was the stickiness (which had been an issue with the BBS serum) but it did not dry taut or feel heavy at all. I know that using sugars (similar to glycerine) diluted in water can be very moisturising, but I really didn't think it made my skin feel awkward.

So after washing my face tonight, I really felt a difference in the softness of my skin. Yes, I had just done a mask and scrub the night before, but it NEVER feels so smooth and soft, normally it just feels slightly smoother but not soft, you can still feel whatever tiny bumps there are.

Basically, many of the small comodones on my skin had disappeared, but the larger spots and milia like blocked pores still remain (something that takes time to clear up anyway). I also noticed upon touching the chest area, there were lots of loose sebum plugs.

So in conclusion for the first day, with the help of a nice clay mask and scrub, the effects of using honey is enhanced because it can penetrate clean skin deeper - otherwise it seems like a wasted effort to use it on layers of dead skin.

I have also spot treated several places with neat honey, we shall see the results tomorrow.

free skin care · Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:08 am

just an fyi re: manuka honey

manuka is a very close relative of melaleuca--i.e., tea tree, but it is about 20x stronger. which is why it has such amazing antiseptic/antibacterial properties...! Living Nature's products are all based on manuka honey, if you are interested. They work very well. But then again it seems as if it is very effective just used straight.

So regarding taste, smell, actions, etc. just think that the bees were working with a plant that closely resembles tea tree. Which is excellent, since honey already has antiseptic properties of its own. It's nice because honey is also a humectant, so it will not dry you out if used topically, as tea tree oil does...

--avalange

free skin care · Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:38 pm

Hi guys

Just an update

I've been using the diluted honey on my face every night since my first post, and I really notice something *different* about my skin.

Firstly, I don't think it has done anything spectacular for the few spots that came up because of my Dr H mask.. even after spot treating with pure honey they did not disappear overnight as I hoped. But the one deep red spot which would have grown did disappear within 2 days and did not develop into one of those whiteheads

The biggest difference I have felt from using the honey is how *clear* my skin is. Apart from the isolated spots, all my pores are extremely clear and my skin texture is incredibly smooth. I also don't exfoliate every day anymore, and I don't experience any major dead skin build up from not exfoliating.

I tried to use a less-diluted mixture on my arms and chest to clear some spots but boy it gets really sticky and uncomfortable - so it is better to use a very diluted solution over a large area.

I would liken using strong active honey on the skin to using a very mild AHA/BHA topical because the enzymes in honey do dissolve dead skin cells without the potential irritation and photo sensitivity.

free skin care · Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:33 pm

For some extra facts on manuka, here is the monthly WALA newsletter Plant of the Month article -

Synonyms for the Manuka: Tea treet
Scientific Name: Leptospermum scoparium J. R. et G. Forst.
Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family)

DESCRIPTION
Manuka is a compact evergreen shrub which is covered for months with copious pink, dark-red or white flowers that are extremely attractive to bees. The colour of the flowers depends on the chromium content of the soil. Fertilised flowers develop feather-light seeds which are dispersed by the wind. The small lanceolate leaves emit an aromatic fragrance if rubbed between the fingers. They taste bitter to sharp. In its native New Zealand the manuka shrub grows up to the vegetation line in various forms ranging from 5-cm high scrub to 15-meter high trees.

DISTRIBUTION/NATIVE HABITAT
Australia, New Zealand

CONSTITUENTS
Manuka essential oil: more than 150 different constituents, including monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.
Bark: triterpenic acids and derivatives, ellagic acid and its esters

USES
Manuka essential oil is obtained from the leaves and twigs of the plant by means of steam distillation. This viscous, yellowish oil with its distinctive odour is very effective against viruses, bacteria and fungi and also reduces swelling. It is used for skin disinfection and to treat eczemas, itching, thrush, athlete’s foot and acne, and can help alleviate sore throat, sinusitis and bronchitis.
Decoctions and infusions of bark are astringent, alleviate gastro-intestinal inflammation and have a soothing action. Manuka honey has proven antibacterial properties.

INTERESTING FACTS
The scientific name Leptospermum is derived from the Greek leptos = thin, fine; and sperma = seed. It describes the appearance of the feather-light seeds.
The indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maoris, have been handing down knowledge of the healing properties of the manuka shrub for a long time. The government of New Zealand recently became aware of this treasure trove of knowledge and has started to subsidise the marketing of manuka oil.
Captain James Cook encountered manuka in 1769 on his New Zealand expedition. His crew prepared fresh leaves of the plant as a tea substitute, and manuka was consequently called tea tree. However, it should not be confused with the Australian tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, the oil of which also has manifold uses. In the literature accounts of the two oils are indeed often mixed up because the plants have the same name.
Incidentally, manuka leaves lose their typical taste when dried.

USE IN SKIN CARE AND REMEDIES
Manuka oil is obtained from New Zealand, where Maoris harvest manuka leaves by hand from shrubs found growing in the wild. The shrubs grow back quickly, so there is no threat to the stands. In the process of steam distillation plant residues occur which are used for mulching and as fertiliser. Manuka oil rounds off the wound-healing and clarifying formula of Dr.Hauschka Pure Care Cover Stick.

free skin care · Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:03 am

Thank you everyone, I'm going to order some Manuka Honey soon, I have used Living Nature products (the Manuka Honey gels) and they are not sticky at all, but they also add some Manuka oil and another oil and my skin breaks out from the little bit of oil, I guess.

I have found a wonderful toner for very sensitive skin (I can't use most toners, they irritate) from Lily Organics (she sells samples, also) and I'll mix it with the Manuka Honey.

Also, I'm wondering about adding an ingredient to the honey to use as a mask once a week, I'm wondering about adding just some fresh pumpkin from a can from the grocery store - I tried putting pumpkin from the can on my face once, and I mixed it just with a little water, and it seemed to work as well as any expensive pumpkin enzyme mask that some companies sell. What do you think about a Pumpkin/Manuka honey mask, dilited with some water or toner? I also love adding fresh lemon juice, just a few drops, to my skincare, it helps disinfect some, and doesn't dry the skin too much if just a tiny bit is used. Shock

Has anyone added Bromelain or Papain enzymes to the honey?

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