One of the most amazing facts about the golden miracle, honey, is that it never spoils. Unlike most face mask ingredients which need to be refrigerated to prevent them from spoiling, honey doesn’t need to be refrigerated. And this makes it a perfect face mask ingredient all on its own! Honey is one of the most nutritious foods on this planet. It contains so many active enzymes and powerful antioxidants that haven’t yet been discovered by modern scientists!
I’ve listed out 5 effective honey face masks for acne which use just one other ingredient besides honey. Keep in mind, if you mix something else with honey, the mixture will spoil after sometime. Okay, let’s first look at the nutrient content of honey which makes it brilliant in treating acne, keeping more zits away and giving a natural glow to skin.
Benefits of Honey for Skin
- Sulfur– Sulfur works as a keratolytic, meaning it helps dry the skin on and around the pimple. This enables the skin to shed faster which results in the acne popping open naturally and healing at a quicker rate.
- Calcium- The epidermal layer of skin is mostly made up of calcium. Low calcium levels cause dry itchy skin.
- Zinc– Zinc is often used as a important ingredient in acne products used topically. It helps fight off acne causing bacteria and germs. It also staves off free radicals which destroy healthy skin cells. Zinc will slow wrinkles and fine lines.
- Potassium– Hydrates skin which is important for restoring oily and acneic skin back to its normal pH.
- Magnesium- Important mineral which maintains the elasticity of skin.
Before we look at the top 5 effective honey face masks for acne, you should be knowing the type of honey you must be using. Your skin is precious and as such, you must show a bit of love and treat it to the most natural and organic products. Buy organic/ raw honey for topical application.
1. Honey Cinnamon Face mask
In Ayurveda, honey has been used since ancient times in most skin care recipes to treat wounds and skin disorders. Honey has powerful antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties which is very effective in helping clear off germs on the face which can create acne.
Cinammon is an Eastern spice which was known popularly in ancient times for its remote antiquity. This aromatic spice, just like honey, has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce and treat acne. Cinnamon will also gently exfoliate an acneic face without aggravating it, since it has a mild abrasive texture.
Not only acne – applying cinnamon and honey topically will help clear off MOST skin infections including eczema, rosacea, ringworm and others.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon raw honey (where to get it)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder (where to get it)
Directions
Combine the above ingredients in a small bowl. Start applying it gently on your clean face. Work in circular motions and scrub softly onto your skin for 1 minute. Let the face mask sit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes.When the time is up, rinse off with warm water first, to ease off the sticky mask, then with cool water to close off pores.
Quick tip
This honey cinnamon face mask is very sticky. You’d be better off putting it on right before a shower so that you can effectively wash it all off. Also, use warm water to help ease off the mask quickly.
2. Honey Oatmeal Face Mask
Honey is anti-inflammatory, meaning it will soothe skin inflammations and swellings such as red acne bumps. It has a soft silky texture which will perfectly calm down angry acne and bring down the inflammation.
The other ingredient for this mask is oatmeal, which is a mild abrasive. It will exfoliate your acneic skin in the most gentle way possible. Oatmeal has microdermabrasion benefits to acneic skin. It will slough off dirt, excess sebum, excess dead cells and grime from deep inside the pores, thereby healing acne and keeping more acne away.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon raw honey (where to get it)
- 1 teaspoon colloidal oatmeal (where to get it)
Directions
Combine the above ingredients thoroughly into a thick paste. Cleanse your face using a mild cleanser and pat dry. Slather the honey oatmeal face mask onto your face in a circular motion. Let it sink in for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water first, then cold water to close off pores. Pat dry with a fluffy towel.
Quick Tip
After washing off the face mask, use a mild toner or if you want to go the natural way, use lemon water to tone your face.
3. Honey Lemon Face Mask
Honey has antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, making it effective in destroying acne bacteria and germs. It is also soothing and heals wounds at a faster rate. For those of us who can’t help picking pimples, honey is our saviour – it will heal up pimple wounds pretty fast!
Juice from a freshly squeezed lemon is brilliant for banishing acne and acne scars – that’s an added bonus alright. Remember honey also has skin lightening properties so this power combo of honey and lemon will fade your acne scars in a jiffy!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of raw honey (where to get it)
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions
Mix up the above ingredients in a small bowl. Using clean fingertips, apply the face mask to your clean face. Let the mask penetrate deep for 10 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water. Pat dry
Quick Tip
Lemon juice can sting and burn – so be really careful to add only 1/2 a teaspoon into your honey face mask. If the lemon juice starts painfully stinging your acne, quickly rinse your face and apply the honey alone.
4. Honey Avocado Face Mask
Polyphenols in honey help steer away notorious free radicals that steal oxygen from healthy skin cells, leaving them dull and lifeless. Free radicals also contribute to acne and pimples by blocking skin pores.
Avocado is rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants as well. It contains vitamin e and anti-inflammatory compounds that heal acne and other skin inflammatory infections. What’s more is that this super food is creamy and feels incredibly silky on your skin – great for relieving painful and inflamed acne!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon raw honey (where to get it)
- A spoonful of mashed avocado
Directions
Scoop out a spoonful of avocado and mash it up into a puree. Stir in 1 tablespoon raw honey until you form a thick consistency. Slather this onto your clean face and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. When it dries up, rinse off with warm water first to loosen up the mask, then with cool water.
Quick Tip
Look for an ripe avocado to make your mask with. If your avocado is overripe, it’ll definitely be easier to mash up using the back of a fork.
5. Honey Yogurt Face Mask
Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it absorbs water from the air around it. This makes it a great moisturizing and hydrating ingredient for skin. If you have combination skin/flaky skin on and around your acne, then this mask is perfect for you!
Yogurt is a multi-vitamin superfood that is nourishing and hydrating as well. It contains live enzymes that destroy acne germs and also has a skin tightening property that will tighten acne, decrease sebum production and help the pimple pop naturally.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon raw honey (where to get it)
- 1 teaspoon plain yogurt
Directions
Add the ingredients into a small bowl and mix it up till you form a creamy mixture. When applying yogurt for skin, use the regular unflavored and unsweetened yogurt that has live enzymes in it. Slather this onto your clean face as usual and wait until the mask completely dries up. When its dries up, use warm water to loosen the mask followed with a cold water rinse.
Quick Tip
Wear an old T-shirt or an apron over your clothes because this honey yogurt face mask is very drippy and messy.
Please try out any of the honey face mask recipes above and come tell me your sweet results! 😉
