Beauty Benefits of Honey for Skin and Hair 

Introduction

Nowadays, there are hundreds of videos available online on how to maintain your skin and hair health. They discuss various methods and natural products that can help you achieve glowing skin and lustrous hair. And in these videos and advertisements, you may come across one common ingredient which is great for both skin and hair health, and that is, Honey. 

Honey is a sticky and sweet substance, commonly available in Indian households, which has several health benefits and is considered as an ideal beauty ingredient. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits it has for your skin and hair health and how you can use it. So, let’s get started! 

Why Is Honey Beneficial?

Honey works well on the overall body and gives us numerous health benefits. It has natural healing effects and possesses antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. 

Honey is rich in calories due to the presence of fructose (a type of sugar) in it. The vitamins and minerals in honey may include B vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, etc¹. Surprisingly, honey contains 0% fat that makes it an ideal dietary ingredient.  

Honey is versatile and offers numerous benefits from just moisturizing your skin to avoiding risk of fatal diseases². It works great when it comes to skin or hair issues. Honey is the best when it comes to taking care of your beauty.   

Benefits of Honey for Skin

1. Fights Acne 

Honey is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory that helps to heal breakouts of acne and lower risk of supradded infections. Honey also reduces the redness and swelling of acne³. It controls the accumulation of dust in the skin pores and absorbs the impurities from the pores.   

How to use: Apply a thin layer of raw honey on the face and neck. Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash your face with normal water. If there is a recent breakout of acne, then apply honey over it for 15 minutes and rinse it off.   

2. Great Moisturiser

The sugar present in honey acts as a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture from the air into your skin⁴. Raw honey hydrates your skin and leaves a soft, radiant, and shiny skin. It reduces the dryness of skin by providing long-lasting hydration.   

How to use: Apply raw honey directly on the skin and leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse and massage it off thoroughly with water. 

3. Gentle Exfoliator 

Honey is rich in antioxidants that are good for your skin to nourish and hydrate it. When it comes in contact with water or the heat of your skin, it crystalizes. These tiny crystals act as a gentle scrub for your skin and help to remove dirt and dead skin.   

How to use: Crystalise the honey by rubbing it between your fingers, then apply it directly on your face and massage it in a circular motion. Leave it on for a few minutes and remove it with the help of a wet towel.   

I may recommend considering products that contain honey when it comes to taking care of your skin and hair. Honey may have some amazing benefits when it comes to cosmetic formulations. It might help regulate the pH balance of your skin and hair, which is important for maintaining their health⁴. 

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

4. Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles 

Honey moisturises the top layers of your skin and helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines⁵. It soothes the dry, irritated, and wrinkled skin by providing nourishment to it. It also acts as an antioxidant and promotes collagen production, thereby delays the process of aging, helping you look younger and radiant.  

How to use: You can make a honey mask where you can mix a tablespoon of honey with an equal amount of papaya, whole milk, or yogurt. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Massage it so it can improve blood circulation and tightens the skin. Remove the mask with warm water and pat your skin dry with a washcloth. 

5. Scar fader  

The antioxidants present in honey work wonderfully on the skin promoting wound healing and helping reduce scars and stretch marks. Honey nourishes the damaged skin and induces the scar healing process. It increases tissue regeneration and helps to revive the skin cells⁶.

How to use: You can massage raw honey directly on the affected area in a circular motion for one to two minutes. You can add lemon or cucumber juice for better results.   

I came across a shocking study that looked at the effects of applying honey on different types of wounds. The findings suggest that honey might help heal burns more quickly and may be effective for infected surgical wounds. However, more research is needed to fully understand its impact on other types of wounds⁹. 

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

6. Lip Balm 

Using it as a lip balm is another one of the benefits of honey. Just like it can be used to moisturise your skin, it can also be used to soften some chapped and dry lips. Honey’s ability to hydrate and the presence of minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants, make it the perfect lip balm. 

How to use: Simply apply some raw honey to your lips, leave for a few minutes, and then wash it off. 

Note: Always do a patch test before using any natural ingredient like honey on your face. Discontinue use if you notice any redness, pain or swelling in the area as this may be an allergic reaction. Also, if you have skin conditions like ectopic dermatitis, psoriasis or any other persistent skin issues, it’s best to consult a dermatologist before resorting to any natural remedies, even honey. 

Benefits of Honey for Hair

1. Deep Conditioning   

We do conditioning of our hair to prevent dryness. Honey acts as a moisturiser and conditioner. Applying honey on your hair helps to moisturise the same. It acts as a natural softener for the hair and makes them shiny and bouncy⁷.

How to use: You can make a banana-honey mask. Combine two ripe bananas with a half cup of pure honey and one-quarter cup of olive oil. Blend it and make a smooth paste of it. Apply this paste on hair and keep it for 20-25 minutes. Then wash it off with lukewarm water. 

2. Promotes Hair Growth   

Honey is packed with various nutrients and help to nourish the hair follicles and hair. It can support  natural hair growth by strengthening hair follicles and providing a healthy environment for hair growth⁸. 

How to use: Heat the olive oil until it is warm and add two tablespoons of honey to it. Mix it well and smooth this mixture through wet hair. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then shampoo your hair as usual. 

3. Scalp Cleanser

Honey has antimicrobial properties that help keep your scalp clear of infections like dandruff⁸. Honey can help smoothen an itchy scalp instantly. It also provides moisturising benefits for both the hair and the scalp. 

How to use: Mix one tablespoon of honey with three tablespoons of filtered water. Massage a few drops of this mixture into your scalp and wash it off.   

I would suggest trying honey if you’re dealing with seborrhoea and dandruff. It turns out that honey might be a great natural remedy for these conditions. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may help brings some sweet relief to your scalp⁴. 

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Note: While initial studies have shown potential benefits of honey for skin and hair, further large-scale human trials are needed to confirm these.  

Conclusion

Honey is a great natural ingredient that is full of nutrients that ensure your beauty regime is complete in every aspect. Making it a regular part of your skin and hair care routine can help you enjoy its benefits. However, remember that it is not a replacement for medical therapy in chronic skin issues and must be used after consulting a dermatologist in such cases. 

References

1. Ajibola A, Chamunorwa JP, Erlwanger KH. Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2012;9:61. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3583289/  

2. McLoone P, Oluwadun A, Warnock M, Fyfe L. Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin. Cent Asian J Glob Health. 2016;5(1):241 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29138732/  

3. Semprini A, Braithwaite I, Corin A, et al Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of acne BMJ Open 2016;6:e009448. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/2/e009448  

4. Burlando B, Cornara L. Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2013;12(4):306-313. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/  

5. Suwiński G, Nowak I. Innovative Honey-Based Product and Its Beneficial Effects Measured by Modern Biophysical and Imaging Skin Techniques. Pharmaceuticals. 2024; 17(12):1709. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/12/1709#article-metrics-citations  

6. Martinotti S, Ranzato E. Honey, Wound Repair and Regenerative Medicine. J Funct Biomater. 2018;9(2):34. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6023338/  

7. Hadi H, Syed Omar SS, Awadh AI. Honey, a gift from nature to health and beauty: A review. British Journal of Pharmacy. 2016 Jan;1(1):46-54. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310435905_Honey_a_Gift_from_Nature_to_Health_and_Beauty_A_Review  

8. Al-Waili NS. Therapeutic and prophylactic effects of crude honey on chronic seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Eur J Med Res. 2001;6(7):306-308. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11485891/  
9. Jull AB, Cullum N, Dumville JC, Westby MJ, Deshpande S, Walker N. Honey as a topical treatment for wounds. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Mar 6;2015(3):CD005083. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005083.pub4. PMID:25742878; PMCID:PMC9719456. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9719456/

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof. 

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes. 

29