skin care essentials What is Manuka Honey?

You’re surely familiar with plain old honey—the thick, syrupy stuff that lasts forever in your pantry—but do you know much about manuka honey? Sure, you’ve seen it popping up in skin care product formulations—and even noticed some of your favorite celebrities promoting it as a holy grail ingredient. But that’s likely the extent of your manuka honey expertise (using that word loosely). So, before you go and overhaul your skin care routine to make room for products formulated with manuka honey, you should understand what manuka honey is and what the skin care benefits of manuka honey are. You’re in luck because we’re answering all your pressing manuka honey questions, plus sharing our best skin care products with manuka honey, below.

What is Manuka Honey?

According to Mayo Clinic, honey—the regular kind—is more than a natural sweetener. Honey can also have antioxidant benefits. And manuka honey, another form of honey, isn’t so different. Manuka honey is a nurturing form of honey, specially sourced from the nectar of the Manuka Tree, naturally found in New Zealand. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) manuka honey, is a non-peroxide honey—which sets it apart from other types of honey.

What are some of the Benefits of Manuka Honey?

Manuka honey has gained popularity for good reason. It’s a potent ingredient, as evidenced by the skin care concerns its used to address. As recognition of the ingredient has increased, it’s been included in the formulas of nourishing and hydrating facial moisturizers, eye creams, facial oils, and more.

Our Best Skin Care Products formulated with Manuka Honey

Ready to introduce products with manuka honey to your skin care routine? Well, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re interested in a facial moisturizer, a night cream, an eye cream, or an all over balm, there’s a product below—formulated with manuka honey—that meets your needs.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Day Cream: Don’t start your day off with dry skin. After you wake and wash your face, it’s a must to moisturize. Even better, moisturize with this day cream formulated with manuka honey and nurturing oils. The nourishing moisturizer for mature and very dry skin types helps firm the appearance of skin and improve elasticity.

How to use it: Every morning, apply the cream onto cleansed skin. Rub the formula between fingers, then smooth it gently onto your face in an upward and outward motion. Smooth from neck to jawline, then upper chest until thoroughly absorbed. Use alone or under makeup.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Night Balm: Moisturizing at night is just as important as moisturizing in the morning—if not more so. So, you’ll want to use a moisturizer formulated with manuka honey at night too! Stick with a product specifically designed for nighttime use. This ultra-nourishing option is formulated with nurturing oils (and manuka honey, of course) for mature and very dry skin. It provides comfort and helps improve skin’s resilience, so what’s not to like?

How to use it: Every evening, apply the balm onto cleansed skin, smoothing it on in an upward and outward motion.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Eye Gel: Everyone’s skin care routine can be improved by a good eye product. Trust us, the delicate skin under your eyes needs that extra TLC! This option, formulated with nurturing oils and manuka honey, features a unique rollerball wand that helps handle puffiness and under eye bags. It’s also the perfect eye gel for those with mature and very dry skin.

How to use it: Apply the eye gel in small dots around your eyes, using your ring finger. Then, smooth gently until thoroughly absorbed. 

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over Balm - Face/Neck/Chest/Hands: Let’s be real, it isn’t just your face that could use a little manuka honey in its life. After all, your neck, chest, and hands get dry too! That’s where this all over balm comes in. Formulated with nurturing oils and manuka honey, the balm—which is meant for mature skin—helps soothe dry skin on the face, neck, chest, and hands.

How to use it: Every morning and/or night, apply onto cleansed skin. Use alone or under makeup.

Wondering what the deal is with other skin care ingredients? Here’s Your Complete Guide to Popular Skin Care Ingredients.