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5 reasons why using Manuka honey can benefit your skin

Looking for natural skincare that that does it all? Manuka honey might just be the magical ingredient your skin needs.
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Radiant, glowing, youthful, blemish-free skin – if you’re anything like us, it’s something we’d love to have ’round the clock, but in reality with the change of weather, environment and stress-levels, one slip up on the skincare routine and our skin doesn’t always play ball.

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And, with so many products out there, all boasting a range of benefits, it can be hard to know where to begin or what products would best suit your skin.

That’s why, when we heard about a five-in-one, natural ingredient that could help control a whole list of skin woes, we were all ears.

If you’ve lived in New Zealand you’re bound to be familiar with this ingredient that could very well be sitting in your pantry as we speak – Manuka honey.

What is Manuka honey?

Most Kiwis will be very familiar with this sweet ingredient – you may have dolloped it on your toast, or stirred it into a hot lemon drink when you’ve had a sore throat.

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And for the same reason you might have a spoonful for your tickly throat, those same antibacterial properties can work wonders for your skin.

While all raw honey has health benefits, this very special variety of honey, collected from the Manuka tree and native to New Zealand, has been proven to have a substantially higher level of antibacterial and restorative properties: namely Hydrogen Peroxide and Methylglyoxal (MG).

So much so that it’s used in both traditional and modern medicine.

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What are the skincare benefits of Manuka honey?

According to New Zealand skincare company Wild Ferns, Manuka honey boasts a long list of benefits that will have you wondering why you never switched up your skincare routine sooner.

“It is extremely rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals and has the outstanding ability to nourish soothe and heal sensitive skin,” the skin company says.

So whether you have dry skin, acne-prone skin or are beginning to see signs of aging, here are all the reasons you’ll be buzzing to try Manuka honey on your skin.

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1. It exfoliates the skin

If you’re anything like us, it may have felt like you’ve tried 101 different exfoliators and face masks to try and banish those annoying blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores, but alas, with little success.

Applying Manuka honey to your skin can help exfoliate the surface, scrubbing away dead skin cells and unclogging pores, for smooth, clear skin. It’s time to wave goodbye to pimples!

2. It keeps dry skin at bay

If you’d love radiant, dewy skin but find your skin becomes easily dehydrated and dry you’ll be pleased to hear that adding Manuka honey to your skincare routine can help keep that dry skin at bay.

Gentle on sensitive skin, not only can it help cleanse, but this special honey is a natural humectant, which means it naturally moisturises the skin, drawing moisture to the surface and retaining it along with regulating your skin’s pH levels.

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3. It can help heal acne

If you’re finding acne is affecting your self-confidence, using some of the sweet substance on your face might just be the ticket to banishing those pesky pimples for good.

Due to Manuka honey’s anti-inflammatory properties it can soothe and help to heal inflammed acne and can help to relieve redness and other skin conditions such as eczema in a completely natural way.

4. It can help reduce acne scarring

Acne is bothersome enough when it’s around, but for many people, the impact on self-confidence continues as acne scars can stick around for years.

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Because of Manuka honey’s healing properties, the sweet substance promotes skin regeneration and repairs cellular damage, which means not only can it heal acne quickly, but it can also lessen the appearance of scars in the process.

5. It can help keep wrinkles away

Similar to the way it can heal acne, the special honey is packed full of vitamins, live enzymes and antioxidants that neutralise free radicals, which are responsible for skin cell damage and has been shown to promote the structural growth of collagen skin cells for firm, youthful looking skin.

How to add Manuka honey to your daily skincare routine

Kiwi owned and operated skincare brand Wild Ferns are known for not testing on animals and having sustainably sourced ingredients.

Having observed the benefits Manuka honey can have on the skin and wanting to make it easy to incorporate into an everyday skincare routine, they created an extensive Manuka honey skincare range – think eye creams, moisturisers, lip balms and soaps.

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Aware that cleansing your face is the most essential part of your skincare routine – that’s right, more than moisturising, more than toner and more than those expensive serums, we tried out the natural skincare company’s Manuka Honey Refreshing Facial Wash.

At just $19.40, Wild Ferns describes their 99.7 per cent natural cleanser as “a luxurious foaming cleanser suitable for all skin types.”

“The unique pump action aerates the liquid to create a luxurious foam to help remove impurities and rejuvenate the skin giving you a feeling of freshness.”

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At Now To Love, we’ve found many foam cleansers can sometimes leave our skin feeling dry (especially after a double cleanse) and results in us packing on the moisturiser afterwards, but thanks to the moisturising properties of Manuka honey, we’ve found the Wild Ferns Refreshing Facial Wash leaves our skin feeling refreshed and incredibly nourished.

If you wear makeup day-to-day, it’s even more important to make sure you’re properly cleansing your skin at night, not just to get rid of makeup, but also to remove any of the dirt and toxins that have settled on your skin throughout the day, so it’s imperative to find a cleanser that does the job without stripping away your natural oils.

That’s where the inclusion of other skin enhancing ingredients such as Sweet Orange Oil, Willowbark Extract, Sesame Oil and Hibiscus Extract can help.

The Sweet Orange Oil helps to detoxify the skin and natural properties of the Willowbark Extract works to deep cleanse your pores while the Sesame Oil and Hibiscus Extract moisturise and nourish the skin for a more youthful complexion.

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If you’re after a natural, one-stop-shop skincare product that’ll have your skin looking radiant, youthful, dewy and blemish-free, try Wild Ferns’ Manuka Honey Refreshing Facial Wash. Your skin will thank you for it.

Wild Fern products are available in souvenir shops, select pharmacies and online.

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