Have you recently read about the benefits of manuka honey products? There is more and more information regarding this special kind of honey and the amazing effects it has on the skin. Why is there so much buzz (please forgive the pun) about this particular natural ingredient?
Active manuka honey comes from New Zealand which is the only place where the manuka bush grows naturally. Dr. Peter Molan founded the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato and developed a system that rates the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) of New Zealand honey. It is this system that determines whether manuka honey can be labeled active.
All honey has a certain amount of antibacterial properties. However, most honey uses a natural hydrogen peroxide to accomplish this effect. The hydrogen peroxide is broken down by heat and light. Therefore, when you store regular honey, the antibacterial effects break down and are eliminated.
Honey made from the manuka bush is special because it gets its properties from a high concentration of UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) which is why it is so effective as an antibiotic. This UMF does not break down in light and therefore does not lose its effectiveness in storage. It can also penetrate deeper into the dermis, affecting more layers of your skin.
What this means is: when you are using skincare products that include active manuka honey, you are getting the best, most natural antibacterial ingredients. This translates to cleaner, healthier skin with out the use of chemicals.
The benefits of this honey do not stop there. Scientists have reported that honey used topically can help the skin regrow cells. The UMF also gives this honey a very high concentration of antioxidants, helping your skin eliminate free radicals. So active manuka honey products can cleanse, heal and rejuvenate your skin using an all natural ingredient. No chemicals needed.
As a researcher of natural skin care, I am always looking for the most effective ingredients. The products I look for include ingredients that are from a natural source, and can deliver more than one function to the skin.