Honey

Best

Humectant

Honey description

Honey is a substance produced by bees from the nectar of flowering plants. Composed primarily of the sugars fructose and glucose and consumed as food, honey also has benefits in skin care due to its amino acid, peptide, antioxidant, and natural antibacterial composition. Antioxidants found in honey include vitamins A, C, and E as well as flavonoid compounds triacetin, quercetin, and luteolin. The primary research on honey and skin has to do with its multi-faceted role in soothing various concerns. Dark honeys have a stronger antioxidant effect than light honeys. Regular honey is also known as clarified honey or purified honey - this is the type most grocery stores sell. Along with antioxidant and soothing properties, honey also works on skin’s surface by forming a barrier that helps reduce the buildup of harmful substances which can impede healing. Is honey vegan? Technically, no. As it comes from bees, it is considered an animal (insect) byproduct. Although the starting point for honey is nectar from flowering plants, the bee itself makes the honey via digestive enzymes in its stomach and a regurgitation process that’s shared with other bees, followed by dehydration and storage in wax structures known as honeycombs. The bees use honey as a food source in the wild; however, when bees are carefully and ethically farmed, the hive’s workers produce much more honey than the colony needs to thrive. The excess is used as sweetener by people and in various skin care products.

Honey references

  • Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, December 2019, pages 1,368-1,377
  • Bioengineering, Volume 5, June 2018, ePublication
  • Journal of Functional Biomaterials, June 2018, ePublication
  • Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, August 2017, pages 849-855
  • Wounds, June 2015, pages 141-151
  • The Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, March 2015, ePublication
  • Foods, July 2014, pages 420-432
  • PeerJ., March 2014, eCollection, 2014
  • Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, December 2013, pages 306-313
  • Burns & Trauma, June 2013, pages 32-38
  • The Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, April 2011, pages 154-160

Peer-reviewed, substantiated scientific research is used to assess ingredients in this dictionary. Regulations regarding constraints, permitted concentration levels and availability vary by country and region.

Ingredient ratings

Best

Proven and supported by independent studies. Outstanding active ingredient for most skin types or concerns.

Good

Necessary to improve a formula's texture, stability, or penetration.

Average

Generally non-irritating but may have aesthetic, stability, or other issues that limit its usefulness.

Bad

There is a likelihood of irritation. Risk increases when combined with other problematic ingredients.

Worst

May cause irritation, inflammation, dryness, etc. May offer benefit in some capability but overall, proven to do more harm than good.

unknown

We couldn't find this in our ingredient dictionary. We log all missing ingredients and make continuous updates.

Not rated

We have not yet rated this ingredient because we have not had a chance to review the research on it.