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Not just great for slathering on toast or drizzling over yogurt, honey has boundless benefits for your skin.
Honey’s superpower is its antimicrobial properties. Have you ever noticed how honey never grows mould or goes off, even if it’s forgotten for years at the back of a cupboard? This is a side-effect of its slightly acidic, antimicrobial properties. The enzymes in honey release the natural acne-bacteria-blasters: flavonoids, hydrogen peroxide and phenolic acid, which makes it great for acne-prone skin.
However, it is not just acne-prone skin that can feel the benefits; honey is suitable for all skin types. Alongside its antimicrobial properties, it offers up a hefty serving of antioxidants that accelerate healing of the skin. Honey supports skin’s natural immunity, reinforces the skin barrier, and helps protect skin from damage and environmental factors.
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands in the pores are producing more oil, or sebum, than necessary. Sebum is natural in all skin as it keeps the skin moist and healthy. Over production of sebum can be caused by hormones, genetics or could even be a result of dry skin over-compensating by producing extra oil, in order to retain some measure of moisture.
Oily skin can also be caused by using the wrong products for your skin type. For example, if you are using overly drying soaps and astringents for your skin type, your skin may respond by over producing oil to compensate, as mentioned above. This can create an unfortunate cycle of using harsh soaps to eliminate oils, but instead exacerbating the problem.
On the other hand, overly oily makeup and products can also cause oily skin.
Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells to keep pores unclogged and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating acne as well. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep oily pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil is also good for fighting bacteria trapped in oily skin and maintaining a moisture barrier to prevent over-production of sebum.
honey may be effective for oily skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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