Antipodes share why manuka honey is one of their favourite skincare ingredients.
The buzz about honey has been around for centuries. The earliest record of functional honey use dates all the way back to 2000 B.C, with the sweet stuff being used by Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Hindu, and Chinese cultures for all sorts of things.
Fast forward to the 21st century and honey is beloved worldwide. There is, however, one type that rises above the rest: manuka honey. This incredible, edible substance well and truly deserves its title of “superfood” – and not just because it tastes great on your toast. It has a host of benefits for your health and for your skin, leading some to call it the “Queen of Honey” - our very own mānuka honey.
What is mānuka honey – and where does it come from?
Found in lush, biodiverse coastal areas of Aotearoa - mānuka honey is sourced from hard-working bees who collect nectar from the mānuka tree. Distinct for its pretty pink and white flowers, it has impressive qualities for the skin.
What are the benefits of mānuka honey?
When applied topically, mānuka honey delivers potent health benefits for skin. But for those of us who don’t fancy smearing a jar of sticky honey across our visage, there’s good news. This sweet superfood is a key ingredient in Antipodes’ range of certified vegetarian skincare. We use mānuka honey because it’s a 100% natural ingredient that is entirely free from synthetics – and it’s genuinely effective.
Here are just some of the reasons why this award-winning ingredient reveals your healthiest glow yet.
1: It’s natural
Mānuka honey is sourced directly from New Zealand’s lush environment, needing no additives to support your skin’s health. To ensure the quality and authenticity of our premium mānuka honey, Antipodes partners with the responsible beekeepers at Watson & Son – a New Zealand company that shares our values of sustainability, quality, and science.
Watson & Son owns over 40,000 hives throughout New Zealand’s North Island. They use sustainable practices to harvest their manuka honey from areas with very dense manuka trees, often in remote areas that are difficult to reach. Each hive is carefully placed to ensure honeybees draw from only the best mānuka-only areas.
Watson & Son care very much about the health of their bees and the purity of their honey. They follow a strict hive management system that monitors every detail – from the materials and foundations of the beehive, to feeding the bees and protecting them from pests and disease.
When the frames in the hive boxes are full, they go through a machine that shakes them gently to release the honey. The honey is then filtered to ensure it is as pure as possible.
2: It can help soothe sensitive skin
Mānuka honey isn’t just for your toast or tea. Anyone suffering from an unwanted breakout should read up on mānuka honey. Manuka honey's properties help soothe sensitive skin, reducing the appearance of redness and unwanted blemishes. And while it’s is a must-have for oily and blemished skin, it’s also great for every skin type.
3: It supports a youthful glow
Mānuka honey is excellent for thirsty skin because it’s deeply moisturising. The reason? This special honey is a natural humectant, which means it traps moisture within the skin, helping it retain its natural hydration.
This New Zealand superfood can provide anti-aging benefits in skincare. It contains vitamins, and antioxidants – the molecules that help protect against free radicals that can help speed the signs of aging. When used in skincare, mānuka honey delivers a dose of nutrients that keep your complexion looking youthful and fresh.
4: It helps build a healthy skincare routine
Building a routine based around mānuka honey is an excellent way to deliver nourishment to your skin – especially if you have sensitive or oily skin. “We get thanked every day by people around the world who have experienced dramatic improvements after using our manuka honey skincare range and who adore the feeling of freshness these products bestow upon their skin,” says Elizabeth Barbalich, Antipodes founder and CEO.
For us, mānuka products are essential. Our skincare regime is simple, but effective. Each morning, we moisturise with Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Light Day Cream. Thanks to the mānuka honey, this moisturiser keeps skin hydrated all day long.
No routine is complete without an eye cream, we love Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Eye Cream. This is a light yet rich formula with the revolutionary skin-brightening extract Vinanza® Grape & Kiwi to help reduce the appearance of circles.
Once or twice a week, we indulge in some self-care with our award-winning Aura Manuka Honey Mask, which is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary! Aura contains more mānuka honey than any other Antipodes formula. It’s super soothing if you’ve had a few too many late nights, and it makes a great spot treatment for blemishes.
Mānuka honey has so many benefits for healthy skin, it's no secret why it's adored all over the world. Applied topically, or used in skincare, it’s truly an ingredient like no other.
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