Manuka honey is honey made mainly from the nectar of the manuka tree, native to New Zealand and Australia, and it is best studied for wound care under medical supervision. In cosmetics, it's generally considered a humectant, meaning it can help draw and hold moisture, and people describe it as soothing. It is not a treatment for a skin condition, and people allergic to bee products or pollen should be careful with it.
What Is Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey comes from bees that feed primarily on the manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium). It is graded for its unique properties, most commonly using systems like UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) or MGO (methylglyoxal content), which are used to indicate honey quality and are more relevant to honey sold for eating or wound care than for cosmetic products.
What Research Supports
Manuka honey has been studied as a topical treatment for wounds, including certain burns and surgical wounds, under medical supervision, with some evidence supporting its use in wound care settings. That research is about medical-grade honey used on wounds, not about honey as an ingredient in a cosmetic moisturizer, and the two shouldn't be conflated.
What Cosmetic Use Looks Like
In lotions, balms, and creams, manuka honey (or honey generally) is typically included in smaller amounts alongside other ingredients, and is generally considered a humectant, meaning it may help draw moisture into the skin. Whether a cosmetic amount of honey delivers the same benefits studied in medical-grade wound care hasn't been established, so cosmetic claims about manuka honey are often broader than the underlying research.
Who Should Be Careful
- People allergic to bee products (honey, propolis, bee pollen).
- People allergic to pollen more broadly, since honey can contain pollen traces.
- Anyone with broken or infected skin should use a cosmetic honey product with caution and consult a doctor, since cosmetic honey isn't the same as medical-grade honey used under supervision.
Reading a Label With Honey
- Check if "manuka honey" is listed clearly, and where in the ingredient list (higher up generally means more of it).
- Don't assume a UMF or MGO rating on the jar reflects the honey content, since these ratings are typically for the raw honey and may not carry over the same way once blended into a cosmetic formula.
- Look for other potential allergens nearby, since honey-containing products often include botanical extracts too.
In Our Cream
Our Whipped Beef Tallow for Skin Grass Fed by Natural Skin Tallow contains manuka honey alongside beef tallow, olive fruit oil, pot marigold (calendula) extract, and tocopherol (vitamin E). If you're allergic to bee products, pollen, or plants in the daisy family, skip it or check with your doctor first. See our complete guide to beef tallow for skin for how the whole formula works.
FAQ
Is manuka honey good for skin?
It's best studied for medical wound care under supervision. As a cosmetic ingredient, it's generally considered a humectant, and cosmetic amounts haven't been studied the same way.
Can I be allergic to manuka honey?
Yes. Anyone allergic to bee products or pollen should be cautious with honey-containing skincare.
Does manuka honey treat acne or eczema?
It isn't established as a treatment for either. If you have a skin condition, talk to a dermatologist rather than relying on a cosmetic ingredient.
You can see the full ingredient list on the product page, or browse the beef tallow for skin collection.