violet_crown
Active member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2009
- Messages
- 4,959
- MBTI Type
- ENTJ
- Enneagram
- 853
- Instinctual Variant
- sx/sp
For those of you who know me, particularly [MENTION=23222]senza tema[/MENTION], then you know that I have recently developed an obsession with manuka honey.
What is manuka honey? You might ask.
Manuka honey is honey from New Zealand that has been produced by bees that have pollenated a manuka (tea tree) tree. The manuka pollen makes their honey potently antimicrobial and a quality anti-inflammatory. However, saying these things is much like calling Beyoncé a popular musician. While factual, it by no means gets at why Queen Bey is Queen Bey.
The reason I am talking to you today about manuka honey is because it fixes all the things. Literally. All of them.
In my own case, I've used manuka honey for two things, and it's done those things pretty amazingly. The first of those things is as an acne mask, and the second is as a body toner.
Acne
I have combination skin and have had virtually unending issues with acne since I was a teenager. I've tried everything up to and including accutane. It works for a while, then I start having issues again. Honey has cleared my skin up better than just about any treatment I've used before.
As an acne mask, I put about two teaspoons of the honey on my face for about 20 minutes or so. First time I did this, my face purged hard, which was horrifying, but after about a week or so, my skin was clear. After two weeks, the honey had also begun to clear up dark spots and was shrinking my pores as well (the honey has a skin tightening effect that I will get into later). It has been amazing.
Body Toner
I'm not sure what to call this, but this is what I went with. Following my full conversion to the honey faithful following the acne mask experience, I got curious about other ways honey could improve my life for the better.
I read from a more than likely reputable source that honey massage can be an effective way to treat cellulite as well, so I was like, it's booty shorts season, why not give it a try?
I tried the honey massage for the first time on my thighs. Basically you put about a tablespoon on each, and then you use your dry hands in a wave motion and pull up at the end. The wave motion starts to create suction between your hands and the place you've put the honey as it emulsifies into a wax. Overtime, the suction gets more intense, and starts to feel a bit like you're getting your legs waxed. It is not pleasant. As this is happening, the honey will start to turn into a whitish, waxy foam. You do this for about 5-10 minutes, or until you can't take the pain anymore lol.
My thighs were a bit sore, and nothing really happened immediately. I went to bed, woke up, and lo and behold, they looked more toned the next morning. It was definite enough to be noticeable to me. After the second massage I started to notice the bonus effect that stretch marks that I have on my legs were starting to disappear. All of these things are good things.
I tried it the third time on my boobs, too. The additional perk? It's real. It's very real.
________
What I'm trying to say with this long ass post is that manuka honey is here to help you out however it can. I'm not saying it will change your life completely, but it will definitely enhance it.
Some quick notes on buying honey:
First, many of the things that I'm describing can be achieved with raw or regular honey. Manuka honey has a higher concentration of the properties that make honey wonderful, and therefore you'll see results with it faster.
If you buy manuka honey, pay attention to the unique manuka factor (UMF) of the honey. UMF is basically the potency of the honey. MGO and OMA are also rating systems for manuka factor, but UMF seems to be associated with the most consistently reputable products. The sweet spot is between 10 and 20 with the ideal being right in the middle (14-16 UMF). Anything under 10 is not much more potent than raw honey, even though you'll be paying more per pound. Anything over 20 is probably a scam as 16 is the highest rating naturally found.
Second, manuka honey is also best if it's actually from New Zealand. Other people produce it, but it's best from the source.
It's going to run you about $30-40/lb depending on the quality of the honey and who you buy it from. Right now, I'm using 15+ honey from Pacific Resources that I got at Whole Foods. I spent about $40 on it for a little over a pound, and have zero complaints.
In conclusion, I will leave this classic 90s anthem sung by the incomparable Mariah Carey as a final expression of my feelings on the subject of the joy and magic honey has brought into my life.
What is manuka honey? You might ask.
Manuka honey is honey from New Zealand that has been produced by bees that have pollenated a manuka (tea tree) tree. The manuka pollen makes their honey potently antimicrobial and a quality anti-inflammatory. However, saying these things is much like calling Beyoncé a popular musician. While factual, it by no means gets at why Queen Bey is Queen Bey.
The reason I am talking to you today about manuka honey is because it fixes all the things. Literally. All of them.
In my own case, I've used manuka honey for two things, and it's done those things pretty amazingly. The first of those things is as an acne mask, and the second is as a body toner.
Acne
I have combination skin and have had virtually unending issues with acne since I was a teenager. I've tried everything up to and including accutane. It works for a while, then I start having issues again. Honey has cleared my skin up better than just about any treatment I've used before.
As an acne mask, I put about two teaspoons of the honey on my face for about 20 minutes or so. First time I did this, my face purged hard, which was horrifying, but after about a week or so, my skin was clear. After two weeks, the honey had also begun to clear up dark spots and was shrinking my pores as well (the honey has a skin tightening effect that I will get into later). It has been amazing.
Body Toner
I'm not sure what to call this, but this is what I went with. Following my full conversion to the honey faithful following the acne mask experience, I got curious about other ways honey could improve my life for the better.
I read from a more than likely reputable source that honey massage can be an effective way to treat cellulite as well, so I was like, it's booty shorts season, why not give it a try?
I tried the honey massage for the first time on my thighs. Basically you put about a tablespoon on each, and then you use your dry hands in a wave motion and pull up at the end. The wave motion starts to create suction between your hands and the place you've put the honey as it emulsifies into a wax. Overtime, the suction gets more intense, and starts to feel a bit like you're getting your legs waxed. It is not pleasant. As this is happening, the honey will start to turn into a whitish, waxy foam. You do this for about 5-10 minutes, or until you can't take the pain anymore lol.
My thighs were a bit sore, and nothing really happened immediately. I went to bed, woke up, and lo and behold, they looked more toned the next morning. It was definite enough to be noticeable to me. After the second massage I started to notice the bonus effect that stretch marks that I have on my legs were starting to disappear. All of these things are good things.
I tried it the third time on my boobs, too. The additional perk? It's real. It's very real.
________
What I'm trying to say with this long ass post is that manuka honey is here to help you out however it can. I'm not saying it will change your life completely, but it will definitely enhance it.
Some quick notes on buying honey:
First, many of the things that I'm describing can be achieved with raw or regular honey. Manuka honey has a higher concentration of the properties that make honey wonderful, and therefore you'll see results with it faster.
If you buy manuka honey, pay attention to the unique manuka factor (UMF) of the honey. UMF is basically the potency of the honey. MGO and OMA are also rating systems for manuka factor, but UMF seems to be associated with the most consistently reputable products. The sweet spot is between 10 and 20 with the ideal being right in the middle (14-16 UMF). Anything under 10 is not much more potent than raw honey, even though you'll be paying more per pound. Anything over 20 is probably a scam as 16 is the highest rating naturally found.
Second, manuka honey is also best if it's actually from New Zealand. Other people produce it, but it's best from the source.
It's going to run you about $30-40/lb depending on the quality of the honey and who you buy it from. Right now, I'm using 15+ honey from Pacific Resources that I got at Whole Foods. I spent about $40 on it for a little over a pound, and have zero complaints.
In conclusion, I will leave this classic 90s anthem sung by the incomparable Mariah Carey as a final expression of my feelings on the subject of the joy and magic honey has brought into my life.
