Manuka Honey Is Your New Must-Have Ingredient

Why all the buzz about manuka honey? This sticky super substance has some unique properties that make it pure gold when it comes to skincare. Let’s take a peek into the hive to learn what makes manuka so special.  

Produced from the nectar of the manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium) by bees native to New Zealand and Australia, manuka honey is certified and rated by international standards for purity and potency. You could say it’s the Champagne of honey.

While all honey has some antibiotic properties, manuka has a super-abundance of the stuff. It contains a powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compound, methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO comes from the conversion of another compound in manuka honey known as dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a high concentration of which is found in the nectar of manuka flowers.

Other honeys get their (milder) antibacterial effects from naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide. Manuka has a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide and gets its strength from non-peroxide activity, making it a gentler and more powerful healer.

Manuka honey is also known to stimulate fibroblast activity to generate healthy new cells and repair damage. This activity, coupled with its antibiotic power, has led to manuka honey receiving FDA approval for wound healing.

In addition, manuka honey has numerous bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acid, that exert powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, increasing its capacity to repair and renew the skin.

Finally, manuka honey is a humectant that pulls moisture into the skin and retains it, making it a plumping and hydrating agent.

Manuka honey is suitable for all skin types, especially dry, thinning, or aging skin.

Moisture-binding properties make manuka honey an excellent choice for replenishing dry skin. Its high antioxidant content and cell-renewing properties make it ideal for improving texture and elasticity in aging skin. And its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it a good choice for acneic or rosacea-affected skin.

• Stimulates fibroblast activity
• Promotes cellular regeneration
• Potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties
• Heals and strengthens the skin barrier
• Antioxidant defense against damaging free radicals
• Reduces water loss
• Hydrates and softens the skin

The easiest way to get a healthy dose of manuka honey is with our new FF3 Manuka Honey Enzyme Lift. This nutrient-rich, revitalizing, and resurfacing mask blends the highest-grade Manuka honey with gently exfoliating pineapple enzymes to deliver instant brightness and lift to dull, dry, lax, or thinning skin. Use it two to three times a week to clear dead skin, soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and bring a velvety, hydrated texture to the skin.

You can also find manuka honey in Vivant’s new FF3 Triple Repair Complex, an ultra-targeted brightening and regenerative serum for brightening, retexturizing, and restoring structure and elasticity in photodamaged skin.

Vivant’s FF3 Biointensive GF, a breakthrough formula to reactivate cellular function in hormone-depleted skin, includes manuka honey along with peptides, growth factors, and vitamin A. The transformative serum boosts hydration, plumps the skin, and smooths lines in as little as two weeks.