Manuka Honey is amazing and I love it with all my heart, but let’s face it, this stuff’s not cheap. For those of us suffering from acne who really can't spend 40 plus dollars on a jar of honey, buying Manuka Honey can be a bit far-fetched. Sometimes, manuka honey is just really hard to find (though you can find it HERE and even at Costco!).

So, while making your own version isn't going to replace Manuka Honey 100% (and I don’t claim that making your own is going to be better), it will certainly improve acne better than just plain honey alone.

DIY Manuka Honey and Why Manuka Honey is Amazing

I have been using manuka honey in my skincare routine for yours, and for good reason. It's one of the most powerful raw honeys you can buy because it's infused with the pollen of the manuka tree. In case you didn't know, the manuka tree is related to tea tree so you can imagine how potent this honey can be!

What Makes Manuka Honey so Special?

Manuka Honey is a super nutrient rich medicinal grade honey. Nothing else comes close! I know I’ve rattled on about how awesome this stuff is in the past, but I just can’t help but share how great Manuka Honey is for acne.

Manuka Honey is known to:

• Kill acne-causing bacteria (and many others) by drawing out its moisture

Manuka Honey even kills resistant bacteria. Plus, it seems that bacteria can't build up a tolerance to it. This is why manuka honey is just as good as benzoyl peroxide, but without all the side effects.

• Draws impurities from the skin

When pores become clogged, bacteria flourishes and creates inflammation and acne. Manuka honey can penetrate deep into the skin and nourish it from the inside out while killing off acne-causing bacteria. It also supports the skin's natural detoxification processes. 

• Soothes irritation

Manuka Honey is great for every skin type, even sensitive skin. Irritated skin means more inflammation and that means more acne. manuka honey is naturally anti-inflammatory because of its medicinal properties.

• Moisturizing and healing

Manuka Honey will smooth out uneven complexions by brightening hyperpigmentation, healing acne, dissolving scars, and nurturing the skin. It's naturally humectant which means it will restore moisture balance in the skin. Check out my article on hyperpigmentation here for more info on hyperpigmentation.

Will Homemade Manuka Honey do All of This?

DIY Manuka Honey will get pretty close. Regular plain honey has all of the soothing properties, and the use of certain powerful essential oils will help provide the rest.

So, without further ado, let’s get into the recipe!

Bootstrap Manuka Honey Recipe

Before we begin, you will need to determine which essential oils you would like to use. Be sure that they are high-quality. I really like the essential oils by Plant Therapy. I chose 3 different oils from 3 different categories that suited my needs, but you can certainly choose more or less. (Recipes below)

For more info on the best essential oils for your skin type, please refer to this article.

Whiteheads

• Bergamot
• Thyme Linalol
• Sandalwood (good for dry skin)
• Tea Tree

Blackheads

• Bergamot
• Cypress
• Violet
• Lemongrass
• Lavender (good for dry skin)
• Clary-sage
• Thyme Linalol
• Coriander
• Peppermint

Hyperpigmentation

• Camphor (this oil needs to be highly diluted!! Only use 1 drop for every 1 oz of carrier)
• Lemon - make sure to use steam distilled lemon essential oil to prevent sensitivity to sunlight (learn more here)
• Lavender

To Promote Healing and Lessen Sebum (oiliness)

• German Chamomile (good for dry skin)
• Roman Chamomile
• Myrrh
• Rose (good for dry skin - try to use a prediluted version)
• Yarrow
• Palmarosa
• Carrot Seed (good for dry skin)
• Cedarwood (good for dry skin)
• Ylang Ylang (good for dry and combination skin)
• Lemon
• Frankincense (good for dry skin)
• Lavender
• Grapefruit
• Juniper

To Fight Infection

• Eucalyptus Radiata
• Clary-sage
• Thyme Linalol
• Lavender
• Spike Lavender
• Carrot Seed
• Helichrysum (great for scars!)
• Frankincense
• Tea Tree
• Clove
• Manuka Essential Oil
• Myrrh

To Fight Inflammation

• Helichrysum
• Carrot Seed
• All Chamomiles
• Myrrh
• Clary-sage

Skin Renewal

• Neroli (goof for combination skin)
• Fennel
• Geranium (good for dry and combination skin)
• Parsley
• Lemon
• Sandalwood
• Juniper
• Rosemary

For my skin’s needs I chose:

• Helichrysum for its anti-infection and anti-inflammatory properties
• Sandalwood for skin renewal
• Rose to promote healing, hydration, and oil control

Here are some other great and effective combinations to try—

• Lavender - restores tissues, anti-inflammatory, fights infection
• Tea Tree - kills acne-causing bacteria, gets rid of whiteheads
• Thyme Linalol - Nature’s benzoyl peroxide replacement, gets rid of blackheads

• Rosemary - Brightens complexion, renews the skin
• Neroli - renews the skin, works well for scars
• Frankincense - Fights infection

• Grapefruit - Promotes healing, kills bacteria
• Tea Tree - Clears acne and milia

You can also you use single oils by themselves since essential oils can be quite pricey…maybe even more so than just buying Manuka Honey. I recommend using at least Lavender or Tea Tree oil for this. The advantage of making your own Manuka Honey is that you can make as much or as little as you want, change it up depending on what your skin needs, and it's effective.

1. Once you’ve chosen your oil(s), it’s time to mix them into some raw local honey. I made a very small batch (about 2 TB) that fits perfectly in a tiny reused honey jar.

2. Add your essential oil(s). A good ratio is 3-6 drops for every 2 TB. I used 2 drops of each essential oil (I wouldn't use more than 3 different essential oils at a time to keep things simple). Be mindful of the oils you use as the aroma can be very strong! This is especially true of absolutes in which case I highly recommend using pre-diluted versions for this recipe. You can usually find them in a base of jojoba oil. if you want to learn more about the maximum dilution for specific essential oils, check out my post on the topic here.

3. Stir well to combine, then allow the essential oils to synergize for a few days before use. You will notice that the aroma changes a bit during this time.

Be sure to label your honey with the essential oils you used, how many drops of each, and the words DO NOT EAT. Unlike Manuka Honey, this homemade version is NOT safe for consumption and is for topical use only.

Store out of direct sunlight with the lid tightly closed. You may notice that the essential oils will "age" and create a deeper, very pleasant aroma. This is normal and does not mean that the essential oils have become rancid or any less potent.

To prevent rancidity, always cap your essential oils very tightly when not in use and be sure to avoid getting any water in your homemade manuka honey.

How to Use Homemade Manuka Honey

You can cleanse your skin with this honey, use it as a spot treatment, or use it as a healing mask.

A little goes a long way! Just dab it on and leave it for as long as you like. Use it 2-3 times per week or even every day for best results.

You may also enjoy:

Essential Oils for Scars and a Scar Healing Serum Recipe
The Best Essential Oils for Your Skin Type
Homemade Drying Lotion for Acne
How to Make Rose Water
Homemade Blemish Gel
3 Simple Remedies for Scars
Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin

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