Manuka Honey- Have you heard of this wonderful thing? If you have, please know that if the honey is called Manuka Honey, it must be from New Zealand. It's unique to us kiwi buggers (lucky!). Manuka is a bush here in NZ that flowers only for 2-6 weeks per year. A very limited time that our precious bees get to collect nectar from Manuka blossoms. Add our changing weather conditions to this mix and that time frame will shorten further.
But why is Manuka Honey so prized? All honey is special. They all have some degree of therapeutic properties. Manuka Honey is unique because it contains 'Methylglyoxal', an anti-bacterial ingredient present only in Manuka Honey. Manuka Honey is rated based on it's 'UMF factor' which is an indication of the concentration of this special ingredient Methylglyoxal (MGO) in it. The more the MGO in it, more potent the honey, and understandably more expensive it is. The bees get the predecessor of Methylglyoxal (MGO) called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) from Manuka flower nectar and convert it into MGO when they make honey.
Manuka Honey is world-renowned for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It can heal wounds, support the immune system, improve digestion, help soothe cough & sore throats and when mixed into skincare, transform it.
Bees Brilliance is a NZ brand that have been the pioneers of using Manuka Honey in skincare. I've been using a few of their products since past many months. I figured it's time I introduce some of these gems to you. These products were kindly gifted to me a long time ago but this review is uninitiated and my honest opinion on some of their dry skin-specific products.
Note: The brand claims no bees are harmed in making of their skincare.
1. Bees Brilliance Original Manuka Honey Mask
Oh, this is delicious! and I mean it. I actually licked it and it's sweet. It must be; thanks to 40% Manuka Honey in its ingredients list. Glycerin is the second on the ingredients list (I didn't know, just checked before writing this review). No wonder my skin loves this mask. This is the kind of mask people with dry skin should be using (aka me!). It hydrates my skin like no other. Honey and Glycerin are both humectants i.e. they attract moisture to the skin so no wonder my dry skin feels so plump, soft and hydrated with just 10 minutes of this mask on. It's my new favourite morning ritual. The golden mask is like slathering honey on the face. It's so therapeutic. The scent is gentle and calming. Honestly I wish I could run to my bathroom and take a whiff of it. It takes me back to my calm morning ritual of yoga in quiet darkness. I love it!
As an experiment, after taking this mask off the other day, I didn't apply any moisturiser for close to 40 minutes. I did my morning yoga in that time. My super dry skin was comfortable the entire time, no itching, no flakiness. If you are someone with very dry skin, you know this is a big deal. I have to apply a moisturiser right after any cleanser or mask or I risk getting that weird feeling of my skin about to tear apart. So dry! I think that's a good enough review of this product. I don't see any long term effects with it, but the mask surely doesn't break me out. In fact, I haven't gotten any breakouts since using this Manuka Honey skincare range. It must be Manuka Honey's antibacterial properties at play.
I love this mask and would 100% recommend it for all skin types, especially dry, sensitive or acne-prone.
2. Bees Brilliance Honey and Propolis Cleanser
Another winner from Bees Brilliance. I've always always used a cream cleanser for my morning cleanse (and even most nights if I don't have any makeup or sunscreen on). It's what works best for my dry skin. This golden hued cream cleanser is the gentlest. It takes off the dust, grime and some makeup even, without imparting any dryness. My skin feels so comfortable after cleansing with it. The pump bottle is clever and only gives out a pea-sized amount, which I find is enough for my morning cleanse. This has also made the bottle last so much longer. I've been using it for many months and I still have half of it left. Definitely a bang for your buck this one!
The ingredient list features honey, propolis and bee pollen oil. The good stuff.
What's propolis you ask? It's the stuff bees collect from tree barks and other plants that ooze sticky resins (like gum). Every country would have different concentration of bio-actives in its propolis, based on their environment and flora. New Zealand's harsh climatic conditions mean our Propolis is very rich in bio-actives and antioxidants.
Honestly, I don't want this bottle of cream cleanser to ever run out. It's gentle-cleansing, honey scent and hydrating nature means it's perfect for my dry skin. It's also great for those with sensitive skin or acne.
Fact: Honey heals acne because it's high sugar and low pH means bacteria can't survive in that environment. When applied on wounds, honey draws out water from tissue and converts it into Hydrogen Peroxide, an anti-bacterial. This is the science behind raw honey's ability to heal wounds. Please note the culinary honey we often get from supermarket is processed, heat-treated and pasteurised, so it loses some of these amazing powers.
3. Bees Brilliance Manuka Honey Exfoliating Cleanser
I don't tend to reach out for this exfoliating cleanser often as I rarely apply makeup these days (motherhood you guys!). I reach out for it when I have to double cleanse. This feels like the exfoliating version of the cream cleanser I've mentioned above. It's very gentle. The exfoliating beads are sparse. They are made of walnut shell and pumice, both natural, so safe for the ocean creatures and our waterways.
This exfoliator doesn't dry out the skin. I use it about once a week, hence I don't have any strong opinion on it, unlike the other two products I've raved about.
Bees Brilliance skincare is available from their website and various stockists throughout the country (Life Pharmacy, Unichem, etc). Full list of stockists is on their website. Their website is beautiful I must say and they also give free samples with orders. Their packages are always beautifully packaged too. I have all good things to say about this New Zealand brand. If you get a chance, do give their products a try. I now have my eyes on their Propolis throat spray (oh I love a good throat spray before bed if I've eaten a lot of saucy stuff), their Beauty Elixir mist (NZ plant actives in it) and their skin brightening serum (Brightening is the word that sells to me!). If you've tried any of their products or would like to, I'd love to hear from you. Talk to me in the comments below or hop on over to my socials
Talk soonNishu
Disclaimer: The products were gifted to me. However, my review is honest as always.
Post a Comment