Honey for Acne: Top 10 Remedies and Masks

Acne, a recurring nightmare for many, pops up unannounced usually at the most inconvenient times, say the night before a date.

Covering it with foundation and concealer will not do any good, it will exacerbate the problem instead.

Acne occurs when the hair follicles in your skin get clogged up with dead skin cells and oil produced by the skin's sebaceous glands get infected with bacteria.

This condition causes whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. Acne commonly occurs on the face, shoulders, and back, but you can get it on other areas of your body, too.

Fortunately, there’s one handy ingredient that can help treat acne naturally. Honey, which has been used for thousands of years to heal wounds, it is also considered one of the best home remedies for skin troubles like acne.

Honey possesses antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It not only removes the Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) an acne-causing bacteria from your pores but also reduces inflammation and redness due to breakouts.

Plus, being a natural humectant, it helps hydrate your skin without making it oily.

Here you can learn ten different ways in which you can use honey for acne instead of slathering harmful chemicals on your skin.

Method 1: Honey & Cinnamon

Is your acne not responding to typical commercial treatments involving harsh cleansers and creams? You can just head to your kitchen and find two powerful ingredients – cinnamon and honey – to treat the acne.

The antimicrobial properties of cinnamon inhibit the growth of bacteria that causes acne. Plus, it helps reduce inflammation due to breakouts.

Using cinnamon with honey also provides nourishment and moisture to your skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Raw honey (antiseptic and humectant) — 1 tablespoon
• Organic cinnamon powder (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) — 1 teaspoon

Step 1. Mix the honey and cinnamon powder

• Put 1 tablespoon of raw honey in a bowl.
• Add 1 teaspoon of organic cinnamon powder.
• Mix them well.

Step 2. Apply the blend on your acne 2 or 3 times weekly

• Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture as a spot treatment for acne.
• Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Wash it off with warm water and pat dry your skin.

Repeat 2 or 3 times a week for 2 weeks to treat the acne.

Method 2: Honey & Baking Soda

Honey is a natural humectant. It rehydrates your skin and prevents loss of moisture by binding the moisture particles to your skin. It also helps repairs acne-damaged skin and fades acne scars.

Baking soda acts as a mild exfoliant, opening up and unclogging the blocked pores by removing dead skin cells and impurities.

Things you’ll need:

• Honey (antiseptic and humectant) — 1 tablespoon
• Baking soda (exfoliating agent) — 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Combine the honey and baking soda

• Put 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of honey to it.

Step 2. Blend well & apply it on the acne every other day

• Thoroughly blend the ingredients.
• Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture as a spot treatment for acne.
• Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Gently pat dry your skin using a soft clean towel and apply an oil-free moisturizer.

Use this remedy every other day to get acne-free skin in 2 weeks.

Method 3: Honey & Turmeric

You can also make a highly effective DIY face mask to use honey for acne and pimples just by mixing honey and turmeric.

Since honey moisturizes the skin and turmeric inhibits the growth of acne-causing bacteria, this mask serves as an effective treatment for people who have a combination skin type.

Things you’ll need:

• Turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial) — 1 teaspoon
• Honey (antiseptic and humectant) — 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Combine the honey and turmeric powder

• Put 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons of honey to it.

Step 2. Stir well & apply the mask 2 or 3 times weekly

• Stir the ingredients thoroughly to form a smooth paste.
• Apply the paste on the acne-affected areas.
• Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water and gently pat dry your skin.

Use this mask 2 or 3 times a week to get a soft and acne-free skin.

Method 4: Honey, Lemon & Milk

This is an age-old remedy that not only soothes your skin but also hydrates it. Using a mixture of honey, lemon, and milk can treat acne for any skin type.

The antibacterial property of honey and lemon removes bacteria from the pores, while the milk cleanses your skin by releasing hydrogen peroxide, honey cuts through the excess oil in clogged pores to dehydrate the bacteria and effectively kill it.

It also helps deeply hydrate the skin and prevent excess oil secretion and buildup, which may cause or worsen breakouts.

Things you’ll need:

• Milk (cleanses skin) — ¼ cup
• Honey (antibacterial and humectant) — 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice (antibacterial) — 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Combine the three ingredients in a bowl

• Put 2 tablespoons of honey in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to it.
• Also, add ¼ cup of milk to make a smooth solution.

Step 2. Mix well & apply it on the acne daily

• Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
• Use a cotton ball to apply the solution to the acne spots.
• Keep it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Pat your skin dry and apply a light oil-free moisturizer.

Follow this remedy daily for 2 to 3 weeks to use honey for acne.

Method 5: Honey & Apple Cider Vinegar

You may have heard the buzz about the benefits of apple cider vinegar. It is credited as a solution for a lot of things, including acne.

Using it with honey, sugar and green tea removes bacteria and excess oil from the pores, while also soothing your skin.

The mild acidic property of apple cider vinegar balances your skin’s pH and helps control oil production.

The green tea acts as an astringent to close pores that are particularly susceptible to acne. With its anti-inflammatory properties, reduce inflammation and redness when applied to the skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Green tea (anti-inflammatory) — 1 tablespoon
• Honey (antibacterial and humectant) — 1 tablespoon
• Apple cider vinegar (astringent) — ½ tablespoon
• Sugar (exfoliant) — 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients

• Put 1 tablespoon of honey and ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to it.
• Then, add 1 tablespoon of cooled green tea.

Step 2. Blend well & apply this mixture twice weekly

• Thoroughly blend all the ingredients.
• Apply the mixture on the acne-affected skin.
• Gently massage in circular motions.
• Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Wash it off with cold water and pat dry your skin.

Use this remedy twice a week to treat acne breakouts.

Method 6: Honey & Aloe Vera

Aloe vera and honey used together can help give you acne-free skin.Aloe vera gel contains glycoproteins that reduce inflammation, and since it does not contain any oils, it doesn’t clog your pores.

Honey’s antimicrobial property combats the acne-causing bacteria.

Things you’ll need:

• Aloe vera gel (anti-inflammatory) — 1 tablespoon
• Honey (antimicrobial) — 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Combine the honey and aloe vera gel

• Put 1 tablespoon of honey in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel to it.

Step 2. Mix well & apply it on the acne daily

• Mix the ingredients well.
• Apply it on your acne using a cotton swab.
• Leave it on for 10 minutes.
• Rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat dry your skin.

Repeat daily for 2 weeks to treat acne breakout.

Method 7: Honey & Tea Tree Oil

Acne can be annoying, but you can treat it with a simple mask made with honey and tea tree essential oil.

Honey helps lock the moisture into your skin.

Tea tree essential oil has powerful antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties that fight the harmful bacteria in the pores and also removes dirt and impurities that contribute to breakouts and other infections.

Things you’ll need:

• Honey (antiseptic and humectant) — 1 tablespoon
• Tea tree essential oil (antibacterial properties) — 2 or 3 drops

Step 1. Combine the honey and tea tree oil

• Put 1 tablespoon of honey in a bowl.
• Add 2 or 3 drops of tea tree oil to it.

Step 2. Blend well & apply it on the affected areas 2 or 3 times weekly

• Blend the ingredients thoroughly.
• Use a cotton swab to apply this mixture as a spot treatment on the acne.
• Keep it on for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.

Use this remedy 2 or 3 times a week to get an acne-free skin.

Method 8: Honey & Coconut Oil

If you are suffering from acne breakouts, this mask can be your salvation. Honey and coconut oil can not only eliminate acne but also nourish your skin.

Coconut oil contains vitamin E that keeps the skin healthy and vitamin K, helping to form a protective layer on the skin. It is antibacterial and has antimicrobial properties that destroy the acne-causing bacteria.

Being a humectant, honey helps retain the optimum moisture in your skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Honey (antiseptic and humectant) — 1 tablespoon
• Virgin coconut oil (antibacterial) — 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Make a paste with the honey and coconut oil

• Put 1 tablespoon of honey in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
• Mix well to form a smooth paste.

Step 2. Apply the paste on the affected areas daily

• Use a cotton swab to apply the blend as a spot treatment.
• Let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat dry your skin.

Repeat daily for 2 weeks to get rid of acne.

Method 9: Honey & Aspirin

Aspirin, which is commonly used to treat a fever or pain, can also treat acne breakouts.

Aspirin helps remove blackheads and dries out the oil in the pores. The salicylic acid in aspirin has drying properties, but using it with honey helps it retain moisture in the  skin.

Plus, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey kill the bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Things you’ll need:

• Honey (antibacterial) — 2 teaspoons
• Aspirin (reduces oil in the pores) — 3 crushed tablets

Single-Step Treatment: Mix crushed aspirin with honey and apply on the acne

• Crush 3 uncoated aspirin tablets into a fine powder form and put in a bowl.
• Add 2 teaspoons of honey.
• Stir the ingredients thoroughly.
• Use a cotton swab to apply this mixture on the acne spots.
• Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Wash it off with cold water.
• Pat dry your skin and apply an oil-free moisturizer.

Use this remedy twice weekly for 2 weeks for acne-free skin.

Method 10: Honey & Olive Oil

Using olive oil with honey for acne helps remove acne-causing bacteria, and the honey adds moisture to your skin.

Olive oil contains vitamins that not only accelerate the healing of acne but also prevent acne scars from forming.

Plus, the polyphenols, an antioxidant, present in olive oil detoxify by flushing toxins from the skin. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory property reduces the inflammation associated with acne.

Things you’ll need:

• Honey (antibacterial and humectant) — 1 tablespoon
• Olive oil (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory) — 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix the honey and olive oil into a smooth mixture

• Put 1 tablespoon of honey into a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Blend them into a smooth mixture.

Step 2. Apply it on the affected area twice weekly

• Dip a cotton swab in the mixture.
• Apply it as a spot treatment for acne.
• Keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rinse your face with cold water, then gently pat dry your skin.

Use this remedy twice weekly for 2 weeks to get rid of acne. This remedy may also be used to remove scars.

Additional Tips

• If you’re allergic to honey, you can use DIY baking soda masks for acne.
• You can also try DIY turmeric masks for acne and pimples.