Manuka honey has found a place in skincare formulations, appearing in products ranging from facial cleansers and moisturisers to lip balms and face masks. For people who care about what goes into their skincare as much as what goes onto their skin, it’s worth understanding what the ingredient actually is and why formulators choose it.
What makes Manuka honey distinctive as an ingredient
Manuka honey is a natural, minimally processed ingredient with a distinctive composition. Compared to regular honey, Manuka honey contains higher concentrations of several naturally occurring compounds — including MGO (methylglyoxal), DHA (dihydroxyacetone), and leptosperin — that are specific to the Mānuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium) native to New Zealand.
These compounds, alongside honey’s natural humectant properties — its ability to attract and retain moisture — are among the reasons cosmetic formulators include Manuka honey in skincare products.
UMF™-certified Manuka honey brings an additional layer of ingredient verification. Each certified batch has been independently tested and graded, meaning formulators using UMF™-certified honey can verify the composition of the ingredient they’re working with.
Properties that make it useful in cosmetic formulations
Natural humectant
Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture to the skin and helps retain it. This property is well-established in cosmetic science and is one of the primary reasons honey of many types appears in moisturising formulations.
Manuka honey shares this humectant property. In a skincare context, this makes it useful in products designed to support skin’s moisture retention.
Natural composition
Manuka honey is a naturally derived ingredient with a complex composition that includes sugars, enzymes, amino acids, and naturally occurring compounds. For formulators developing natural or clean-label skincare products, this composition — derived from a single botanical source — fits a product story that resonates with consumers who prefer recognisable, origin-traceable ingredients.
Texture and sensory properties
Honey has specific texture and sensory characteristics that work well in certain cosmetic formats. Its viscosity, the way it interacts with the skin, and the slight tackiness that dissipates on application are useful properties in products like masks, cleansers, and serums.
Pairing with propolis
Many Manuka honey skincare formulations also include propolis — a natural resinous compound produced by bees. Propolis has its own distinct composition and is used in cosmetics for similar reasons to honey: natural origin, recognisable ingredient story, and a range of cosmetically interesting properties.
At Happy Valley, our skincare range is formulated with both Manuka honey and propolis from our own hives — ingredients we produce ourselves rather than sourcing from third parties.
What to look for in a Manuka honey skincare product
Not all products labelled as “Manuka honey skincare” use the same quality of ingredient. Here’s what to look for:
UMF™-certified honey as an ingredient. If the honey in a skincare product is UMF™ certified, the ingredient has been independently verified for composition. This is a higher standard than simply using honey labelled as Manuka.
Ingredient list transparency. Manuka honey should appear in the ingredient list (INCI name: Leptospermum scoparium honey). A product that claims to contain Manuka honey but doesn’t list it clearly in the ingredients warrants scrutiny.
Brand transparency about the honey source. A brand that produces its own Manuka honey and incorporates it into skincare formulations has a clearer origin story than one that sources honey as a commodity ingredient. At Happy Valley, the honey in our skincare range is the same UMF™-certified honey we produce from our own hives.
Happy Valley skincare
Our skincare range is formulated with UMF™-certified Manuka honey and propolis from our New Zealand hives. The ingredient story is simple: we keep the bees, we harvest the honey, we use it in products that are gentle on skin and honest about what’s in them.
For people who want to know where their skincare ingredients came from, we can tell them. Down to the batch, the season, and the hives.
Love what you’re tasting?
Sign up to get delicious recipes, sweet wellbeing tips, and a free copy of our latest recipe book—delivered straight from our hive to your inbox.
It’s the easiest way to add a little more happiness to your day, naturally.
