Manuka Honey & Lemon Acne Treatment

My skin is horrible right now. Well actually it's getting better now.

Don't let the Photoshop fool you. I get really bad acne breakouts from time to time and I suffer from really bad acne hyper-pigmentation. And just recently it got really bad. I'm usually very good about taking care of my skin. But I was too distracted with work to really take care of my skin. And one day I looked in the mirror and I saw the atrocity before me and I decided it was time to be re-evaluate my life choices. 

I've gotten back to a consistent skincare routine which I will detail in a later post. BUT for the past few weeks or so I've been doing daily acne treatments using manuka honey and lemons AND IT'S BEEN WORKING SO WELL.

Please keep in mind that for any treatment you do on your face, you must be super patient. In order to see the full benefits of whatever you apply to your skin, you must be consistent with your routine for at least a month because that's how long it takes for your skin cells to completely turn over. So if you do try this, keep at it and don't be discouraged!

First of all MANUKA HONEY.

It's great. I first learned about it while watching Michelle Phan's Evening Skincare Routine. Manuka Honey is a very nutritious raw honey which has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Because it has these active enzymes, they've given it a unique rating that measures its potency. I would suggest get the highest rated Manuka honey for the best effect.

I didn't believe it at first. But when I first got it, I did a spot treatment on a pimple I had and the next morning IT WAS GONE. I was obsessed ever since. It's been a very essential part of my daily routine now.

LEMONS ARE ALSO GREAT. They have a shit ton of vitamin C, alpha-hydroxy-acids, and beta-hydroxy-acids which are really effective in brightening the face, getting rid of dark spots, and kill bacteria in acne. When my skin was breaking out like crazy, I took some lemon juice, soaked a cloth sheet mask for the face, and I left it on as long as I could. IT HURTS LIKE A BITCH but the next day, all my acne was gone and all that was left to be done was for it to heal.

You can use honey and lemon separately but I like to mix them together and do a mask every evening. If you mix the lemon juice with honey, you don't experience too much of the stinging unless you have super sensitive skin. So you get all the benefits of both the honey and the lemon in one treatment! I love this treatment because it's super effective and it's all natural. Plus you don't have to spend a shit ton of money on products with a whole bunch of chemicals in it.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 TBS of Manuka Honey
• Half a lemon
• A bowl and spoon
• Cotton sheets and/or cotton balls

I start with a cleansed and toned face, patted dry. It's super sticky so I pull my hair back in some kind of head band (I steal my sister's).

Mix both the honey and lemon in a bowl until it becomes well blended and add more honey if you need a thicker consistency.

I first take a cotton ball, soak up some of the mixture, and apply it all over my face. Instead of rubbing it in, I glide it over my face until the surface is evenly coated.

Then, I take cotton sheets, soak them in the mixture, and I peel off the layers and stick them on my cheeks, my forehead, and my nose. I like to leave it on as long as I could so I usually sit around watching an episode or four on Netflix. I would describe the sensation as somewhat soothing. It's very sticky but it rinses off quite nicely.

After I feel like I've soaked up enough of the lemon and honey, I just rinse it off with lukewarm water and continue with the rest of my skincare routine. With a treatment like this, it's important that you keep your skin hydrated AND SUPER IMPORTANT to wear sunscreen throughout the day.

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Although these are great as topical treatments, it's also great for inner skincare. I like to eat a spoonful of manuka honey every morning and drink lemon water throughout the day to aid in detoxing my body. Keep in mind that you can put as much stuff as you want on your face but it's just as important to treat your skin from the inside as well by watching what you consume.

Personally, I've experienced such a huge difference in my skin's tone and texture just in the past few weeks that I've been doing this. There's still quite a bit of breakouts and scars I need to address but skincare takes time so I've been very diligent on doing this mask every night. To be honest, I want flawless skin before the new year arrives. New skin new me.