Manuka Honey vs. Raw Honey for Skincare: What to Use

Hand-drawn honey and botanical title card

For skin, manuka honey is the better-studied choice, and raw honey from the grocery store is the riskier one. Manuka has a measurable antibacterial marker, methylglyoxal (MGO), that ordinary raw honey lacks. Raw honey is also unsterilized, so it can carry bacteria, spores and allergens such as propolis and pollen. That matters most when your skin barrier is already broken, as it is with eczema or psoriasis. The safest way to get honey’s benefits is usually a formulated product, not a spoonful from the pantry.

Below we break down what each honey is, what the evidence supports, where the risks are, and how to pick a product you can trust.

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Hydration Without the Honey
For a honey-free approach to dry, sensitive skin, Lord’s Love Butter offers a whole-body balm made with grass-fed whipped beef tallow.

TL;DR

  • Manuka honey has a documented antibacterial compound (MGO) and a small amount of clinical research behind it. Generic raw honey does not.
  • Raw kitchen honey is not sterile. Dermatologists point to contamination and allergens as the main risk on damaged skin, so medical-grade or professionally formulated products are the safer route.
  • Both honeys are humectants, meaning they draw water into the skin. The evidence for acne or scar claims is thin.
  • Look for UMF or MGO certification, and patch test for at least 24 hours before using any honey product, especially on a child.
  • A formulated balm beats a DIY honey mask for stability, safety and consistency.

Table of Contents

What actually separates manuka honey from raw honey

“Raw” describes how honey is handled: it is not heated or heavily filtered. It says nothing about the flower it came from or how strong it is. “Manuka” describes the source. The honey comes from bees that pollinate the manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium) in New Zealand and Australia, according to Medical News Today. So a honey can be raw and manuka at once, or raw and not manuka. The two labels answer different questions.

What sets manuka apart for skincare is its chemistry. It has a high concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO), a compound linked to potent antibacterial activity that regular honey does not match. Most raw honeys get their mild antibacterial effect from other sources, and that effect varies a lot from jar to jar.

Here is a side-by-side view for skin use:

Manuka honey Raw honey (supermarket or local)
Source Manuka plant, New Zealand or Australia Mixed or unspecified flowers
Key marker MGO, rated by UMF or MGO grades None standardized
Humectant (draws in water) Yes Yes
Sterile Only if medical-grade No
Allergen load Can include pollen or propolis Can include pollen or propolis
Clinical research on skin Small studies, mostly eczema and wounds Very little
Best form for skin Formulated product or medical-grade honey Not recommended on broken skin

What the research says about manuka honey on skin

The most useful study for this question looked at atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. In 14 patients, lesions treated with manuka honey improved by about 2 points on the Three Item Severity score over 7 days compared with control sites (95% CI: -2.75 to -1.25, p < 0.001). That is a real signal. It is also a very small trial, so it is encouraging rather than conclusive.

Honey’s more general role is easier to defend. Honey acts as a humectant, attracting water and drawing it into the skin, and keeping skin moisturized helps protect the barrier, the outer layer that keeps irritants out. That is true of both honeys.

The claims that run ahead of the evidence are the popular ones:

If you want the longer tour of what manuka can and cannot do, our guide to manuka honey for skin covers it.

The risk with raw honey on skin

The main concern is simple. Dermatologists quoted by HealthCentral say raw kitchen honey may contain bacteria, spores, or allergens such as bee pollen and propolis, and that sterile medical-grade honey is the safer choice for sensitive or compromised skin. On a healthy forearm, a small risk of irritation is the worst you would expect. On cracked, weeping eczema, bacteria meet an open barrier, and a secondary infection becomes possible.

Some other points to keep in mind:

  • Pasteurizing is not a fix. Heat treatment can remove pollen and propolis but may also reduce antioxidant activity, per the same HealthCentral piece. Sterilization methods for medical-grade honey are designed to avoid this tradeoff.
  • Medical-grade does not mean risk-free. An FDA adverse event report on a manuka-based wound gel describes a serious reaction in a child, including facial swelling and vomiting. A single report cannot tell us how common this is, but it is the reason parents should patch test even if the child has eaten honey before.
  • Eating honey tells you little about skin. A reaction on the skin can happen even when ingestion has never been a problem.

We have a step-by-step guide on how to detect manuka honey skin reactions in 24 to 48 hours with a patch test.

How to read a manuka label

Manuka is expensive, and the label can mislead. A manuka honey producer’s review of grading systems notes that UMF and MGO ratings are both widely used and both reflect MGO content. Legitimate manuka should also be certified as coming from the Leptospermum scoparium plant and carry documented markers such as leptosperin.

A quick checklist:

  1. Look for a UMF or MGO number, not just the word “active” or “manuka blend.”
  2. Check that the product states where the honey comes from.
  3. For anything going on broken skin, choose products labeled medical-grade or sterile, not food honey.
  4. In a skincare product, remember the honey is one ingredient among many. The rest of the formula matters as much.

Why DIY honey masks are a weaker bet

It is tempting to stir honey with oats, lemon or yogurt at home. A skincare formulator advises that formulated products with manuka are safer than DIY blends, because home mixing raises contamination risk and can change the pH and stability, which may cancel out the honey’s useful properties. Lemon juice in particular is a known irritant for many people, so we would skip it entirely if your skin is reactive.

A formulated product also gives you consistency. A jar of food honey is different every time. A properly made balm is the same every time.

Honey works best as part of a routine

No honey replaces a basic skin plan. The American Academy of Dermatology’s guidance for eczema is consistent: moisturize after bathing and whenever skin feels dry, and use a cream or ointment rather than a lotion, because those are richer in oil and hydrate better. It also advises choosing fragrance-free products, since fragrance can trigger flares.

One label trap deserves attention. Fragrance-free and unscented are not the same thing. Unscented products can still contain masking fragrances. Read for “fragrance-free” specifically.

A sensible sequence looks like this:

  1. Cleanse gently with a fragrance-free cleanser.
  2. Pat skin dry, leaving it slightly damp.
  3. Apply your moisturizer or balm within a few minutes.
  4. Add targeted products as needed. If your routine includes a facial serum, a facial serum option can sit alongside the gentle cleansing and barrier repair steps.
  5. Keep it up daily. Consistency matters more than any single ingredient, and honey is a supporting player, not a cure.

If you want to understand what makes a product suitable for reactive skin, see our guide on what makes skincare hypoallergenic.

Our perspective: why we pair manuka honey with tallow

We started Lord’s Love Butter because we wanted a moisturizer that was simple, gentle and free of chemicals. We are a veteran-owned business, and we make a whipped beef tallow balm from grass-fed tallow. Manuka honey and propolis go into it.

We get asked about honey a lot. Our view is that honey is a good ingredient and a poor stand-alone treatment. Left on its own, it is sticky, it varies from jar to jar, and it has to be washed off. Folded into a balm, it sits in a base that holds moisture and absorbs without a greasy feel. We designed the balm for the whole body, and our customers with eczema, psoriasis and sensitive skin are the people we think about most.

Our perspective: why we pair manuka honey with tallow — overview diagram

We also want to be straight about two things. First, our balm contains propolis, and propolis is a recognized allergen for some people. If you react to bee products, patch test first or skip it. Second, a balm is not medical treatment. If you have a flare that is weeping, infected or not improving, see a dermatologist or your child’s pediatrician.

For how this works in practice, read our notes on noticeable hydration in days from a manuka honey balm paired with tallow.

— Michael

Choosing by skin type and situation

Eczema or psoriasis. Avoid raw food honey on open or cracked skin. Look at formulated or medical-grade products, and talk to your dermatologist. Our summaries of the research on manuka honey for eczema and manuka honey for psoriasis show what trials have and have not tested.

Children. Patch test for at least 24 hours on a small area, and watch for swelling, redness or vomiting. Stop at the first sign of a reaction. Do this even if your child eats honey without trouble.

Dry or aging skin. Honey’s humectant effect helps, but it works best when sealed in with an oil-based layer. See our piece on how skin texture improves with moisture and natural ways to plump dehydrated skin.

Acne-prone or oily skin. The evidence for honey is weak. Experts often suggest rinse-off formats for oily or acne-prone skin so that nothing builds up on the surface. If you are curious about tallow here, read whether tallow for acne actually works before you buy anything.

Busy mornings. Pick something that absorbs quickly and works on face, hands and body, so you actually use it every day.

Where our balm fits

If you want manuka’s benefits without mixing anything at home, our Whipped Beef Tallow Balm with Manuka Honey & Propolis in the 2.4 oz jar is where we would start. If you want one for home and one for your bag, the Tin & Jar Bundle covers both. You can also browse the full collection, which includes our Mint Tallow Lip Balm and Tallow Sun Balm with Zinc Oxide. Orders are backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee.

Whipped Beef Tallow Balm with Manuka Honey & Propolis - 2.4 oz Jar

FAQ

Is manuka honey the same as raw honey?

No. Raw describes honey that has not been heated or heavily filtered. Manuka describes honey made from the manuka plant, and it can be raw or processed. Manuka’s distinguishing feature is its MGO content, which ordinary raw honey does not match.

Can I put raw honey from my pantry on eczema?

We would not. Dermatologists warn that kitchen honey is not sterile and can carry bacteria, spores and allergens, which is a problem on a damaged barrier. If you want to try honey, ask your dermatologist about medical-grade or formulated products and patch test first.

Is manuka honey good as a face cleanser?

The evidence is thin. Honey is a humectant, so it can leave skin feeling soft, but clinical trials have not shown it to be an effective acne treatment. A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser is the better foundation, with honey as an extra.

How do I know my manuka honey is real?

Look for a UMF or MGO rating and a stated origin. Be skeptical of vague words like “active.” Real manuka is certified as coming from Leptospermum scoparium and has documented chemical markers.

What can I use instead of manuka honey?

A fragrance-free cream or ointment is the dermatologist-backed baseline for dry or eczema-prone skin. If you react to bee products, pick a barrier-repair moisturizer without honey or propolis and patch test it first.

Sources