Manuka Honey Soap

I tend to transpire rather quickly and I sport at least three times a week. After my muay thai training sessions I am totally soaked in sweat so I have to shower at least once a day but mostly more often. I am also aware of the fact that showering and washing with soap too often is not beneficial for my overall health.

Not taking a shower every day seems to boost the immune system, or the other way round, showering every day is thought to lower your resistance. After an intensive sports training waste products have been excreted by the body through sweat. This is a good thing but these should not remain on the skin because they will then be reabsorbed. Of course taking a shower without using soap is an option but it just doesn't really cut it. At least not for me. I also try to avoid showering too hot, although the hot water can be a very pleasant treat for the tired muscles.

Another downside of washing skin too often is that also the good bacteria present on our skin will be removed. This can lead to skin conditions.

On the positive side, there is an increasing amount of skin products and soaps that are not detrimental and even provide some benefits. Manuka soap is one of them.

Photo by Horia Varlan | Creative Commons

First of all I feel I have to mention that, as with most natural remedies, the curative action of the various commercial preparations is often greatly exaggerated. This might lead to highly raised expectations and therefore sometimes disappointment. On the other hand, manuka honey has amazing medical benefits proven by science. To what extent these benefits will be used in your advantage by using soap depends on many things. How much of the soap is made of manuka honey for example. Where does this honey come from. Has it been tested for its antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties?

More direct advantage of using this soap are the fact that it is completely natural. These soaps do not contain lanolin, alcohol, or other non-desirable ingredients. It makes your skin stay soft and healthy instead of drying it out as normal soaps tend to do. Manuka honey soap is mild, soothing, and has an antibacterial action without side effects.

And not to forget, the scent is heavenly. If you have never washed yourself with this type of soap you really should try it. If only for its delicious fragrance. Eight bucks for a bar of soap seems highly expensive but it lasts far longer than regular soap bars. And after all, isn't the natural, healthy treatment of your skin worth it?

Of course manuka honey soap isn't solely made of manuka honey. There have to be some essential ingredients in it in order to have a cleaning effect and, thus, be able to be called, soap. Some of these ingredients are harmful and regular used is best avoided. Others, although they might sound strange and 'chemical' are not harmful and can be used safely.

• Glycerin soaps are soaps that contain glycerin, a component of fat or oil. The soap is recognizably different from other soaps because it is translucent.
  
  In industrial soap-making, the glycerin is then usually removed to be used in skin creams and more expensive soap products. Most brands of common bar soap leave the skin dry after washing because of this, while shaving soaps and moisturizers are valued for softening skin, largely through their high glycerin content. (source: Wikipedia)


• Lanolin is an oily substance derived from sheep's wool


• Tallow (Sodium tallowate) is derived from vegetable or animal fats


• Sodium palmate is used as a base ingredient in soap and is made from palm oil.

Other common substances are sodium chloride which is salt.

Manuka Honey and Propolis combine with Manuka Oil and leaf in a natural oil base to protect, moisturize and soften as you deeply cleanse your skin.

Ingredients:
Olea europaea (olive fruit oil), aqua (water), Cocos nucifera (coconut oil), Elaeis guineensis (palm oil), sodium hydroxide, Leptospermum scoparium (manuka oil)mel (Manuka Honey), propolis, Leptospermum scoparium (manuka leaf).

The Huni Range of beauty products do not contain any Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Synthetic colours, fragrances, Mineral Oils or GE modified plant materials.

Available at The Honey Shop

This soap contains nectar ease, a blend of New Zealand manuka honey and bee venom. Bee venom is widely believed to be beneficial to the body, especially to the joints. It is thought that bee venom is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, all aspects very beneficial to skin care.

Manuka Honey Soap with Bee Venom is an emollient to keep your skin feeling softer and smoother, naturally. Unlike much commercially produced soap, Manuka Honey Soap with Bee Venom has a neutral pH and is high in glycerin so it's naturally moisturizing. Because Bee Venom has been linked to relieving symptoms of arthritis for over a hundred years, it makes sense to try a Bee Venom Soap if you suffer from arthritis in the sensitive joints of the hands. After using Manuka Honey Soap with Bee Venom, your skin will be left feeling cleansed, refreshed and cared for and lightly scented with New Zealand Manuka Honey.

In Ancient times people were already aware of honey being a nourishing and soothing skin product. Consistent topical use of honey was considered a great way to keep the skin young and fresh. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen, is renowned for her habit of taking honey and milk baths.

Modern scientists state that these baths could really have kept her skin youthful. They found that honey has the ability to absorb and retain moisture which helps keep the skin hydrated.

Many people with food and additive allergies have problems with dry and itchy skin. Shampoos, body washes and soaps cause skin to be itchy and irritated after showering. The use of manuka soap can solve this inconvenience.

Dandruff can have various causes. One of them is a dry skin. An excess of skin oils and a lack of moisture in the scalp is what is thought to influence this dryness. Among some other anti-dandruff ingredients such as ketoconazole and coal tar are tea tree oil and manuka oil.

Manuka oil and honey are known for their anti fungal and moisturizing action. These two combined make it gentle and effective anti-dandruff ingredients.

This is just one example of the many varieties of manuka soap available just from the source; New Zealand.

Manuka Honey Cleansing Bar -Kiri- 125g

Manuka honey soap is used to moisturize dry skin, clean minor infected cuts and scrapes, reducing eczema and psoriasis patches, treating athlete's foot, and reducing body odor.

The power of honey has been described for ages as beneficial and soothing to the skin. It is also said to improve the skin's elasticity and suppleness. Honey is also a very strong anti-oxidant for the skin which may work rejuvenating.

You can buy manuka honey soap from Amazon, eBay, and other online vendors but in some cases it pays to order directly from shops in New Zealand. Lower prices, a wider variety, and in some cases, higher quality are advantages of shopping online in New Zealand. Many of these shops offer free world wide shipping or have rates roughly equal to those of for example Amazon.