4 DIY Honey and Cinnamon Masks for Glowing Skin

DIY skincare is always a favorite for self-care days and wellness routines. It’s a therapeutic activity and the ingredients you need are easy to find because they’re already in your kitchen cupboard. A honey and cinnamon mask is a powerhouse for glowing and healthy skin — you can use them to help your skin feel softer and look brighter.

Making face masks at home is a great option if you have sensitive skin and are cautious about trying new skin products. You’ll know exactly what’s going into your skin and you don’t have to worry about added chemicals. Examine the benefits of using honey and cinnamon, and a few face-mask recipes to try.

The History of Honey and Cinnamon Masks for Skincare in Ancient Traditions

Honey has a long history of use as a topical and internal medicine. Due to its antibacterial qualities, the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Assyrian, Vedic, Chinese and Roman cultures used honey as medicine for gastrointestinal disorders and the healing of wounds.

Cinnamon was also a healing ingredient in ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Cleopatra used honey in her beauty routine for its moisturizing effects, and other Egyptian rulers used milk and honey lotions for their skin.

What Are the Benefits of Using Cinnamon on Your Skin?

Cinnamon contains antioxidants that minimize free radical damage on your skin. It also increases collagen synthesis, which means using cinnamon will facilitate graceful aging by decreasing wrinkles and improving skin elasticity. The bark also reduces dark spots and hyperpigmentation by blocking tyrosinase — an enzyme responsible for brown spots in food products.

What Are the Benefits of Using Honey for Your Skin?

Honey contains powerful nutrients and enzymes that promote healthy skin. Some of the benefits of honey include the following:

• Speeds up the skin’s healing processes: Medical professionals use Manuka honey for wound and burn care because it uniquely promotes cellular regeneration.
• Reduces inflammation: Honey’s strong anti-inflammatory properties make it helpful in treating skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and atopic dermatitis.
• Hydrates the skin: Honey is a natural moisturizer and humectant. By drawing moisture into the skin, it combats dry skin conditions, and makes your skin appear plump and youthful.
• Reduces acne scars and hyperpigmentation: Because honey contains a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, it can lighten spots and hyperpigmentation over time.
• One of the best natural remedies for acne: Honey soothes swollen and red pimples, and fights acne with antibacterial properties. You can also combine it with tomato or milk for extra benefits.

Your skin is delicate and deserves the best, so make sure to use unpasteurized honey. Unpasteurized honey contains healthy bacteria that activates your immune system, heals blemishes, and reduces redness and inflammation. When mixed with cinnamon, you get a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial combination that brightens skin, exfoliates to reveal new skin cells, and fights off irritation and infection.

4 Ways to Make a Honey and Cinnamon Mask

Remember to use high-quality organic ingredients free of additives or preservatives for the best results. This means you must make a fresh mask for every application. Rinse it off with warm water, then cold water to close your pores.

These masks should only be used once or twice a week. That’s enough for the benefits to take effect and overuse could result in irritation. 

1. Healing Mask

Mix 2–3 tablespoons of honey with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder into a paste. Apply the paste onto your face with a cotton ball or clean hands. Leave it on your skin for 15 minutes to half an hour or until dry. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. You can also use this paste as a spot treatment for red and swollen pimples.

2. Brightening Mask

Use this mask for relief if you’re experiencing inflammation or irritated skin. Combine equal parts honey and rosewater, add a dash of cinnamon, and apply on a freshly washed face. Rinse with water and moisturize.

Alternatively, you can use this as an overnight mask. This will give the enzymes in honey more time to penetrate your skin. Honey on its own can be used overnight for soft and radiant skin, but it can be quite sticky, so save your linen by keeping it on your face.

3. Hydrating Mask

Make the most of honey’s humectant properties for soft and dewy skin with this mask. Mix equal parts cinnamon powder, honey and yogurt, and apply to your skin. Rinse with lukewarm water after 10 minutes, then use a hydrating moisturizer.

4. Exfoliating Body Scrub

You can also enjoy the benefits of cinnamon and honey as exfoliants in your body care routine. Use this mixture as a body scrub to maintain glowing, radiant skin — 1 tablespoon each of honey, cinnamon powder and salt, with 2 tablespoons of almond or olive oil. You should only exfoliate once or twice weekly to protect your moisture barrier.

Things to Watch Out For

Always do a patch test before using anything new on your skin by applying a small amount of the paste you’ve created on your inner forearm. Leave the product on your skin for as long as you would if it were a facemask. Repeat the patch test twice a day for a few days. Watch the area to see if any redness or irritation occurs. If nothing happens, you’re good to go.

Cinnamon stimulates the blood vessels under your skin to bring blood closer to the surface, making your skin look plump and reducing fine lines. However, this can cause a tingling sensation. If you’re not a fan of that, reduce the amount of cinnamon in your mask mixtures.

If you have sensitive skin, cinnamon may result in redness and irritation. Seek expert advice before adding it to your skincare routine.

Maintain Healthy Skin With a Honey and Cinnamon Mask

Honey and cinnamon masks provide excellent antioxidants that keep your skin hydrated, glowing, and acne-free. By incorporating these natural ingredients into your skincare routine, you can reap the benefits of nature and maintain healthy skin.