Efficacy of Honey as A Moisturizing Ingredient in Cosmetic Formulations

BACKGROUNDHoney is a viscous, sweet, and aromatic substance produced by bees from floral nectar or plant secretions. Recognized by the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) as a cosmetic ingredient with humectant, emollient, and moisturizing properties, honey has been increasingly investigated in cosmetic formulations due to its beneficial effects on the skin. Aims: This study aimed to systematically review published articles on the efficacy of honey as a cosmetic ingredient with moisturizing properties in clinical trials.

METHODSThe PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram was used as a tool for study inclusion and exclusion. Articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to April 2025. The search terms included “honey”, “skin”, “dermis”, “epidermis”, “hydration”, “moisturization”, “moisturizing”, “water retention”, “efficacy”, “effectiveness”, “clinical effect”, and “outcome”.

RESULTSA total of five studies were included in this review. Three studies reported relevant findings regarding honey-based cosmetic formulations, particularly in terms of skin hydration and wound healing efficacy, while two studies showed non-significant results. The analysis suggests that the moisturizing potential of honey may be associated with its botanical origin, especially the content of reducing sugars, which enhance water retention in the skin. Furthermore, other constituents, such as amino acids and antioxidant compounds, contribute to its moisturizing and regenerative properties.

CONCLUSIONSTherefore, honey represents a promising alternative for the development of moisturizing cosmetic formulations, with advantages related to its natural origin and low risk of adverse effects.

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