Is hibiscus and honey good for skin?

Updated on: 16 January 2021, 15:00 pm IST

• 102

Every season affects our skin differently. And when it comes to winters, it is a known culprit behind dry and dull skin. You will notice your skin gets extremely dry during the colder months of the year, and if you’re vigilant enough, you probably stock up on moisturisers right in the beginning of the season.

What’s clear is that we need something that can deeply hydrate our skin while also giving it a touch of glow during the winter season. Honestly, you only need one face mask to meet these two needs! A hibiscus-honey face mask can truly amp up your skin health amidst the dry and chilly winter months.

Here’s what this homemade face mask with honey and hisbiscus  can do for you 

Many still consider hibiscus to be an unconventional ingredient when it comes to skincare but there are multiple ways in which it takes care of your skin:

• The high content of vitamin C in hibiscus brightens dull skin
• The AHAs present in the flower exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells and dirt
• The antioxidants act against free radicals, helping your skin avoid fine lines and age spots

What honey does is that it moisturises your skin deeply. Not only is it hydrating in nature but is also a natural humectant, which means it has the ability to lock-in moisture. Which is why we’re also adding aloe vera to this face mask. The high-water content will hydrate your skin and amp up the action of honey. At the same time, honey will lock-in the double dose of moisture and ensure you don’t suffer from dry skin, no matter what the weather is.

What you’ll need

1 hibiscus flower or 2 tsp pure hibiscus powder

1 tsp honey 

½ tsp aloe vera

Here’s how to prepare this homemade face mask

Step 1: If you don’t have hibiscus powder, you should start by soaking the hibiscus flower in water overnight. Next, grind the flower to turn it into a paste.

Step 2: Add honey and aloe vera to the paste or powder. Mix all the ingredients.

Here’s how to apply the hibiscus and honey face mask

1. Steam your face for 5 to 7 minutes to open up your pores. Opening up the pores will enhance the absorption of the ingredients into your skin and double the benefits of the hibiscus-honey face mask.
2. Apply the face mask all over your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
3. Wash your face with plain water and avoid using a face wash.

You should ideally use this light face mask at least once a week. What’s more, you can also massage it on your face for 5 to 10 minutes after applying it before leaving it to dry. We’ve used aloe vera as a supporting ingredient to increase the moisturising effect but you can use other ingredients depending on your skin. For example, you can use neem leaves if you have an acne issue, or vitamin E drops to combat the first few signs of ageing.

So, ladies, pamper yourself with this natural goodness and you’ll never experience dry skin during the winters!

With a subject line like “Nature’s Botox,” of course I had to click and find out more about hibiscus. I’m a beauty devotee with an aversion to needles, so that combination of words sounds pretty much perfect. What magical, just-discovered ingredient was this? Would it be rare? Expensive? Otherwise unattainable? As it turns out, none of the above. The email from natural beauty brand Native Nectar Botanicals revealed that garden-variety hibiscus benefits for skin are comparable to Botox — and that’s not an empty marketing claim, either. Derms are fully on board with the descriptor for three main reasons: elastin, antioxidants, and AHAs.

“Hibiscus has great anti-aging benefits because it maintains elastin in the skin by decreasing the activity of elastase, an enzyme that breaks down our skin’s natural elastin,” Dr. Devika Icecreamwala, a dermatologist with Icecreamwala Dermatology in San Francisco, tells TZR. Elastin basically works in tandem with the more well-known protein collagen to keep skin looking youthful. Where collagen plumps, elastin is responsible for the skin’s ability to “snap back” — so when elastin levels naturally decline with age, skin sags. “Elastin is what keeps our skin looking firm, youthful, and less wrinkled,” Icecreamwala says.

“Hibiscus is also loaded with vitamin C, which is vital for collagen production,” Jess Taylor, the founder of Native Nectar Botanicals, tells TZR. In this way, the tropical flower gives aging skin the one-two punch — albeit, in a totally different way than Botox (which is an injectable neurotoxin that paralyzes wrinkle-causing muscles), and not instantaneously, either. Hibiscus exerts its flower power over time.

It does bring some other beauty benefits to the table, though. “Hibiscus is rich in specific antioxidants called anthocyanins, which fight off free radicals, prevent premature skin aging, and decrease inflammation,” Dr. Icecreamwala says, noting that the ingredient also contains natural alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, that help exfoliate. “This leads to more youthful-looking skin and helps control breakouts,” Jana Blankenship, the founder of natural beauty brand Captain Blankenship, tells TZR. AHAs are also known for brightening skin tone and reducing signs of hyperpigmentation, like acne scars.

“Hibiscus works as a great natural moisturizer because it contains a lot of mucilage,” Dr. Icecreamwala adds. While mucilage may not soundglamorous — it’s a viscous fluid found in plant matter — it actually helps skin look and feel hydrated. To quote Blankenship: “Really, what doesn't hibiscus do?”

Best of all, the ingredient does it all in a super-soothing way. “Due to the gentle nature of hibiscus, the exfoliating benefits may be utilized in areas traditionally unsuitable for other forms of exfoliation, such as the orbital area,” LeeAnne Leslie, professional education and training manager of the Alpha-H skin care brand, tells TZR. “There aren’t really any risks associated with the ingredient. In fact, hibiscus extract rarely causes allergic reactions and is suited to all skin types.”

A lot of these properties carry over to hair care, too. “Hibiscus flower extract contains amino acids, which are smaller components of protein that are found in the hair,” Nicole Erickson, director of product development at John Masters Organics, tells TZR. “The amino acids bond to the hair to add strength and elasticity.” When applied to the scalp, hibiscus’ AHA content works to slough away dead skin cells and buildup, effectively balancing its pH and leading to healthier hair follicles and ideal sebum production.

Obviously, those kinds of benefits apply to anyone of any hair type, but the power of hibiscus is often employed in hair care products specifically aimed at dry, damaged, or natural hair — like John Masters Organics Hair Reconstructing range and SheaMoisture’s Coconut + Hibiscus line — thanks to its soothing and repairing nature.

Ahead, 20 ways to add a shot of hibiscus to your beauty routine — no needles required.

We only include products that have been independently selected by TZR's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

Shop Hibiscus Skin Care

Shop Hibiscus Hair Care

This article was originally published on April 17, 2019

Can we use hibiscus daily for face?

Is hibiscus good for skin whitening?

How do you make hibiscus and honey cream?

Does hibiscus and honey help cellulite?