Have you heard of honey mud? I learned of the cult-following product through a friend a few months back — and the next thing I knew I was seeing it all over the internet! If you haven’t heard of it, Honey Mud is a product developed by May Lindstrom that’s made of raw honey, clay and macadamia nut oil with a splash of essential oils, witch hazel and colloidal silver. It’s used as a mask, face wash, body mask and body wash. The ingredients are (clearly) very simple — and according to hundreds of 5 star reviews all over the internet, it’s extraordinarily effective at balancing problem skin. Most of the reviews I’ve seen claim that it improves sensitive, dry, eczema-prone, redness-prone, acne-prone and oily skin. So… in a nut shell, everyone loves it. And — you guessed it — all of those rave reviews are exactly why Honey Mud retails for $90 or more. This stuff works.

I’m not one to scoff at an effective product that’s priced appropriately. But I’m also not about to drop a hundred bucks on a product I can make myself in 1 minute flat. So, off I went to my kitchen (and bathroom) to start testing.

I’ve been using the honey face washing method for a little over 18 months, and it’s dramatically improved my dry, sensitive, eczema-prone and redness-prone skin. So I knew that honey alone was doing most of the weight-lifting in this blend. Paired with red clay, a bit of jojoba oil and a drop of rose essential oil and, ooo baby, I was in business. I’ve been using my copy-cat recipe at home for about a month now, and I’m so pleased with the results I just had to share them with you! See the video above for the full methodology.

Here are the benefits of using this simple Honey Mud as a mask or nightly face wash:

• Develop more polished, glowing skin over time.

• Extremely gentle but effective exfoliation, which promotes new skin cell growth.

• Helps skin retain moisture, and is a great prep before using a natural moisturizer.

• Combats eczema and dryness.

• Reduces redness.

• Balances skin PH.

• Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal — which means it helps to prevent bacterial/fungal breakouts and also helps to recover from acne incidents.

• Promotes youthful-looking skin and slows down wrinkle development.

• Eliminates greasiness without stripping oils from the skin — after washing the skin feels soft, never taught.

• Soothes skin discomfort and itchiness.

Since I started using my DIY Honey Mud a month ago, here’s what I’ve noticed in my own skin:

• My pores are smaller and my black heads around my nose have been mostly eliminated.

• My skin is generally more glowy.

• I haven’t had any eczema on my face over the Winter months (woohoo!).

• My redness is reduced — my skin tone is more even.

• I’ve been getting more compliments on my skin!

• It seems like a few of my early wrinkles have softened up a bit — I credit this to the hydrating quality of this blend.

• I just generally feel like my skin is softer, plumper and more hydrated. I do slather my skin in this moisturizer from Eminence both AM and PM, so that is certainly a factor as well!

So… why red clay in this blend? Red clay removes impurities from the skin (like most clays) but it also softens and retains moisture in the skin. It’s much more gentle than most cosmetic clays, so it’s perfect for sensitive skin. It’s not as pricey as you think, and a little bit goes a long way. I get mine from Mountain Rose Herbs.

It’s optional to add jojoba oil or rose essential oil. Jojoba offers a little bit more moisture for dry skin (like mine) without being greasy or heavy. Jojoba is the most similar to the oils in human skin (sebum) so it absorbs well without clogging pores. Rose essential oil is great for reducing redness (and it smells like heaven of course!). You could use any number of essential oils instead, although I would avoid using the mint family or anything very warming like cinnamon or ginger as they can cause irritation.

DIY Honey Mud

Author: Renee Byrd / willfrolicforfood.com - Active prep time: 1 min - Makes: slightly less than 1/2 cup honey mud

Notes: This recipe is basically 1:1 ratio of raw honey to red clay, with a drizzle of jojoba and a drop of rose essential oil. You must use RAW honey for this DIY to have any positive effects.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup raw honey + more as needed

• 3-4 tbsp rhassoul red clay

• Optional: 1 tsp jojoba oil, 1 drop rose absolute or rose essential oil

Method:

In a small bowl, combine the honey and red clay. Stir together until it comes together. You want a thick but runny texture. If your mixture is at all sandy or you could pinch it between your fingers like play-dough, you want to add more honey until you have a thinner consistency. If you’re adding jojoba or rose essential oil, add those in and stir together.

To use as a mask: wet face and spread the honey mud all over your face, avoiding the eye area. Let set on for 10-20 minutes (the longer the better). Rinse with warm water until the mud is completely removed, then pat face dry. Moisturize as usual.

To use as a face wash: wet face liberally with warm (not hot) water. Use a quarter sized amount of honey mud and rub it lightly all over the face in upward circular motions. The circular motions allow the clay to naturally exfoliate your skin. Rinse immediately and pat your face dry. Moisturize as usual.

Resources:

How To Wash Your Face with Honey via Lily Diamond / Kale + Caramel

Honey: It’s Medicinal Property and Antibacterial Activity

Honey in Dermatology and Skincare, a Review

All About Rhassoul Red Clay via Wellness Mama

All About Jojoba Oil via Dr. Axe

Disclaimer: I’m a skin-care fan and lover of all things natural, but I’m not a dermatologist or an esthetician. If you have special skin conditions (or any concerns really) please consult a professional.