Activist Manuka Honey Mask

Use as a face mask by applying to clean skin. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

 

Use as a daily face wash by applying a small amount to damp skin. Massage in circular motions before rinsing with warm water.

 

Use as a spot treatment. Suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive and acne-prone skin.

100% Raw Mānuka Honey 850+MGO. Double filtered.

ACTIVIST Raw Mānuka Honey is wildcrafted in Aotearoa, New Zealand by bees that pollinate the native Mānuka Bush during a small seasonal window in the spring and summer. Mānuka Honey is a beautiful resource with considerably higher levels of enzymes and antibacterial properties than found in other honey. It is truly one of Mother Nature’s special gifts to us. Our integrity and vision is that our honey is produced in small batches, therefore retaining Mānuka’s value, active nutritional properties and plant enzymes.

 

 

MGO is both a measurement system and an abbreviation of Methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal is an organic compound known for its antibacterial properties. 

 

The Methylglyoxal in Mānuka honey is converted from dihydroxyacetone (DHA) found in the nectar of the Mānuka flower. While the resulting Methylglyoxal is present in other honeys, the levels in Mānuka honey are 1,000 times higher. This conversion occurs over a period of time with the amount of Methylglyoxal (MGO) shown to increase when aged appropriately. 

 

The MGO scale is simple in the fact that it is testing and certifying for the amount of MGO = Methylglyoxal; which represents the active enzymes and health properties found in our Mānuka Honey. As an example our ACTIVIST 850+MGO represents that there is a minimum of 850mg of Methylglyoxal per KG tested and certified in our Mānuka Honey. It’s very clean and simple and easy for our customers to understand. Each and everyone of our products is tested and certified in New Zealand and has this marking on our jar and label. Remember the higher the MGO the higher the potency and antibacterial effect. 

Why Mānuka?

 

 

Mānuka Honey is one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey in the world. In 1981, researchers at the New Zealand University of Waikato discovered that Mānuka Honey has a considerably higher level of enzymes than regular honey and identified its active agent, methylglyoxal (MGO)—the concentration of which is widely measured in the industry to determine the potency of what’s in the jar. These enzymes create a natural hydrogen peroxide that works as an antibacterial. 

 

The literature makes it clear that Mānuka is no fringe therapy; along with anti-inflammatory effects, the honey has incredible value as a wound dressing—with efficacy even against antibiotic-resistant microbes. Mānuka Honey benefits are wide, including helping with digestive issues; low stomach acid; treating acne and eczema; combating Staph infections; treating burns, wounds and ulcers; preventing tooth decay and gingivitis; improving sore throats and immunity and helping with allergies. Mānuka Honey is a beautiful raw resource for using as a beauty and skincare product – our favorite way to use ACTIVIST is straight out of the jar for a nightly face mask and also as a face cleanser!

 

 

Leptospermum scoparium (commonly called Mānuka)

 

 

Mānuka, The beautiful wildflower native to Aotearoa New Zealand. Often referred to as the New Zealand Tea Tree, the Mānuka Plant is an evergreen shrub with white (occasionally pink) flowers. Its leaves are small with a short spine tip.

 

Leptospermum scoparium should not be confused with what is more commonly known as ‘Tea Tree’ (Melaleuca alternifolia), a plant native to Australia. Despite being from the same family (Myrtaceae family), Mānuka contains dihydroxyacetone whereas Melaleuca alternifoliadoes not. Dihydroxyacetone or DHA is a compound that is naturally occurring in Mānuka nectar. When bees create honey from this nectar, some of the DHA converts to Methylglyoxal (MGO). 

 

Depending on the year's climate and weather patterns of the Southern Hemisphere, Mānuka flowering starts at the beginning of spring at the top of the North Island of New Zealand and makes its way south. The flowering of Mānuka is a very short window ranging anywhere from two to six weeks of the year. Because of such a short window for the wild-crafting of our Mānuka Honey, the season is labor intensive, preparation for bee-health is crucial and no time is wasted when the Mānuka is flowering. Beyond the truly remarkable health benefits, this is also the reason that our genuine raw ‘mono-floral’ Mānuka Honey is special and rare.

 

Like a biodynamic wine, our Mānuka Honey's properties also change year to year on seasonal cycles. We celebrate this and it is reflected in our honey's taste, texture and color.