Mel

This ingredient is another INCI name for honey.

Honey mostly shows up in skincare as a humectant and skin conditioning agent. This is because its natural sugars (fructose and glucose) help hold onto water so skin feels softer and more hydrated.

Beyond hydration, honey also has antibacterial and wound-supporting properties. Its antibacterial action comes from a mix of things:

• It's packed with sugar which pulls water out of bacteria and basically dries them out.
• It's also acidic, which bacteria don't like, and it slowly releases small amounts of hydrogen peroxide (a natural disinfectant) thanks to an enzyme in the honey.
• On top of that, it has antioxidants and helps rally your immune system.

Manuka-type honey has an extra bacteria-killing compound called methylglyoxal, while all Honey contains a natural antibacterial protein called bee defensin-1.

Honey also nudges your immune cells to release signals that start the healing process. This is why medical-grade Honey is actually used in real wound dressings.

Just keep in mind that most of the strong clinical evidence is for wound care and not everyday cosmetic claims.

On concentrations and safety:
According to industry data, honey is used up to 22% in paste/mud packs, 7% as a honey extract in body/hand products, and face skincare levels sit well below that.

A human repeat insult patch test of 7% honey extract in 112 subjects showed no sensitization.

Allergy-wise, honey itself is a rare sensitizer. The bigger culprit is usually propolis that sometimes tags along in less-refined honey.

People allergic to propolis, conifer, poplar, salicylates, or Balsam of Peru are advised to avoid this ingredient due to shared allergens.

You might see this ingredient listed as either Honey or Mel. (they're the same thing). Mel is simply the Latin word for honey.

Is honey vegan?

A lot of people wonder if Honey is vegan, and technically it isn't.

Honey is made by bees; they gather nectar and their natural enzymes turn it into the Honey we know. So because it comes from an animal, it doesn't fit a vegan lifestyle.

And please remember to be kind to bees :). They're vital to so many ecosystems, and many species are struggling so they're worth protecting.