Sweet: Can Farmacy’s Honey Potion Save Dry Skin?

You may have noticed that honey is currently having something of a skincare moment.

And since it’s both a humectant, drawing water from the atmosphere to the skin, as well as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, it’s not hard to see why beauty companies are falling over themselves to include this ingredient in their products.  Which leads me to perhaps one of the best-known brands doing the honey thing: Farmacy Beauty.

 

The Brand

Launched in 2015 by skincare addict Mark Veeder, farming expert Robert Beyfuss, and lab owner David Chung, Farmacy Beauty’s philosophy is ‘farm-to-face skincare’.  

And while it may its glass packaging and wooden tops may all say ‘natural beauty’, Farmacy actually combines some science-based technology at the same time for products that are heavy on gentle results.

The brand is also all about the quality and sustainability of its products, with all packaging fully recyclable and their ingredients sourced from select farms across the world.  Each one is also cruelty-free, as well as paraben-free, synthetic fragrance-free, phthalate-free and mineral oil-free.

 

Farmacy Beauty Honey Potion

 Designed as a hydrating, soothing mask with a honey-like look and texture, Honey Potion takes advantage of the humectant, anti-bacterial properties of honey, alongside echinacea to soothe.

The Full List of Ingredients

Glycerin, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Panthenol, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Allantoin, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Aroma (Flavor), Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Water

 

How to Use it

Using the metal spatula this comes with, Farmacy recommends spreading a thick layer across the face (avoiding the eyes and lips) before massaging in for a few minutes until it turns to a white cream and then leaving for 10 to 15 minutes.

 

On the Skin

Hands up anyone who has ever bought a product because it looked great, without fully checking its ingredients or reading the box..? Well while I do generally reign in my enthusiasm online shopping, when it came to this cult classic mask I admit I probably should have done a little more research before jumping in.

First up, let me just say that I really like this mask and what follows isn’t a criticism of it- more of a reminder to myself to actually read the back of the box the next time a product arrives.

Because as it turns out, basically everyone but me knew this product is self-heating on contact with the skin- something which I would normally really enjoy.

The thing is though that when I first tried this it was in almost 40 degree heat this summer, and-having completely neglected to read the box when it arrived- I can only say that it came as something of a surprise when I first applied this- straight after a bath (yes I know- I just felt like one) on a hot evening.

My initial- completely unresearched- expectation that this would be one of those cooling masks was quickly proved wrong as a warm sensation slowly spread across my face, leaving me roughly hotter than a thousand suns and bewilderedly wondering why beads of sweat were starting to form on my upper lip…

The long build-up to this product review isn’t at all to say because I don’t like this mask…I just thought that sharing the image of me red-faced and feeling silly might be enough to make me remember to read the package next time.

Because as it turns out, when I use this mask when my body temperature isn’t lava-hot, this product is a total delight.

When you actually know what you’re doing with this (unlike me), on application its (gentle) self-heating action is accompanied by a change in texture- with the honey-like formula turning from golden to white after massaging in.  The initial warmth also subsides within minutes, leaving a gel-type formula behind.

After washing off, the result of the softening glycerin, honey, propolis and allantoin (from the roots of a shrub) in this mask is skin that is hydrated and comfortable, as well as a subtle glow. 

 

The Takeaway

While I like this mask, I’m not sure how helpful the self-heating action would be for anyone with really sensitive skin.I also think the price is a little steep.But for gentle hydration and some honey-goodness this works well (just don’t try it straight out of the bath!).

Great for: Gentle hydration.

Not-so-great for: Skin types that suffer from sensitivity or redness, which may not enjoy the warmth from this.  I also think there are other great hydrating masks that don’t cost this much.  

Farmacy’s Honey Potion is from £36 for 50 ml, Cult Beauty UK and from $38 for 1.7 oz/ 50 ml, Sephora US