Honey Extract is a natural extract derived from honey produced by bees. It is known for its moisturizing, nourishing, and antioxidant properties. Used in cosmetics to improve skin elasticity, provide deep hydration, and offer antioxidant benefits.

Chemical Composition and Structure:

Honey Extract contains various bioactive components:

Sugars: Glucose, fructose, and other sugars that provide hydration.
Vitamins: Vitamin C, B vitamins, and other vitamins that nourish and revitalize the skin.
Minerals: Minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium, essential for skin health.
Antioxidants: Flavonoids and polyphenols that protect the skin from free radical damage.

Physical Properties:

Honey Extract is generally golden in color and has a viscous consistency. The aroma may slightly vary based on the honey source but tends to have a sweet, natural scent.

Production Process:

Harvesting:
Honey is collected from bees and filtered to remove impurities.
Extraction:
The honey is processed to obtain the extract, preserving its bioactive components.

Applications:

Moisturizing: Provides deep hydration to the skin.
Nourishing: Nourishes and revitalizes the skin with its vitamin and mineral content.
Antioxidant: Protects the skin from environmental damage and premature aging.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Honey Extract is generally regarded as safe for topical use. However, like all natural extracts, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions or skin irritations. People with allergies to bee products should exercise caution and consult a physician if necessary. It is important to ensure that the honey used is sustainably sourced and free from harmful chemicals.

INCI Functions:


Humectant. Hygroscopic compound used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: horny, the most superficial, granular, spinous, shiny, and basal. Humectants have the ability to retain the water they attract from the air in the stratum corneum and have the function of moisturising the skin. They are best used before emollients, which are oil-based.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.
Synonyms:

CAS: 91052-92-5 EcC number 293-255-4