Honey Extract
Also known as Mel Extract, Honey extract, Extract of honey
“CIR Expert Panel says: safe as used in cosmetics.”
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety assessed Honey Extract as Safe (S) — no formulation conditions imposed in the QRT — as part of a 7-ingredient honey-derived group assessment published in IJT 44(Suppl. 2):5S-18S, 2025 (Cherian et al., PMID 40673535). The Panel's published abstract notes that 'because impurities, particularly pesticides and endotoxins, may be present in these ingredients, formulators should continue to use good manufacturing practices to monitor and limit these possible impurities,' but this is a GMP advisory, not a regulatory restriction. Honey Extract is INCI-defined as 'the extract of Honey' (CIR Table 1, CAS 91052-95-5) — a refined preparation distinct from raw Honey (CAS 8028-66-8); it is typically produced by extracting honey with water/glycol/glycerin solvents to yield a concentrated phytochemical fraction, then blended with a diluent system. CIR-reported maximum use concentration is up to 7% in leave-on body and hand products (172 leave-on uses out of 359 total per 2018 PCPC concentration-of-use survey). Cosmetic functional rationale is humectant + soothing + antimicrobial: free hydroxyl groups in fructose/glucose moieties retain stratum corneum water (Burlando & Cornara, J Cosmet Dermatol 2013, PMID 24305429), and slow enzymatic H2O2 release from glucose oxidase contributes mild antibacterial activity in non-sterile preparations. Manuka honey specifically has substantially elevated antimicrobial activity attributable to methylglyoxal (MGO) — converted non-enzymatically from dihydroxyacetone present uniquely in Leptospermum scoparium nectar — at concentrations up to 100-fold higher than conventional honey (Niaz et al., Curr Drug Metab 2017, PMID 28901255); however, this MGO-driven activity is a property of certain Manuka-sourced raw honey preparations marketed for wound care, and is NOT inherent to generic INCI 'Honey Extract' as supplied for cosmetic formulation. Allergy is uncommon but documented, with key cases including contact urticaria syndrome induced by epicutaneous sensitization during routine skin care with honey (Katayama et al., Contact Dermatitis 2016, PMID 26899812) and allergic contact dermatitis from propolis-enriched honey (Matos et al., Contact Dermatitis 2015, PMID 25524122) — pollen-derived antigens and bee-secretion proteins are the principal sensitizers.
CIR-assessed Safe (S) for cosmetic use without formulation conditions per the 2025 published assessment:5S-18S, 2025; PMID 40673535) — the cleanest possible CIR verdict, applied to all 7 honey-derived ingredients in the group
Humectant function: free hydroxyl groups on fructose, glucose, and minor sugars hydrogen-bond water and increase stratum corneum hydration; Honey Extract is INCI-classified as 'skin-conditioning agents-humectant' (CIR Table 1)
Soothing and skin-conditioning: contains organic acids (gluconic, citric, lactic, malic), polyphenols (caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, kaempferol, chrysin), and trace amino acids that contribute to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant cosmetic claims (Burlando & Cornara, PMID 24305429)
Mild antibacterial activity from glucose oxidase enzymatic release of hydrogen peroxide (slow, low-concentration release in moisturized formulations)
Manuka honey (Leptospermum scoparium-sourced) carries substantially elevated antimicrobial activity attributable to methylglyoxal (MGO) at up to 100x conventional honey concentrations — clinically used in FDA-cleared wound dressings (Medihoney) but distinct from generic Honey Extract; citing this evidence in marketing for non-Manuka-sourced Honey Extract is misleading (Niaz et al., PMID 28901255; CIR 2019 Draft Report ref 43)
Source: Honey Extract is the extract of honey (CAS 91052-95-5; CIR Table 1). Honey itself (CAS 8028-66-8) is the saccharic secretion of Apis mellifera, Tetragonisca angustula, Scaptotrigona pectoralis, or Melipona Becheii honeybees. The INCI extract preparation is typically produced by extracting honey with water/glycol/glycerin solvents and filtering
CIR-reported maximum use is up to 7% in leave-on body and hand products (172 leave-on uses out of 359 total) per the 2018 PCPC concentration-of-use survey cited in the CIR 2019 Draft Report
Pollen-derived sensitization: 10 g of honey contains approximately 20-100,000 pollen grains that retain allergenic properties through the honey-making process (CIR 2019 Draft Report); refined Honey Extract reduces but does not eliminate pollen content depending on filtration. Documented case of contact urticaria syndrome triggered by 8 years of routine skin care with honey-containing products, with cross-reactivity to multiple floral honey types confirmed by prick-to-prick testing.
Bee-secretion sensitization: Honey contains secretions from honeybee pharyngeal and salivary glands plus trace bee venom components; rare anaphylaxis case reports are documented including pediatric cases linked to Compositae pollen sensitization (CIR 2019 Draft Report cites 5 published case reports including PMID 26899812).
Propolis cross-contamination: Honey may carry propolis residues from beekeeping practice; allergic contact dermatitis cases attributed to 'propolis-enriched honey' confirm that propolis-related sensitization (cinnamic acid esters, caffeic acid phenethyl ester) can present as honey allergy (Matos et al., PMID 25524122).
Pesticide and endotoxin impurities: CIR 2025 conclusion explicitly notes that 'because impurities, particularly pesticides and endotoxins, may be present in these ingredients, formulators should continue to use good manufacturing practices to monitor and limit these possible impurities':5S-18S, 2025) — a GMP advisory, not a numerical limit.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF): A heat/storage degradation byproduct (Maillard reaction or acid-catalyzed dehydration of hexoses) that is mutagenic, carcinogenic, and cytotoxic in laboratory studies; Codex Alimentarius limits HMF in honey to <80 mg/kg, with the EU recommending <40 mg/kg (CIR 2019 Draft Report). Cosmetic Honey Extract is not subject to a published HMF cap; processing temperature affects formation.
Honey Extract is NOT raw honey — distinct INCI (CAS 91052-95-5 vs raw Honey 8028-66-8): The cosmetic INCI is a refined glycol/glycerin/water-based extract, not the apiary product. Marketing claims invoking raw honey wound-care literature (e.g., Manuka MGO antimicrobial activity, Medihoney FDA-cleared dressings) are claims about a different preparation; Honey Extract supplied to cosmetic manufacturers does not carry equivalent characterized MGO content unless specifically Manuka-sourced and certified.
Infant exposure: Raw honey is contraindicated in infants under 12 months due to Clostridium botulinum spore risk (FDA/CDC/AAP advisory). According to CIR 2019 Draft Report, neither C. botulinum spores nor neurotoxins are reported to penetrate intact skin, but damaged skin may be affected — formulators should consider this for infant skincare and broken-skin applications. CIR 2019 documented 13 baby-product uses for Honey at up to 0.01%.
CIR Quick Reference Table (December 2025) — Honey Extract row: Finding=S, Citation=IJT 44(Suppl. 2):5S-18S, 2025
“Honey Extract | S | | IJT 44(Suppl. 2):5S-18S, 2025”— QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf, p. 171 (Honey section, immediately after Hizikia Fusiformis Water)