What it is
In the register’s words: “Honey is a saccharic secretion gathered and stored by honey bees, Apis mellifera.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- HONEY
- CAS number
- 8028-66-8
- Written on these labels as
- Honey; Honey (Mel); Honey/Mel/Miel; Honey (Mel, Miel); Honey (Mel/Miel)
The register has a second entry for this ingredient, Mel, and labels use both names. The Mel page lists its 3 labels.
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Honey in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Humectant
-
Holds water in the product and on the surface it touches. Glycerin, honey and aloe are common humectants on curly-hair labels.
Register definition: “Retaining and/or preserving the moisture in a product during use.”
- Skin conditioning
-
The register’s broad role for ingredients that keep skin in good condition. On a hair label it often sits beside a hair role, or marks a plant oil or extract.
Register definition: “Maintaining the skin in good condition.”
- Flavoring
-
Gives a product a taste. On a hair label it is a role the ingredient has elsewhere, such as in lip balm or toothpaste.
Register definition: “Imparting taste and/or flavour to a cosmetic product.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 5 labels First five names: 0 of 5 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 2 labels First five names: 1 of 2 Stylers without it
- Protein treatments 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Protein treatments without it
- Hair oils 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Hair oils without it
Every label, product by product (19)
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo Shampoo 10th of 27 names
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo Shampoo 24th of 31 names
- Cécred Detoxifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo · listed as Honey/Mel/Miel 6th of 38 names
- Camille Rose Clean Rinse Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo · listed as HONEY (MEL/MIEL) 9th of 34 names
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 9th of 22 names
- PATTERN Medium Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner · listed as Honey/Mel/Miel 17th of 38 names
- tgin Triple Moisture Replenishing Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner · listed as Honey (Mel) 17th of 33 names
- tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep conditioner · listed as Honey (Mel)* 9th of 29 names
- The Doux THAT’S DEEP 5-Minute Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 13th of 25 names
- Aunt Jackie's Coco Repair Coconut Creme Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 22nd of 33 names
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque Deep conditioner 30th of 37 names
- SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque Deep conditioner 19th of 23 names
- tgin Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner · listed as Honey (Mel)* 13th of 34 names
- PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner · listed as Honey/Mel/Miel 18th of 43 names
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner · listed as Honey (Mel, Miel) 18th of 27 names
- Mielle Honey & Ginger Styling Gel Styler 3rd of 17 names
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Curl Smoothie Styler · listed as Honey (Mel, Miel) 16th of 21 names
- SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment Protein treatment 9th of 25 names
- Camille Rose Cocoa Nibs + Honey Ultimate Strength Serum Hair oil · listed as Honey (Mel) 9th of 18 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other humectant ingredients on these labels
- Propylene Glycol 22 labels
- Butylene Glycol 14 labels
- Sorbitol 11 labels
- Sodium Hyaluronate 8 labels
- PCA 5 labels
- Phytantriol 5 labels
- Xylitol 5 labels
- Anhydroxylitol 3 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.