MEET THE FOUNDERS OF ACTIVIST

Gabrielle Mirkin and Luke Harwood, the husband‑and‑wife duo behind ACTIVIST, bring deeply authentic expertise rooted in both form and function.

Gabrielle began her career as an Art Director at Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, bringing editorial finesse and aesthetic clarity to everything she touches. Her journey pivoted after a profound health scare when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. During a restorative year on their New Zealand land, she discovered the healing power of Mānuka honey and recognized her desire to tell a more meaningful story through beauty and nourishment.

Luke, a lifelong surfer raised amid Aotearoa’s coastal ecosystems, became attuned to bees as early environmental indicators. A “primal moment,” watching bees buzz around sunlit hives in native forests, inspired him to co‑found a brand celebrating this symbiosis and elevating Manuka’s potency in beauty traditions.

Together, they built ACTIVIST with sustainability at its core: harnessing raw, high‑grade Mānuka honey from pristine New Zealand wilderness; maintaining low‑impact harvesting, and cultivating transparency across the cycle.

What Is Honey Tapping?

Honey tapping is the artful application of honey combined with gentle tapping movements across the face. It enhances lymphatic drainage, encourages circulation, and gently exfoliates, delivering the nourishing benefits of honey’s natural actives.

“I love to do honey tapping… using the Mānuka Honey Mask and our Green Botanical Serum.”
—Gabrielle Mirkin, Co-founder, ACTIVIST

Why Use Mānuka Honey for Honey Tapping?

“Manuka has this natural compound called methylglyoxal… we use the code MGO to represent that compound. That’s the magic of Manuka honey.”
—Luke Harwood, Co-founder, ACTIVIST

Mānuka is widely regarded as the best honey for facials, thanks to its skin-supportive properties:

• Naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich
  
• Clinically shown to support wound healing and tissue regeneration
  
• Reduces redness, soothes acne-prone skin, and boosts hydration
• Ideal for those seeking skincare for sensitive skin
  
  

“Manuka honey has a long history in skincare and wound healing… it’s amazing for anyone with acne-prone skin, pimples, eczema, wounds, rashes… wonderful for scarring.”
—Gabrielle Mirkin, Co-founder, ACTIVIST

Why We Trust ACTIVIST Mānuka at Health Hut

At Health Hut, we’re committed to quality, which is why ACTIVIST is our go-to when recommending the best skin product for dry skin or sensitive complexions.

• Certified under New Zealand’s MPI Manuka Guidelines
• Non-GMO Project Verified
• Glyphosate residue-free, certified by The Detox Project

How to Do Honey Tapping at Home (Step-by-Step)

Want to try this ritual yourself? Here's how to do honey tapping at home:

1. Cleanse your skin with ACTIVIST Mānuka Honey Mask, rinse and pat dry.
   
2. Mist the face and apply the Mānuka Honey Mask to damp skin.
   
3. Tap gently across your face with clean, dry fingertips for 1–2 minutes.
   Optionally, add Green Botanical Serum for soothing glide.
   
4. Leave on for 10–20 minutes.
   
5. Rinse off with a warm, damp cloth.
   
6. Finish with a mist, serum, and balm to lock in moisture.

How Often Should You Honey Tap?

One to two times per week is ideal, especially if you're learning how to treat dry skin on the face or maintain a natural glow. Adjust frequency based on your skin’s sensitivity.

How to Include Honey Tapping in Your Skincare Routine

WHEN: Evening is best to maximize the healing benefits

WHERE: After cleansing, before applying serums or moisturizers

Who Benefits Most from Honey Tapping?

Honey tapping works beautifully for:

• Dull, flaky, or dry skin
  
• Acne-prone or congested complexions
  
• Those exploring how to heal dry face or restore their skin barrier
  

Patch test first if you have rosacea or extremely reactive skin.

Post-Honey Tapping Care: What to Apply After

Follow with:

• A hydrating mist, like this
  
• A soothing serum, like this
  
• A healing balm, like this
  

Keep it in the family: ACTIVIST’s Green Botanical Serum is especially calming and ideal for sensitive skin.

Honey Tapping Tools vs. Fingers

While we love the hands-on approach, you can enhance the ritual with tools like a Jade Rollers. Ensure they’re clean and dry before use.

The Activist Honey Tapping Facial in Toronto

This 30-minute facial is a slow beauty ritual designed to refresh and rebalance the skin, perfect for midweek resets, pre-event prep, or when your complexion needs a boost.

Here’s what’s included:

1. Cleansing with ACTIVIST Raw Mānuka Honey
   
2. Application of Manuka Honey Mask
   
3. Signature honey tapping technique
   
4. Application of Green Botanical Serum
   
5. Cooling Gua Sha lymphatic massage
   
6. SPF to protect your post-facial glow
   

It’s one of the most efficient ways to experience the healing power of Mānuka—and yes, it’s also the best skin product for dry skin we’ve ever worked with.