The present invention provides honeycomb ceramic articles and methods of manufacturing such articles having few or no defects in the outer skin. Methods for minimizing and/or eliminating cracks in thin-wall and ultra-thin-wall cordierite honeycomb articles are disclosed. Advantageously, the present invention prevents skin cracks from forming during the production of thin-wall and ultra-thin-wall cordierite honeycomb articles by optimizing skin properties such as porosity, thickness and pore size distribution.