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While consuming sugar is bad for your waistline, the granulated form of sugar has some uses topically. Sugar is a sweet, grainy ingredient extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets. The main use for sugar in topical skincare products is as an exfoliant in sugar scrubs.
Sugar scrubs are great for exfoliating and getting rid of dead skin. Exfoliation is a great habit to address acne, blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores. The large granules of sugar physically scrub out dead skin cells. This leaves the skin feeling and looking smoother. Sugar is relatively inexpensive and easily available, so many people will use sugar in DIY exfoliants.
Sugar scrubs can be a little harsh, so it’s better to use a gentler method of exfoliation. Using something coarse like sugar can cause mini tears to form on the skin surface, through which bacteria can enter and cause issues such as acne. In addition, using a sugar scrub too often can irritate your skin. If you’re looking for a gentler exfoliant for your skin, try our skin quiz.
Dry skin, also called xerosis, is when the outer most layer of skin, or epidermis, isn’t retaining sufficient moisture. The epidermis is partially made up of epidermal proteins and fats, or lipids, which help to retain moisture. If the proper amount of these proteins or lipids are lacking, moisture will evaporate more quickly and dry skin will ensue.
Also, external and environmental factors, such as weather, cold air, hot and excessive showers and harsh soaps, are notorious for either causing or exacerbating dry skin.
Rosehip oil enhances the appearance of dry or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring the overall vitality of the skin. Jojoba oil is also good for keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Hyaluronic acid is another great ingredient for retaining moisture in dry skin.
Acne-prone dry skin is the hardest to treat because anti-acne ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, retinoid, etc tend to be drying. Instead of avoiding these effective ingredients, you can combine these ingredients with moisturizing ingredients to counter effect the dryness of these ingredients.
Sugar may be effective for dry skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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