Sugar is one of the best natural beauty ingredients to exfoliate your skin. Sugar scrubs are mild and help remove dead skin. They also help rejuvenate the skin by cleaning all the dirt from the skin pores. With all the dead skin and dirt removed, the new skin is more radiant and you have a healthier glow.
The idea is to massage these granules into your skin to remove debris and dead skin cells. However, the rough nature of sugar scrubs makes them far too harsh for facial skin. They can create small tears in the skin and lead to damage, especially if you're using regular sugar.
Sugar scrubs shouldn't be part of your daily beauty routine. Over-exfoliating can irritate your skin so aim to use a sugar scrub no more than three times per week at most. Don't use a sugar scrub on skin that's sunburned or highly sensitive.
"As with most exfoliants, sugar scrubs should be used once to two times per week to avoid over-exfoliation and a disrupted natural skin barrier," says Dr. Garshick. Oily skin types can use a sugar scrub up to three times a week, says celebrity facialist and esthetician Taylor Worden.
Once you've thoroughly exfoliated your face, rinse the sugar scrub away with lukewarm water and pat your face almost completely dry with a soft towel.
Sugar scrubs are mild and help remove dead skin. They also help rejuvenate the skin by cleaning all the dirt from the skin pores. With all the dead skin and dirt removed, the new skin is more radiant and you have a healthier glow. Sugar has a natural anti-aging effect on the skin.
"Over-exfoliation causes irritation, inflammation like acne, makes you more susceptible to sunburn and you can lose moisture and disrupt the natural skin barrier," says Dr. Chiu, who recommends limiting exfoliation to once or twice a week.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends exfoliating prior to shaving, as exfoliating first will help prevent the razor from becoming overloaded with dead skin cells, which reduces its effectiveness. Basically, exfoliating first is a serious pro-tip for a closer shave.
Black sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that penetrates into the skin and breaks down the “glue” that bonds skin cells, and this encourages the cell turnover (exfoliation). Glycolic acid is known to be an ingredient that helps with treating sun damages and wrinkles.
Gently rub it on your skin in small circular motions, using your hand or an exfoliating glove. Scrub your skin gently for no longer than 30 seconds.
Pink recommends exfoliating with a sugar scrub after you bathe, on towel-dried skin for best results. Using your hands, massage scrub into skin with a circular motion.
Sugar scrubs have smaller granules than salt, and are best suited for sensitive skin. Salt scrubs are generally more abrasive because of their sharper edges and therefore do a better job at smoothing out the rough skin patches on the body.
Ultimately, when it comes to choosing between salt vs sugar scrubs, it's all about you and your unique needs. If you want a product that will offer a gentler manner of exfoliation, go with sugar. However, if you wish to add detoxifying benefits, always opt for salt.
According to Marianna, sugar scrubs are safe to use on most parts of your body, “because sugar dissolves easily and is not abrasive.” She recommends your arms, legs, and even your bum. You can also use a sugar scrub on your neck, feet, or lips.
Sugar has round granules, which are less coarse than salt. This is what makes sugar a good choice for acne treatment. It is less abrasive on sensitive skin, like the skin on your face, but still exfoliates to loosen damaged or dead skin cells. This keeps dead cells from clogging pores, which is a major cause of acne.
Scrub your skin clean.
Scrubbing can irritate your skin, causing acne to flare.
"Exfoliating every day can strip the skin of its natural oils, which can cause breakouts," says celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas. "It can also cause irritation because you're removing the top layer of skin before it can heal." Negative, long-term effects are also a concern.
Apple and honey scrub
This scrub uses honey to nourish and moisturize your skin. Apples — which have natural fruit acids and enzymes — also exfoliate. The fruit acids combined with the antibacterial properties of honey make it a good choice for oily or acne-prone skin.
Soap, shower gel, or body wash should be used before applying the body scrub. This way your skin is clean and primed up for the body scrub to do its magic.
A scrub that combines sugar and a natural oil such as olive oil can help keep your skin soft and supple. The sugar removes dirt and unclogs pores. The olive oil contains vitamin e and omega-3 fatty acids that naturally moisturize the skin.
Honey is anti-bacterial, moisturizing, and full of antioxidants, making it great for preventing and treating breakouts, dry skin, and other signs of aging. Sugar is a gentle, natural exfoliant that will scrub away dead skin cells and leave your skin smooth, your pores clear, and your complexion glowing.