Our kitchen is a magical room full of natural ingredients that are beneficial for the body. One popular ingredient is sugar, which is an excellent skincare product and is readily available in every household.
Yes, you heard it right! While sugar is harmful when eaten in large quantities, it can have surprising benefits for your skin when applied externally. There are two forms of sugar: white sugar and brown sugar.
The most predominantly used sugar is brown sugar, which has several health benefits. It is made from sugarcane juice, which gives it the flavor and color.
Scrubbing, cleansing, and moisturizing are essential skincare habits that cannot be avoided. Apart from undergoing ‘clinical’ morpheus 8 treatments for getting a glowing skin, you also need to carefully choose a healthy diet plan, which includes consumption of brown sugar made food, as it is prepared from unprocessed sugarcane juice. So, how about including a natural ingredient that can be an excellent exfoliator?
Brown sugar is rich in antioxidants and can be beneficial for the skin in many ways. It gets preference over other scrubs as it is mild on the skin and is suitable for sensitive skin.
Here are the five surprising benefits of using brown sugar on the skin.
1. Minimizing pores
Cleansing can only clean the skin surface, but what about the skin pores? The sebaceous glands generate oil that gets stuck within the pores to create whiteheads and breakouts. It can be tough to stay calm once they appear, so why not stop them before they even appear?
Brown sugar has anti-bacterial features that shield the skin from harmful toxins. It comprises glycolic acid, which assists in eliminating dead skin cells. The removal of buildup from the skin gives a clear and radiant complexion.
The sugar granules act as an excellent exfoliator which tightens the pores and prevents oil clogs. People prone to acne can use a homemade scrub of brown sugar to clear the oil and bacteria buildup inside the pores. Making a sugar scrub is very easy.
Mix a teaspoon of sugar with a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice and form a paste. Then, cleanse the face and gently massage this mask on the face for five minutes and leave it for thirty minutes to dry. After that, rinse the face using cold water and apply moisturizer.
This scrub will clean the pores, remove whiteheads and blackheads, and regulate the skin's oil secretion. The honey added in the scrub prevents skin rashes by acting as a moisturizer. Thus, brown sugar scrub help tighten the pores and prevent the occurrence of acne.
2. Circulation of blood
Just like the facial skin, the entire body also needs exfoliation. It helps stimulate the lymphatic system, helping to nourish the skin's surface through the flow of oxygen-rich blood.
The lymph nodes become clogged from toxins, and the rubbing action is a way of skin detoxification. It promotes cellular health and boosts the body's ability to shed and renew healthier skin underneath regularly. This process of getting new skin slows down as we get older, which is why it is imperative to exfoliate the entire body.
A good massage using brown sugar can promote blood circulation in the body, which keeps the skin youthful. Brown sugar scrub also maintains the longevity of collagen and enhances skin firmness. For optimum results, apply this scrub twice a week. Do not forget the lips as they too deserve to stay juicy and healthy.
3. Removes tan and pigmentation
Tanning and pigmentation happen due to increased sun exposure, triggering the production of melanin on the skin. Despite the presence of the natural sunscreen melanin in the skin, overexposure to sun rays can cause hyperpigmentation resulting in dark spots and aggravating age spots.
It can be challenging to treat dark spots, acne marks, and hyperpigmentation, but consistent exfoliation can help remove the scars. An exfoliation using brown sugar breaks down the dead skin cells giving the skin a uniform texture. Brown sugar has glycolic acid that controls melanin formation to make the skin lighter.
Make a scrub by mixing a tablespoon of brown sugar with milk and use it twice a week to lighten the age spots and bring back an even skin tone. However, if you are looking for a natural sunless tan then don't forget to try tanning lotions. They prevent skin dehydration, keep skin moisturized, and give a natural bronze hue to your skin tone.
4. Prevents Early Signs of Aging
Regular exfoliation promotes collagen synthesis to enhance skin appearance. Exfoliating using brown sugar offers anti-aging qualities, which reduces the occurrence of fine lines and wrinkles.
Moisturizing the skin is also crucial to delay aging signs. Brown sugar is a humectant by nature, meaning it attracts moisture from the atmosphere. A mask of brown sugar will help keep the skin hydrated and supple.
Fusing brown sugar with olive oil creates a heavenly body and face exfoliator that oozes out a smooth, bright, and radiant skin. Olive oils have antioxidant qualities and contain hydroxytyrosol that combats free radicals. Using a blend of these two ingredients once a week can prevent early signs of aging and rebuild skin elasticity.
5. Quick absorption of skincare products
The dead skin cells and clogged pores hinder the effectiveness of expensive skincare products. Exfoliation of the skin cleans the excessive oil and helps the skincare products absorb quickly into the skin.
The application of serums and moisturizers after exfoliation with brown sugar helps them to go deep inside the skin. It allows them to work efficiently to nurture the skin. Mix a tablespoon of brown sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla extract and almond oil to make a moisturizing scrub.
Conclusion:
So, the above are the five surprising benefits of using brown sugar for the skin. Apart from the skin benefits, brown sugar can also help in de-stressing your mind and body.
The natural aroma of brown sugar mixed with vanilla extract can heighten your senses, leaving you rejuvenated post-shower. How often one should be using a brown sugar scrub depends on their skin's needs.
A general rule is: people with normal skin can use brown sugar exfoliation thrice a week, whereas sensitive skin people should stick to once a week.