Sugar rush
Trying to cut down on the sweet stuff? Use it in your beauty regime instead and get ready to glow, says Tamara Hinson
While a new year is generally a time to reduce your sugar intake, there’s no need to cut it out altogether.
And packing the sweet stuff into your beauty regime can be just the thing to keep your skin in top condition throughout the colder winter months.
Giving yourself a sugar boost on the outside benefits skin in a number of ways.
Natural sugar is rich in alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which encourage cellular turnover by breaking down dead skin cells.
It’s also a natural humectant, which means it’s just the thing for drawing moisture deeper into the skin.
Plus it’s a brilliant exfoliant as natural sugar granules buff skin while minimising irritation.
This is because sugar granules are smaller and rounder, without the sharp edges you’ll find on other exfoliating ingredients such as apricot kernels.
Here are some of the best products for harnessing the power of sugar.
Best for... Hydration
For some serious plant power, opt for this soothing Beauty Laundrette Hydrate
& Soothe sheet mask, £3 (superdrug.com).
It uses desert plant sugar to boost moisture levels. This particular type of sugar comes from plants that thrive in the toughest, driest conditions thanks to their ability to secrete hydrating sugars, which saturate their leaves until the next rainfall.
Best for... Cleansing
Choose Palmer’s Coconut Oil Cleansing Balm, £10.75 (amazon.co.uk), for a silky cleansing balm that contains coconut sugar – naturally produced from coconut sap.
It’s packed with vitamin E and essential amino acids, which help to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier while providing deep down hydration. The balm is free from nasties most likely to irritate sensitive skin, including parabens, phthalates and sulphates.
Best for... Dry skin
Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant, £55 (dermalogica.co.uk), harnesses sugar beets, which are packed with amino acids.
These skin-friendly acids help to transform skin by boosting antioxidant production, reducing signs of ageing and improving the skin’s ability to maintain moisture levels. Sugar beet AHAs are a key ingredient in this fantastic mask, which works its magic in just five minutes.
Best for... Glossy locks
Sweet-smelling Urtekram Brown Sugar Shampoo, £6.69 (biggreensmile.com), contains Fairtrade golden cane sugar – an ingredient that will keep your locks glossy, smooth and soft.
The best bit? Cane sugar also has soothing and anti-inflammatory qualities, so this shampoo is a brilliant option for anyone prone to a sensitive scalp.
For an extra dose of shower power, pair it with Urtekram’s Brown Sugar Shower Gel.
Best for... A perfect pout
Fresh was one of the first brands to harness the power of sugar in beauty products, so it’s no surprise Sugar Lips Wonder Drops, £21.50 (cultbeauty.co.uk), is one of the natural beauty favourite’s best-selling products.
Sugar tops the list of the all-natural ingredients, along with hibiscus flower, sake and soy, which all have skin-smoothing qualities. Sugar has been selected because its AHAs exfoliate without irritating.
Best for... Anti-ageing
Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum, £77 (spacenk.com), certainly can’t be described as a budget option. But it’s worth every penny thanks to its roster of 22 of the best botanical ingredients, the most powerful of which include sugarcane, tomato fruit extract and calendula flower.
It’s a brilliant serum for anyone concerned about the first signs of ageing, due to its ability to quickly reveal smoother, brighter skin.
Best for... Blemishes
For the ultimate sugar hit, treat yourself to Amanda Harrington New Skin Face Advanced Glycolic Facial Pads, £18 (amandaharrington.com).
The brightening, hydrating facial pads use a powerful mix of sugarcane, maple sugar and fruit acids to boost hydration and improve skin clarity. And unlike many pads, they’re made from biodegradable cotton.
Best for... Exfoliating
If you find scrubs too harsh, try this brilliant liquid exfoliator Jane Scrivner Skinfoliate, £26 (janescrivner.com).
One of its top ingredients is sugarcane, and raw sugar is a great source of glycolic acid, which stimulates cell turnover for a more even complexion and plumper skin. It’s so effective there’s no need to harshly rub at your skin.
Best for… Blocked pores
Looking for an ace face scrub? Try L’Oreal Paris Smooth Sugar Clear Kiwi Face And Lip Scrub, £9.99 (feelunique.com).
Here, sugar is used not only for its exfoliating qualities, but also for its ability to promote cell renewal. Lemongrass and peppermint essential oils do a brilliant job of tackling blackheads and blocked pores without irritating skin.
Best for... Relaxing
The next best thing to a super-sized bag of pic ’n’ mix, is a Lush Marshmallow World bath bomb, £5.95 (uk.lush.com) – but, of course, this sugary treat won’t rot your teeth.
Granulated sugar, vanilla and marshmallow powder will give your bath a wonderfully sweet scent, while calming lavender oil brings you back down to earth after a sugar high.