Honey! Oh, Sugar, Sugar! You are my candy, girl! And you got me wanting you.
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| Image source: https://youtu.be/h9nE2spOw_o?t=20 |
This is gonna be one post that is all praise for all the goodness that is Sugar! Sugar going inside your body to all your organs can lead to health issues. However sugar going on your largest organ, your skin, can lead to wonders! ^_~
Sugar scrubs are so yummy that your skin will surely savor it!
Sugar; all kinds of sugar, is a gentle exfoliant and it is great source of glycolic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) too.
Microdermabrasion, skin brightening, and acne treatments rely on glycolic acid to unleash its powers together with mild exfoliation to help it penetrate better into the skin!! Glycolic acid penetrates into your skin as deep as the layer of dead skin sitting on top of the topmost layer of your skin and breaks the bond between the skin cells that are holding it together, thereby making it oh-so-easy to slough off the dead skin layer. Dead skin is translucent but it lacks the luster of the fresh, healthy skin underneath it. Polishing/ exfoliating/ sloughing/ pezeseling (using chemical peels!) helps get rid of this dead skin.
AHAs as are well renowned for their anti-aging, skin smoothening, and de-pigmentation benefits. AHA also work similar to glycolic acid by breaking down the bonds that keep skin cells, good, bad, and ugly, hooked so tight. Once these bonds are broken, the bad and ugly are usually easily dissolved or washed away, and the goodness shines through.
Usually cosmetics containing either of these acids are pretty expensive. But these simple sugar scrubs prepared at home will pamper you just the same, leaving you feeling and looking like you just stepped out of a Spa!
1. Dry Skin Savior Exfoliant
Dry skin usually tends to get even more dry and flaky after a scrub. Scrubs tend to be a tad harsh in nature. Not this one. Sugar first breaks down the dead skin bonds. Being a natural humectant, it draws moisture from the environment into the skin. So, it moisturizes while scrubbing! Double benefits - double glow.
DIY Recipe:
1 tsp (powdered) Brown sugar - use powdered sugar for sensitive skin
1 tsp Honey - use Manuka honey if available
Mix the two well, and brown sugar will start melting in the honey. Cleanse skin with water and use this scrub on moist skin. Massage for 2 minutes on the face and neck. Rinse and pat dry. Hello, Bombshell!
2. Oily, Acne-prone Skin Remedy Exfoliant
Oily skin generally tends to produce excessive sebum which can get clogged in the pores and result in acne. Any kind of abrasive scrubs are discouraged as they tend to encourage sebaceous glands to produce more sebum as a defense mechanism from a scrub that is stealing its sebum from itself. Scrubs are painful on acne prone skin and further disturb the skin. NOT this one. Sugar will naturally cleanse the oil gently. So it oil balances while scrubbing. Double benefits - double radiance.
DIY Recipe:
1 tsp (powdered) Brown sugar
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
A pinch of Cinnamon powder
Mix all and let sit for a minute till the brown sugar is completely dissolved. Apply on a cleansed face with gentle upward and outward motion. Do not massage for more than a minute. Let dry for 2 - 5 minutes. Rinse off and air dry. Hello, Gorgeous!
3. Mature, Aging Skin Beneficence Exfoliant
Most of the skin care products are not as effective on mature skin as the skin tends to be a bit more thicker and resilient. No, not this one! Sugar, with all its skin softening properties, renders the skin softer. The glycolic acid in sugar removes dead cells, thereby the wrinkles look less pronounced. The AHA plump out the fine lines, thereby skin looks younger.
DIY Recipe:
1 tsp Brown sugar
1 tsp Cane juice (substitute with a solution of cane sugar and water)
Mix and apply on cleansed skin. Massage for 2 minutes and let sit on skin for 5 minutes. Rinse and air dry. Hello, Beautiful!
4. Darkened, Roughened Skin Elixir Exfoliant
Abrasive scrubs are a strict no-no on darkened skin as they could aggravate the condition. Roughened skin reacts to scrubs as a coconut shell to sand paper. But, not this one! The glycolic acid and AHA will soften the skin and gently slough the dead skin off while at the same time help in whitening the skin. Ideal to use on cracked heels, or dark, rough elbows and knees, or any other area requiring TLC.
DIY Recipe:
1 tsp Brown sugar
1 tsp Plain sugar
1.5 tsp coconut oil
Mix all and apply on the required areas after cleansing with warm water. Massage for 5 minutes and rinse off. Pat dry with a soft wash cloth. Hello, Smoothilicious!
5.Chapped Lip Sexifying Exfoliant
Want plump, smooth, soft, moisturized, even colored, juicy lips all at once? Tired of commercial lip scrubs that deliver only one or the other? Disappointed every time? You guessed it! NOT with this one. It has just the right ingredients to bring the blood flow to the mouth making it nice and plump, lightening agents to remove discoloration, and softening, moisturizing ingredient that is our sugar.
DIY Recipe:
1/2 tsp Caster sugar
3 drops Lemon juice
A pinch of Cinnamon powder
2 Mint leaves, finely crushed
1/2 tsp Olive oil
Moist the lips and rub the mixture gently in small circular motions all over the lips, concentrating on the outer corners. Do not lick! :P Rinse and pat dry. Hello, Smoochilicious!
6. All Over Body Cookie Exfoliant
When was the last time you smelled yummy like an oven fresh cookie? When was the last time you looked like a glazed cherry? Why not? Your favorite body scrub doesn't leave you like that? Tch! Tch! No worries! This time you will. YES, with this one. It will leave you squeaky clean and smelling so wonderful, you would wish you could stay in the bath all day. It will smooth rough patches, even out skin tone, regulate skin's oil production, tighten skin, refresh, and make you fall in love. And someone else too. Wink!
DIY Recipe:
1/4 cup Brown sugar
1/4 cup Plain sugar
1/2 cup Olive oil
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
Mix all ingredients and use in shower. Depending o your preference, you may use it all by itself, or use it before or after using a soap based cleanser. Massage in upward circular motions, starting at the feet and moving upwards towards the shoulders. Rinse off and pat dry. Hello, Scrumptious!
Word of caution: Never, ever step out into the sun after a scrub. Your skin is even more vulnerable to the harmful radiation. Even though AHA are believed to reverse the sun damage, it is wise to use it after returning from sun and not before venturing into it. Also, never overdo a scrub. Minimal pressure while scrubbing, and a maximum of twice-thrice a week scrubs should reap all the benefits you wished for.
Hope you had fun reading this article and hope I had a recipe that suits your concern. Hopefully you are inspired to try out these simple (but efficient) DIY recipes. Please comment your thoughts, suggestions, feedback, ideas, requests, and love in the comment box below. I would love to hear from you.
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