Warm weather makes us crave something sweet. ‘Tis the season for ice cream, strawberries and watermelon, after all. But your skin also deserves a tasty treat.
We’re talking about nature’s best exfoliator: sugar. Since we’re all in need of a little post-winter scrub to get rid of any leftover flakes, gentle sugar polishes are perfect for spring. Whether they be cane, brown or black, the granules can be found in everything from K-beauty masks to body polishes to lip scrubs and scalp treatments. Combined with other good-for-your-skin ingredients like avocado oil, shea butter and coconut, sugar-based products are a real blessing.
We’ve got you covered from head to toe with these 12 sugary skin saviors.
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These Sugar-Based Products Are Sweet Treats for Your Skin
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Dior
Lip Sugar Scrub Sweet Exfoliating Balm, $34 at Nordstrom
Grains of sugar fuel this exfoliating lip balm that smooths, hydrates and nourishes lips every single time you apply. The self-vanishing, color-awakening treatment doesn’t require rinsing since the grains simply melt away. You’ll notice softer lips with a natural rosy finish and its sweet scent will keep you smiling all day long.
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Fresh
Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30, $25 at Neiman Marcus
Fresh’s sugar-based sunscreen does a lot more than just protect your skin from UV rays and environmental aggressors. It uses avocado oil to moisturize and the aforementioned sugar helps keep that hydration intact. You can use the water-resistant formula on your lips, face and eye area. And applying on the go is easy thanks to the convenient stick applicator.
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Ouai
Scalp & Body Scrub, $38 at Ouai
Give your scalp and body some TLC with this foaming sugar-based scrub. Use it weekly to deep clean your skin. There’s even a dose of probiotics to bolster your skin’s natural defenses. The scrub leaves behind a fantastic fragrance thanks to a blend of rose, bergamot, lychee, cedarwood and white musk.
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Juice Beauty
Green Apple Brightening Gel Cleanser, $28 at Ulta Beauty
Juice Beauty’s gel cleanser boasts an organic base of botanical juices instead of added water for a more refined complexion. It also relies on organic raw cane sugar to exfoliate and coconut cleansers to get your skin squeaky clean. While it’s great for reducing the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, those with sensitive skin should skip this sugar-based product because of its alpha/beta hydroxy fruit acids.
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Skinfood
Black Sugar Perfect Splash Mask, $26 at Ulta Beauty
Skinfood's four-in-one splash mask promises smooth, moisturized skin in a flash. It only takes 10 seconds to work since its organic Brazilian black sugar and PHA combo removes dead skin cells while restoring your skin’s pH balance. The sugar is actually enriched with vitamins and minerals for extra nourishment, making this mask, well, perfect.
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Murad
Prebiotic 3-in-1 MultiMist, $32 at DermStore
Dry, dull skin doesn’t stand a chance against Murad’s must-have mist. Prebiotic hydrating sugars boost skin's natural hydration reserves, while hyaluronic acid promotes smooth and soft skin. There’s even a bipolymer complex to help prime and set makeup for long-lasting coverage.
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Lancôme
Rose Sugar Scrub, $25 at Sephora
This warming sugar scrub includes real sugar, rose water and acacia honey to exfoliate and visibly plump skin. It opens pores and removes dead skin and impurities for super soft results. The scrub works on all types of skin and evens skin tone.
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Kopari Beauty
Coconut Crush Scrub, $39 at Ulta Beauty
Brown sugar gets a little assistance from small pieces of Tahitian coconut shell to polish your skin to perfection. There’s also coconut oil for oh-so-soft skin and coconut milk for a sweet but not sickly scent. Apply as an exfoliator before jumping in the shower by massaging gently in circular motions. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
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Fresh
Sugar Face Polish Exfoliator, $62 at Sephora
Buff away that dry winter skin with this polish featuring real brown sugar that banishes dull complexions as it seals in moisture. It also soothes skin with vitamin C courtesy of real wild strawberries. And its not-too-sweet citrus smell is an extra treat.
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Klairs
Youthful Glow Sugar Mask, $24 at Soko Glam
If you’re looking for a super gentle sugar mask, this should be your new go-to. It has a neutral pH of 7, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Fine sucrose granules get rid of dead skin cells and it really brings the moisture with shea butter, jojoba seed oil, grapefruit extract and raspberry seed oil. The multitasker also has kaolin clay to detoxify and soothing calamine, which is responsible for the mask’s cool pink color. You can use it as a moisturizing treatment, a makeup cleansing balm or a scrub.
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GLAMGLOW
POUTMUD Fizzy Lip Exfoliating Treatment, $24 at Sephora
Your complexion isn’t the only area that needs gentle exfoliation. This fizzy exfoliating treatment gets your lips in tip-top shape. Caribbean cane sugar, Hawaiian sea salt and hibiscus flower powder team up to exfoliate, while an antioxidant-rich tropical fruit blend gives them a kiss of moisture. Follow up with POUTMUD wet balm for a super soft pucker.
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Eminence Organic Skin Care
Blueberry Soy Sugar Scrub, $48 at DermStore
Along with raw sugarcane granules and ground flax seeds to exfoliate, this scrub has antioxidant-packed blueberry pulp and juice. Your skin will appreciate the nourishing sweet almond oil plus moisturizing coconut and avocado oils. There’s also non-GMO soy, which is rich in isoflavones and vitamin B for a noticeably healthier complexion.
