Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
If eating sugar makes you age faster, what about sugar in skincare products? Do you have to throw away your fave sugar scrub now? It’s a legit question. You’ve just read all about how sugar ages you from the inside out, so now you’re probably side-eyeing that brown sugar scrub sitting in your bathroom. If sugar’s wrecking your collagen when you eat it, what’s it doing when you slather it on your face?
The beauty industry sure as hell isn’t helping. Sugar scrubs are everywhere – fancy spas, DIY Pinterest recipes, drugstore shelves. But if sugar’s this aging villain, why are we rubbing it on our skin? Good news: sugar in skincare products doesn’t make you age faster. Eating sugar and putting it on your skin are two very different things. In skincare, sugar has several benefits: it moisturises your skin and removes dead cells. So no, you don’t need to throw away your fave sugar scrub just yet. Here’s why sugar is bad news for your collagen when you eat it, but not in cosmetic products.
What Happens When You Eat Sugar
Glycation. It sounds bad because it’s bad. And complicated. Here’s the short version: sugar is very inflammatory and reacts with fats and proteins in an abnormal way. By abnormal, I mean that they produce something called “advanced glycation endproducts” (or AGEs for short – oh, the irony!).
AGEs are dangerous. They prevent your kidney from filtering toxins properly, cause cardiovascular diseases and wreak all sorts of damage that make your body age and fall sick faster. Your skin ain’t immune to it. Here’s how the effects of glycation make your skin age faster:
- Destroys collagen: AGEs alter the structure of collagen, making it hard and inflexible
- Inflames skin: AGEs trigger inflammation, the #1 cause of wrinkles and premature aging
- Gives you dark spots: AGEs can affect skin discolouration
Now, sugar isn’t a monster. A little fructose is good for your brain and a chocolate chip cookie does wonders for your mood (or is that just me?). Problem is, we’re eating way too much of the sweet white stuff. Sugar is literally everywhere. Cakes. Processed foods. Grains. Sodas. Juices… Go take a look in your pantry. I dare you find something without added sugar in it! This is the kind of sugar you want to avoid (or at least cut back) to avoid wrinkles (and a lot of other nastier diseases).
Related: 5 Food Rules To Follow For Younger Skin
Benefits Of Sugar In Skincare Products
Sugar is in your skincare product for a reason (or two):
- Natural humectant: sugar draws moisture from the air into the skin and binds it in, helping to keep it soft and hydrated.
- Exfoliant: sugar’s small particles gently remove dead cells off your skin without irritation (unless you use too much or scrub too vigorously).
That’s pure sugar for you. Then, there are all the ways sugar sneaks into your skincare products all masked up. A few examples:
- Ascorbyl glucoside: a form of vitamin C with added glucose that fights free radicals and reduces dark spots.
- Decyl glucoside: a glucose-based surfactant that helps water mix with oil and dirt so they can be rinsed away.
- Glycolic acid: an alpha hydroxy acid, this exfoliant derived from sugar cane promotes skin cell turnover, dissolves the glue that holds skin cells together and hydrates skin to boot.
You don’t want to stop using this stuff (ok, I’d stop using sugar scrubs because glycolic acid gives you better exfoliation in every way). You don’t have to. The purpose of your skin is to keep stuff OUT of your body. Know the “your skin absorbs 60%+ of what you put on it” crap the natural brigade likes to shout from the rooftops? BS.
I’ll say it again: the purpose of your skin is to keep stuff OUT of your body. And, as long as your skin barrier is intact, it does a great job at it, too. But, even if a little sugar got through the skin, it’s highly unlikely it’ll be able to get deep enough in the body to fit into your natural collagen framework and destroy it. Phew!
Related: Why I Prefer Chemical Exfoliation To Sugar Scrubs
Does Sugar In Skincare Products Have No Side Effects?
I didn’t say that. Bacteria thrive on sugar so if you use too much on your skin, you may have a nasty surprise. Oh, and you may attract bugs, too. I know, gross. But, chances are you won’t. You don’t become a playground for bugs and bacteria when you use a sugar scrub or wash your face with decyl glucoside. You literally have to apply a HUGE amount of sugar on your face and leave it there for hours to experience any side effects. So yes, sugar in skincare products is safe.
FAQs
Will sugar in my skincare products cause breakouts?
Nah. Acne isn’t caused by bacteria having a sugar feast on your face. It’s a little more complicated than that. Breakouts happen when excess oil and dead skin cells clog your pores, while C. acnes bacteria and inflammation join the party. The tiny amount of sugar in your cleanser isn’t going to suddenly turn your face into a pimple factory. Plus, you’re washing it off in seconds. Save your worries for the ingredients that actually irritate your skin or clog your pores.
Are natural sugar scrubs better than chemical exfoliants?
Nope. I’d pick chemical exfoliants every damn time. Sugar scrubs remove dead skin cells through friction. The harder you rub, the more you risk irritating your skin. Research shows mechanical rubbing can disrupt your skin’s protective barrier. If you have sensitive skin, avoid. Glycolic acid works differently. It loosens the bonds holding dead skin cells together, so you don’t have to scrub your face like you’re cleaning a dirty frying pan. Better still, clinical research shows glycolic acid can improve photoaged skin and increase collagen thickness. Sugar scrubs can’t compete with that. Natural doesn’t automatically mean better, ladies.
The Bottom Line
Too much sugar in your diet makes you ages faster. Sugar in your skincare routine is a totally different matter: it exfoliates skin and hydrates it to boot. Just don’t go overboard or you may attract the odd bug!