How to Remove Dead Skin Using Sugar

Co-authored by Barbie Ritzman

Last Updated: October 1, 2022 References Approved

Sugar particles can scrape away dead skin with a relatively gentle touch. Sugar even contains a little glycolic acid, which keeps skin smooth and fights scaling. It's not a miracle cure for all skin problems, but it's hard to beat on price and skin safety. Keep in mind that any scrub can cause damage when overused.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Scrubbing Your Body

1
Start with brown, white, or raw sugar. Raw sugar makes a powerful body scrub, great for feet and extra-rough skin. Brown sugar has smaller grains and plenty of liquid, making it the most gentle option. Granulated white sugar falls somewhere in between: it has the same size grains as brown sugar, but none of the liquid molasses.
- Before you begin, be aware that the scrub can cause temporary blotchiness in sensitive skin.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} Just in case, wait until you have an evening to yourself before trying it for the first time.
2
Choose your oil. Olive oil is a common option, but any natural carrier oil will work. The oil makes it easy to apply the sugar, and can help your skin health at the same time. Choose the oil based on your skin type and personal preference:
- For greasy skin, try safflower oil, hazelnut oil, or grapeseed oil.
- For very dry skin, try coconut oil, shea butter, or cocoa butter. Optionally, whip it for easy spreading.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Barbie Ritzman
  Beauty & Skincare Specialist
  Expert Interview. 23 August 2021.}
- To avoid strong scents, try grapeseed oil, safflower oil, and sweet almond oil.^{[3]
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  Research source}
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3
Mix the sugar with oil. Mix 1 part sugar with 1 part oil for a basic scrub, forming a thick paste. For a more powerful scrub, try 2 parts sugar and 1 part oil.
- If using white sugar, the 2:1 recipe is recommended.^{[4]
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  Research source}
- If you are treating an area with acne or broken blood vessels, use a very mild scrub, such as 1 part sugar to 2 parts oil. Exfoliants can make these conditions worse.
4
Mix in essential oil (optional). For additional scent and possible health benefits, add an essential oil. No more than 1 or 2 percent of the scrub should be essential oil. Typically, you can use up to 48 drops per cup (240mL) of other ingredients, or three drops for every tablespoon (15mL).
- Thyme, mint, and other herbs and spices make antimicrobial essential oils.^{[5]
  X
  Research source} These are good at fighting acne but may cause irritation in sensitive skin.
- Do not use citrus oils, cumin, ginger, and angelic oils before talking to your doctor. These can trigger photosensitivity, a painful reaction to sunlight.
5
Wash your skin. If your skin is dirty, use mild soap and warm water to wash it. If your skin is clean, just wet it thoroughly. Scrubbing dry skin can cause redness or irritation.
- Hot water or harsh soaps can irritate your skin, leaving it tender and painful. Skin in this state might hurt even when a gentle sugar scrub is used.
6
Scrub with the sugar mixture. Gently rub the sugar and oil mixture over your skin. Rub in circular motions, for about 2 or 3 minutes in each area. Rub gently; any pain, discomfort, or redness means you are scrubbing too hard.
7
Rinse and dry. Rinse off with warm water, and pat dry.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Barbie Ritzman
Beauty & Skincare Specialist
Expert Interview. 23 August 2021.} Optionally, apply a moisturizing lotion, or an additional touch of oil without the sugar.
8
Repeat no more than once every two weeks. Your outer layer of skin takes about two weeks to replace itself.^{[7]
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Research source} If you repeat the scrub before this time is up, you may damage living cells instead of removing dead ones. This leads to red, raw skin, which may be vulnerable to infection.^{[8]
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Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Scrubbing Your Face

1
Know the risks. Although sugar is fairly gentle, it is still an abrasive exfoliant. This means it tears away the dead skin, and can irritate sensitive areas such as the face. Most people rarely have issues, but overuse or improper use can leave your face raw or painful.
- Sugar scrubs can create micro-tears in the skin on your face, and over time, these micro-tears can lead to acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Karina Villalta
  Certified Esthetician
  Expert Interview. 11 August 2020.}
- Abrasive scrubs are not recommended for people with acne or broken blood vessels on their face.
2
Start with brown or white sugar. Brown sugar is the softest type of sugar, making it the best choice for the sensitive skin of your face. Granulated white sugar contains less liquid and tends to feel a little grittier. It can work, but it's not recommended if you have sensitive skin.
3
Mix with oil or honey. Mix 2 tbsp (30mL) sugar with 2 tbsp (30mL) vegetable oil. Alternatively, use honey instead of oil. Honey is mostly sugar, so it provides additional exfoliation.
- Safflower oil and olive oil are common options. For more advice on which oil to pick, refer to the body scrub section above.
4
Wash your face. If your face is dirty, clean it with mild soap and warm water. Otherwise, just make sure that your skin is completely wet, so the sugar scrub will not feel too abrasive.
- Wash your hands as well to avoid introducing contaminants onto your face.
5
Tie back your hair. If necessary, tie back your hair to keep it away from your face. The sugar scrub will rinse off in the shower, but avoiding sticky hair in the first place is the way to go.
6
Scrub your skin with the sugar. Scoop out 1-2 tablespoons (15–30mL) of your sugar exfoliant onto your fingertips. Place this on the location you want to remove dead skin, and being scrubbing in a circular motion. Do this gently for 2-3 minutes to remove the dead skin. While you’re scrubbing, you should feel no pain or discomfort. If you experience pain or tenderness, you are rubbing too hard with the sugar.
7
Clean off the sugar. Wet the softest washcloth you have under warm water, then wring it out. Lay it over your face and gently rub off the sugar. Repeat until clean.
8
Dry and moisturise your skin. Use a clean cloth to pat your skin dry. If you are looking to soften your skin, you can finish up the process by massaging a moisturising lotion into your skin. Do this for 1-2 minutes, and your skin should be silky smooth and soft.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Is it a bad idea to use sugar scrubs on my face?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

The skin on your face is very delicate, and using a sugar scrub on your can cause micro-tears. These micro-tears can lead to acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and dullness.
Question

How many times a week should you exfoliate your face?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

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Usually twice a week is about right, though you may need to adjust for different factors. People with oily skin or who live in warm climates may need to exfoliate more than this while those with sensitive skin should only do it once a week.
Question

How often should I use this scrub?

Community Answer

You should use this scrub about once a week. Using it more often than that will remove the protective layer of your skin.

Warnings

The sugar may cause any cuts or abrasions on your skin to sting. As long as you don't scrub hard, this shouldn't make them worse.

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Never exfoliate while your skin is still tender or painful from a sunburn.

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Lemon juice and other citrus ingredients can cause sun sensitivity, skin irritation, and dryness.^{[11]
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Research source} While they do help peel away dead skin, the harsh effect undermines the reasons to use sugar instead of a chemical scrub.

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Essential oils can cause allergic reactions. Before trying a new essential oil for the first time, mix it with vegetable oil at twice the concentration you plan to use. Apply a tiny amount to the inside wrist and leave under a bandage for 48 hours.^{[12]
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