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Beauty & Health

Here’s What Eating Too Much Sugar Actually Does To Your Skin

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Diet & Nutrition

Here’s What Eating Too Much Sugar Actually Does To Your Skin

Excess sebum, pronounced wrinkles, pustular acne and dark circles? Sugar can be the cause of these skincare stressors!

April 27, 2020
Here's What Eating Too Much Sugar Actually Does To Your Skin_Featured

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There’s always a conundrum when presented with dessert. Remember a couple of years ago, when everyone was talking about “Sugar Face”? Excess sebum, pronounced wrinkles, pustular acne, and dark circles? One on hand, it’s not a medical diagnosis, and on the other, it sounds like sugar certainly doesn’t do your skin any favours, especially sensitive, rosacea-prone skin like mine.

Bring forth, the 7-Day No-Sugar Diet. Seven days, because that’s supposedly how quickly one will see improvements in their appearance.  

But hang on – Dr Teo Wan Lin, the founder and medical director of TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre says that there is no conclusive link between a high sugar diet, and the worsening of existing medical conditions, such as rosacea and eczema. In principal, it “promotes a pro-inflammatory state”, which both conditions are linked to. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO: 
10 Foods That Are Surprisingly High In Sugar

What high GI – a value assigned to foods based on the effect they have on your blood sugar levels – food does though, is cause insulin levels to spike. “There is evidence that this increases sebum production, contributing to acne formation. Additionally, high-glycemic foods can accelerate aging theoretically via an increase in the breakdown of collagen fibres, a process known as glycation.”

That doesn’t sound good either, so for the purpose of this article (and to put said conundrum to rest) I eliminated added sugar from my diet for a week to see if there’d be a difference in my skin. Keyword: Added sugar. “The presence of sugar in natural foods like fruit and honey is not harmful, and essential for our body’s nutrition,” says Dr Teo. “The problem arises when sugar is consumed in excess or when it is consumed in the form of refined artificial sugars.” 

So, nothing too guerrilla – I avoided cake, simple carbohydrates and processed food, which often have sneaky amounts of sugar, and ate only whole, real foods, including complex carbohydrates like brown rice, and fruit.  

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Day One
Surprise! There isn’t a difference, and by the time afternoon strikes, my T-zone’s oily. I don’t crave sugar, but out of habit I want a jolly square of chocolate. I have blueberries instead. 

Day Two
My cheeks are still characteristically rosy and when I check in again at around 3 pm, there’s that inevitable shine. At a social dinner, I have some red wine, which maybe isn’t part of the no-sugar diet…. Or is it? Cin, Cin. 

Day Three
Yesterday’s cheeky glass (fine – two, large) of wine certainly didn’t help. My skin’s flushed. On the plus side, my skin has a sheen but it’s definitely not as oily as the previous days. Food update: NO WINE.

Day Four
Never have I put my face under such scrutiny but peering at a magnified mirror, my pores appear smaller, and my skin looks slightly less red. 

Day Five
My skin feels smoother than usual. There seems to be some improvement with the redness and dry patches between my brows, and dare I think it, my skin seems more supple.  

Day Six
There aren’t major differences with the day before. I do notice however, that my makeup goes on evenly, and stays on because hurrah, my skin seems more balanced, less oily. Also, my rosacea hasn’t flared up like it usually does around that time of the month – no ruddy-red skin, no pustular spots. PS: I had wine at dinner again.

Day Seven
My face didn’t react from the wine this time but I had considerably less to drink than Day Two. I’m beyond pleased that my skin is smoother than it’s ever been, and my dry patches have miraculously cleared up. I wish I could say my skin was plumper, but that would probably take more than a week, or time travel (back, obviously).    

The Takeaway
Would I go off added sugars again? Absolutely, I saw a difference in my skin and liked it. I can do without sweets for a few days. But will I quit sugar entirely? Nope, I’m not a sugar fiend to begin with and the key thing here, as Dr Teo says, is balance.

See signs of “Sugar Face”? Try these skin-savers:

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/beauty-and-health/diet-and-nutrition/heres-what-eating-too-much-sugar-actually-does-to-your-skin/
Here's What Eating Too Much Sugar Actually Does To Your Skin
Pai Skincare Instant Calm Redness Serum – Sea Aster & Wild Oat, 30ml
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This super-soothing serum reduces redness with strengthening sea aster, while the natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties of wild oat repairs damaged skin. Hyaluronic Acid also intensively hydrates skin to help maintain tone and suppleness.

Available for S$92 at Sephora

 

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A post shared by Pai Skincare | Vegan & Organic (@paiskincare) on Aug 8, 2018 at 9:14am PDT

 

Sephora
Dr Jart+ Cicapair Serum, 30ml
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Powered with anti-inflammatory ingredients centella asiatica complex and green repair herbs to calm sensitive skin redness and soothe irritation, while strengthening skin defences.

Available for S$66 at Sephora

 

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A post shared by Dr.Jart+ North America (@drjart) on Feb 19, 2020 at 8:07am PST

Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum, 30ml
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A peptide-rich (from Spanish lavender) serum, fortified with dual weight hyaluronic acid and natural sugar polymers from larch tree, this hydrates the skin and has a double plumping effect, smoothing and minimising the look of lines and wrinkles.

Available for S$119 at Sephora

 

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A post shared by Tata Harper Skincare (@tataharperskincare) on Mar 3, 2020 at 7:01pm PST

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum, 50ml
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Formulated with ultra-hydrating vitamin B5 and pineapple ceramides to attract and hold moisture, and a unique blend of lentil, apple and watermelon complex to help diminish dryness and the appearance of fine lines.

Available for S$68 at Sephora

 

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A post shared by Drunk Elephant (@drunkelephant) on Apr 9, 2020 at 9:00am PDT

ORBIS Wrinkle White Essence, 30g
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The miracle ingredient in this “medical-cosmetic” product is W-Niacin, derived from Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B), which boosts collagen production, plumps the skin and reduces wrinkles.

Available for S$74 at Orbis

 

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A post shared by ORBIS Singapore (@orbis_sg) on Apr 24, 2020 at 6:00am PDT

Kylaz Spot Off Treatment, 10ml
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Packed with eight powerful ingredients including aluminium chlorohydrate, salicylic acid and centella asiatica extract, use this emergency treatment to clear spots, calm skin and control oil production.

Available for S$19.26 at Jyx.shop

 

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A post shared by KYLAZ (@kylazofficial) on Sep 20, 2019 at 2:11am PDT

Indie Lee Clearing Mask, 48.2g
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Bentonite clay, seaweed and colloidal sulphur blend with exfoliating glycolic and salicylic acids to draw impurities, toxins and bacteria from your pores and thwart acne, while chamomile and camphor extracts calm inflammation.

Available for S$88 at Sephora

 

Text: Lydia Ng / Additional reporting: Hazel Vincent de Paul 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by INDIE LEE Skincare (@indie_lee) on Jul 11, 2019 at 6:03am PDT

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