Dark Brown Sugar
Sweetly Gentle Exfoliation
What Is Dark Brown Sugar?
Dark brown sugar is refined cane sugar with a higher percentage of natural molasses added back in than light brown sugar. This higher molasses content gives it a deeper color, softer texture, and richer mineral profile, along with slightly more moisture, which makes its crystals gentler and quicker to dissolve during exfoliation.
Because the molasses retains water, brown sugar crystals are naturally smaller, softer, and slightly sticky. This moisture-rich structure allows brown sugar to dissolve more quickly when exposed to water, making it one of the gentlest sugars used for exfoliation.
Why We Use Brown Sugar
We use brown sugar when a softer, more cushioning exfoliation is needed—especially for skin that benefits from polishing without abrasion.
The finer, moisture-rich crystals begin dissolving almost immediately during use, which reduces drag on the skin and lowers the risk of irritation. This makes brown sugar especially well-suited for sensitive areas and facial scrubs, where exfoliation needs to be effective but forgiving.
Brown sugar also contributes a naturally conditioning feel. As it dissolves, it helps maintain skin comfort while gently lifting away dull surface cells, leaving skin smooth, soft, and refreshed rather than tight or overstimulated.
In short, Brown sugar is our choice when exfoliation should feel gentle, hydrating, and skin-friendly—providing refinement without intensity.
Exfoliation: Why Sugar Is a Great Exfoliant
Sugar scrubs exfoliate the skin in two complementary ways: physically and chemically.
Physical (Mechanical) Exfoliation
Sugar crystals gently buff away dead skin cells from the surface of the skin when massaged in circular motions. This helps smooth rough texture, brighten dull skin, and encourage healthy skin renewal.
Chemical Exfoliation
Natural sugars contain small amounts of glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Glycolic acid helps loosen the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the skin’s surface, allowing them to be washed away more easily.
This dual-action exfoliation makes sugar scrubs especially effective yet gentle.
Turbinado vs. Brown Sugar vs. White Sugar
All three sugars come from sugarcane, but their processing, crystal size, and moisture content affect how they exfoliate and dissolve in a scrub.
White Sugar (Granulated)
- Fully refined, with all molasses removed
- Fine, uniform crystals
- Dissolves quickly, providing gentle exfoliation
- Best for sensitive skin or finer exfoliation
Brown Sugar
- Refined white sugar with molasses added back
- Soft, moist, and clumpy
- Smallest crystals and fastest dissolution
- Least abrasive, ideal for sensitive skin or facial scrubs
Turbinado Sugar
- Minimally processed from the first pressing of sugarcane juice
- Large, coarse, crunchy crystals with light molasses content
- Dissolves slowly, providing the most robust exfoliation
- Best suited for rougher areas like legs, elbows, or feet
Why Crystal Size Matters
When it comes to exfoliation, crystal size and dissolution rate matter.
We choose exfoliants for each product based on crystal size and how quickly they dissolve, matching each one to the skin it’s meant to care for.
Larger sugar crystals, like turbinado, provide a more robust exfoliating action and dissolve more slowly, making them ideal for body scrubs. Finer sugars dissolve more quickly and offer gentler exfoliation, making them better suited for more delicate skin.
This is why brown sugar is used in our facial scrubs, where exfoliation should feel gentle.
Our Sugar Choice
We use Fair Trade Certified Organic Brown Sugar. It is produced without chemicals, bone char, or animal by-products, making it suitable for vegans and aligned with our commitment to ethical sourcing and ingredient integrity.
👉 For a deeper look at the benefits, types, and science of exfoliation, read our blog The Nitty Gritty of Exfoliation
