HEALTH: The Cheap Kitchen Staple That Will Give You Better Skin and Hair

Plus, products to try if you don't want to DIY it. 

Time and time again we hear about how bad eating sugar is for your skin. From breaking down collagen and elastin (a.k.a. making you look older) to increasing inflammation, the sweet stuff seems like it should be something you should stay far, far away from, right?

Well, that’s not the case when it comes to applying sugar topically. "Sugar crystal has mildly jagged edges and can scrub off dead skin cells without tearing new living cells that are underneath," says S. Manjula Jegasothy, M.D., dermatologist at the Miami Skin Institute. (Heal your whole body with Rodale's 12-day power plan for better health.)

Here, five ways to use sugar in your beauty routine:

1. Exfoliate Your Face

You can find sugar in products like  Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser ($33, sukiskincare.com). Just be careful not to over-exfoliate. "Start slowly—once or twice a week—to make sure it’s not irritating or causing allergens," says Jegasothy.

2. Add Sugar to a DIY Mask

Mixing together your own face mask with ingredients from the kitchen is a great way to save money and still keep your skin happy. Blend a 1/2 cup pineapple and a 1/2 cup of your favorite oil (such as coconut, jojoba, or extra virgin olive), and then add 1 1/2 cups sugar to the mix before applying to your face. "The mechanical exfoliation of the sugar crystal paired with the chemical exfoliation of bromelain [pineapple enzyme] will leave skin smoother and more luminous," says Jegasothy. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.

3. Scrub Your Lips Before Applying Bold Colors

Cold weather = dry, flaky lips. And if you want to rock bright color, you’ve got to slough that dead skin away first.  Sugar’s sweet smell and tasty finish, paired with its gentleness, make it the perfect exfoliant for the job. Try Herbivore Coco Rose Coconut Oil Lip Polish ($22, sephora.com).

4. Buff Your Legs

Don’t limit exfoliating to your face: Sugar can make your gams look super smooth, too (think Carrie Underwood-esque, shiny, gorgeous legs). Apply a body polish like Bliss Blood Orange + White Pepper Sugar Scrub ($27, ulta.com) to damp skin in circular motions to avoid over-scrubbing and irritating the skin. Moisturize afterwards for extra slickness.

5. De-Gunk Your Scalp

"While the hair shaft itself is too strong a protein combination to be penetrated by a weak exfoliant such as sugar crystal," explains Jegasothy, "some benefits may be gained by applying to the scalp similar to the facial preparation." A pre-shampoo treatment is the best way to use sugar on your scalp. Try Matrix Biolage Sugar Shine Polishing Hair Scrub ($20, ulta.com), which helps clear away impurities.