Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract

Saccharum officinarum extract is an extract from sugarcane, the famous crop used to make sugar.

Its effects on the skin depend entirely on the type of extract being used. An extract that is mostly sugar will be exfoliating and humectant moisturizing (attracting water to the skin’s surface). The little sugar crystals mechanically remove the dead skin cells from the skin’s surface.

If the dark-colored sugarcane molasses is included as well, then it will have the added benefit of antioxidant compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes, which help to protect the skin from oxidative damage. The organic acids in particular are known for their beneficial effects on the skin.

Sugarcane is the largest crop in the world, and so the use of sugarcane molasses in skincare may grow in the following years, as it is a very underutilized by-product of sugar production.