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A hot cup of coffee in the morning is the only reason some of us look forward to getting up out of bed. Through the years we’ve learned about the antioxidant benefits of coffee and have delighted in knowing that there is so much more to our favorite beverage then insomnia-producing caffeine (though we don’t want to knock coffee’s ability to get us through Monday morning meetings when we’d rather be snoozing).
But what you put in your coffee can also mean the difference between making it a beverage with super amazing health benefits and actually contributing to your health and even skincare issues. If clear skin is your goal, this is the one ingredient you should avoid in your coffee because it clogs pores.
Sugar-Filled Creamers
Creamers are often used in place of milk and sugar in coffee. Often times, non-dairy creamers that won’t bother your stomach because they lack lactose contain suspect ingredients like corn syrup and artificial flavors and colors.
Many creamers offer a super sweet twist on traditional creamers by incorporating artificial flavors like vanilla, créme brûlée, and even candy bar tastes like Reese’s, Hershey’s, and Almond Joy into the mix — and, honestly, who wouldn’t flip for a cup of Joe that tastes like your favorite chocolate treat?
But there’s a problem with many of these creamers, and it’s one that contributes to clogged pores: sugar.
Eating high amounts of sugar and a high-glycemic diet can clog pores and break down collagen, which is the protein responsible for youthful, taut skin. Not only does sugar rev up insulin production, which starts destroying collagen, it creates testosterone, a hormone that won’t do your pores any favors, especially if you already have oily, acne-prone skin.
“Testosterone makes pores larger, skin is oilier, it turns your beautiful female skin into ruddy football player skin,” Dr. Harold Lancer, a dermatologist who works with Kim Kardashian, told The Cut. “The skin becomes sallow, lackluster and you get those unwanted dark circles.”
Unfortunately, there are even more reasons to ditch that creamer. Some have has much as six grams of sugar per tablespoon and 35 to 40 calories, as well as small amounts of fat. That’s a big chunk of your daily intake of sugar (which should only be about 25 grams) to get from a food that isn’t as delightful as say, an ice-cream cone or slice of strawberry shortcake.
If you are loyal to your creamer and can’t live without it in your coffee, pay closer attention to the ingredients list — even low and no-sugar creamers can be filled with artificial ingredients and unhealthy additives like corn syrup solids.
Creamer options like plant-based Silk Soy Creamer (which has one gram of sugar and 20 calories per tablespoon) are a safer bet if you are making the switch to a more skin-friendly coffee creamer. Or consider little more than a simple dash of organic skim milk, almond milk, or coconut milk to lighten things up without adding vast amounts of sugar and additives to your coffee.
