What is Xylitol (Birch Sugar)?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol (polyol) that is beneficial for the skin when you incorporate it into skincare products, but also a delicious sugar substitute in your favorite baked goods. In short: a versatile ingredient.

Xylitol occurs naturally in plants: from fruits to vegetables and mushrooms to trees. The Xylitol we sell is extracted from sustainably grown birch trees and is therefore also called birch sugar. Xylitol is also designated with the E-number 967.

Benefits

Hydrates the skin and strengthens the skin barrier

Xylitol has a hydrating effect on the skin and can increase the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin, an acid that is important for healthy collagen production. Xylitol contributes to strengthening the skin barrier and preventing premature skin aging.

Natural alternative to sugar

Xylitol occurs naturally in berries, corn, oats, mushrooms and the bark of various trees, including birch. The sugar alcohol is almost as sweet as sucrose, but contains only 2/3 of the amount of calories. Xylitol is therefore widely used as a sugar substitute, partly thanks to its neutral taste.

Oral hygiene

Xylitol also often appears as a flavoring agent in products for maintaining your teeth. For example, almost every toothpaste contains xylitol and it is often found in chewing gum for white teeth. Unlike sugar, xylitol does not directly attack your teeth, in fact, xylitol contributes to a balanced pH value in your mouth and the prevention of dental plaque.

How do you use it?

In DIY skincare products: from toothpaste to day cream

When you use Xylitol in skincare products it is important that you grind the granules into a fine powder. Otherwise your product will have a coarse texture, which does not feel pleasant on the skin or in your mouth.

In the kitchen

Xylitol is a very easy sugar substitute, because you can replace the ingredient 1:1. This means that if a recipe calls for 200 grams of sugar, you can replace this with 200 grams of Xylitol. So you don't need to calculate anything.

Do note that Xylitol does not caramelize or melt. If that is your goal, you cannot use Xylitol as a sugar substitute. Also when you make baked goods that need to rise with the help of yeast (like bread), Xylitol can interfere with this process.

Cookies with Xylitol instead of sugar sometimes need to come out of the oven a bit earlier, so keep a close eye on them! Moreover, Xylitol absorbs more moisture than sugar, so you sometimes need to add more moist ingredients to your recipe. A little soy yogurt can work wonders to achieve the desired texture.

You can also use Xylitol perfectly as a sugar substitute in your coffee or tea.

What makes it so special?

Xylitol is harvested from sustainably grown birch trees in Scandinavia and Finland, without genetic manipulation. This makes Xylitol a 100% natural sugar substitute and beauty ingredient.