Bubble tea has become one of Singapore’s favourite drinks. Whether it’s a brown sugar fresh milk, a classic milk tea, or a fruit tea with chewy pearls, many of us enjoy it as an occasional treat or even part of our weekly routine.

But bubble tea has also developed a reputation for being an “acne trigger.” It’s common to hear someone blame a new breakout on the cup of milk tea they had the day before, or to avoid sugary drinks altogether in the hope of achieving clearer skin.

So, is there actually any truth behind this belief?

The simple truth is this: bubble tea doesn’t directly cause acne overnight. However, some of its ingredients—particularly sugar, refined carbohydrates and, for some individuals, dairy—may contribute to conditions that make acne more likely. At the same time, acne is a complex skin condition influenced by hormones, genetics, stress, skincare habits and overall lifestyle, meaning no single drink is usually responsible for persistent breakouts.

Understanding how sugary drinks fit into the bigger picture can help you make informed choices without unnecessarily cutting out the foods and drinks you enjoy.

About This Guide

There’s no shortage of skincare advice online telling you to stop drinking bubble tea if you want clearer skin. Some articles claim sugar is the sole cause of acne, while others insist that diet has nothing to do with breakouts at all. The reality sits somewhere between these two extremes.

In this guide, we’ll explore what current research says about sugar and acne, whether milk tea deserves its bad reputation, why some people seem more affected than others, and what we’ve observed after helping clients manage acne-prone skin for more than 15 years.

Who Is This Guide For?

This guide may be helpful if you:

• Regularly experience breakouts and wonder whether bubble tea is contributing.
• Have noticed your skin becoming oilier after periods of eating more sugary foods.
• Are trying to understand whether diet plays a role in acne.
• Want practical advice rather than extreme dietary restrictions.
• Are looking for a balanced approach to managing acne-prone skin.

Key Takeaways

If you’ve ever wondered whether your favourite bubble tea or soft drink is causing your breakouts, here are the most important things to remember:

• Sugary drinks don’t directly cause acne, but they may contribute to breakouts in some people. Research suggests that beverages high in added sugar can trigger blood sugar and insulin spikes, which may increase oil production and inflammation in acne-prone skin.
• Acne is rarely caused by one food or drink alone. Hormones, genetics, stress, sleep, skincare habits and your skin type all play important roles. For many people, sugary drinks are just one piece of a much bigger picture.
• It’s the overall pattern of your diet that matters most. Regularly consuming high-sugar drinks alongside other high-glycaemic foods is more likely to affect your skin than enjoying bubble tea as an occasional treat.
• Pay attention to how your own skin responds. Some people notice more breakouts after drinking sweet beverages, while others experience little or no change. Keeping a simple food and skincare diary can help you identify your personal triggers.
• Healthy skin requires more than dietary changes. Reducing sugary drinks may help some individuals, but consistent cleansing, sun protection, a personalised skincare routine and professional treatment remain essential for managing acne effectively.
• Persistent acne deserves a professional assessment. If you’re experiencing recurring breakouts despite making lifestyle changes, the underlying cause may be hormonal fluctuations, clogged pores or other skin concerns that require targeted treatment rather than dietary changes alone.
• Small, sustainable changes are usually more effective than eliminating every treat. Rather than cutting out bubble tea completely, focus on a balanced lifestyle, good skincare habits and professional guidance that addresses the root causes of your acne instead of relying on a single solution.

Can Bubble Tea Actually Cause Acne?

The short answer is not directly.

Drinking one cup of bubble tea won’t suddenly produce a new pimple the next morning. Acne develops gradually as pores become blocked with excess oil, dead skin cells and inflammation.

However, some ingredients commonly found in bubble tea may influence biological processes that contribute to acne in susceptible individuals.

High amounts of refined sugar can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. In response, the body releases insulin, which may increase levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Higher IGF-1 activity has been associated with increased sebum production and faster skin cell turnover—two factors that contribute to clogged pores and acne formation.

This doesn’t mean every sugary drink causes acne. Rather, a diet that is consistently high in refined sugar may create conditions that make breakouts more likely, particularly in people who are already genetically or hormonally predisposed to acne.

Why Do We Think Bubble Tea Causes Acne?

Bubble tea often combines several ingredients that have individually been linked to acne in some studies.

The first is sugar. Many popular bubble tea drinks contain large amounts of added sugar, especially when ordered at 100% sweetness or with toppings such as brown sugar pearls.

The second is refined carbohydrates. Tapioca pearls are primarily starch, which the body quickly breaks down into glucose. While pearls themselves aren’t “bad,” they add to the drink’s overall glycaemic load.

Finally, many milk tea drinks contain dairy. Research suggests that dairy—particularly milk—may worsen acne for some individuals, although the relationship isn’t consistent across everyone. Some people can consume dairy without any noticeable change in their skin, while others may be more sensitive.

It’s often this combination, rather than any single ingredient, that explains why bubble tea is frequently associated with breakouts.

Does This Mean You Need to Stop Drinking Bubble Tea?

Fortunately, no.

One of the biggest misconceptions about acne is that you need to eliminate every “unhealthy” food to achieve clear skin. For most people, moderation is far more realistic—and often just as effective.

If you enjoy bubble tea once in a while as part of an otherwise balanced lifestyle, it’s unlikely to be the sole reason you’re experiencing acne. Problems are more likely to arise when sugary drinks become a daily habit alongside poor sleep, high stress, inconsistent skincare and other acne triggers.

Rather than asking whether bubble tea is “good” or “bad,” it’s more useful to look at your overall lifestyle and identify the combination of factors influencing your skin.

Why Some People Can Drink Bubble Tea Without Breaking Out

One of the reasons acne can feel so unpredictable is that no two people respond to the same lifestyle habits in exactly the same way. A friend might enjoy bubble tea several times a week without noticing any change in their complexion, while someone else may feel their skin becomes oilier or more congested after regularly consuming sugary drinks.

This difference isn’t unusual. Acne develops through a combination of factors that are unique to each individual, including genetics, hormone levels, stress, sleep quality, existing skin conditions and even the strength of the skin barrier. Diet is simply one piece of that puzzle. Rather than acting as a direct cause, sugary drinks may worsen acne in people who are already more susceptible to breakouts, while having little noticeable effect on others.

This is why two people can eat the same meals, follow similar routines and still have completely different skin. Understanding your own triggers is often far more valuable than following broad dietary rules that may not apply to your skin.

The Other Lifestyle Factors That Matter Even More Than Sugar

While sugar often gets the spotlight in discussions about acne, it rarely acts alone.

Acne develops because several biological processes are happening at the same time. The skin produces excess oil, dead skin cells don’t shed efficiently, pores become blocked, bacteria multiply within those clogged pores and inflammation follows. Diet may influence some of these processes, but it’s only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

In our experience, clients who struggle with persistent acne often have multiple contributing factors rather than a single trigger.

Hormonal fluctuations remain one of the most common causes of recurring breakouts, particularly along the chin and jawline. Stress can increase cortisol levels, which may stimulate oil production in some individuals. Lack of sleep affects the skin’s ability to repair itself, while Singapore’s hot and humid climate creates an environment where oil, sweat and impurities accumulate more quickly throughout the day.

Even skincare habits can unintentionally make acne worse. Over-cleansing, aggressively scrubbing the skin or using too many active ingredients at once may damage the skin barrier, leaving the skin more irritated and inflamed.

This is why focusing exclusively on bubble tea often leads to disappointment. Eliminating one drink may not produce noticeable improvements if the underlying causes of acne remain unaddressed.

Can Cutting Sugar Completely Clear Acne?

With so much skincare advice online linking sugar to acne, it’s easy to wonder whether giving up sweet drinks and desserts altogether could finally solve recurring breakouts.

Unfortunately, acne is rarely that straightforward.

For some people, reducing their intake of sugary drinks and highly processed foods may lead to fewer breakouts over time, particularly if these foods have been a regular part of their diet. However, it’s uncommon for acne to disappear simply because one ingredient or food group has been removed.

Over the years, we’ve met clients who eat balanced, nutritious diets yet continue to struggle with hormonal acne, as well as others who enjoy the occasional bubble tea or dessert without experiencing significant skin concerns. These experiences are a reminder that acne isn’t driven by diet alone.

Your skin is influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, hormones, stress, sleep, skincare habits and your environment. Sugar may be one contributing factor for some individuals, but it’s rarely the only explanation for persistent breakouts.

Rather than focusing on eliminating every food that has been associated with acne, a more sustainable approach is to look at your overall lifestyle. Choosing lower-sugar options where possible, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, managing stress and following a skincare routine that’s appropriate for your skin type are all habits that work together to support healthier skin.

Clearer skin is rarely achieved through one dramatic dietary change. More often, it’s the result of consistent habits that help keep your skin healthy over time.

How to Enjoy Bubble Tea While Looking After Your Skin

The good news is that enjoying bubble tea occasionally doesn’t mean you’re sabotaging your skincare routine.

If you’re someone who loves milk tea, there are several simple adjustments that may help reduce its overall impact as part of a balanced lifestyle.

Choosing a lower sugar level is often an easy place to start. Many bubble tea shops allow you to customise sweetness, making it possible to enjoy your favourite drink with significantly less added sugar.

You can also think about how often you’re having it rather than whether you should stop completely. An occasional weekend treat is very different from drinking multiple high-sugar beverages every day.

It’s equally important to look at your overall diet instead of focusing on a single drink. Meals rich in vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats and whole grains provide nutrients that support overall skin health. Staying well hydrated throughout the day also helps your skin function at its best, even though drinking more water alone won’t cure acne.

Most importantly, don’t let skincare become a source of unnecessary stress. Constantly worrying about every meal or drink can become exhausting, and stress itself is another factor that may influence acne.

A balanced lifestyle is usually much easier to maintain than an overly restrictive one.

Why Professional Acne Treatments Still Matter

Although lifestyle choices can influence acne, many people eventually discover that changing their diet alone isn’t enough to resolve persistent breakouts.

This is because acne isn’t simply a problem occurring on the surface of the skin. Once pores become deeply congested, blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed blemishes often require more than home skincare products to clear effectively.

Professional acne treatments focus on addressing the congestion that’s already present while helping to reduce the likelihood of future breakouts.

Regular professional extraction helps remove stubborn blockages before they develop into more inflamed acne. Combined with appropriate home care and healthy lifestyle habits, this approach often produces more consistent long-term improvements than relying on dietary changes alone.

Rather than viewing facials and lifestyle as separate solutions, it’s often more helpful to see them as complementary parts of the same skincare journey.

How My Cozy Room Helps Clients With Acne-Prone Skin

At My Cozy Room Beauty Spa, we believe effective acne management goes beyond treating individual pimples.

Every consultation begins with understanding your skin as a whole. We look at your current concerns, lifestyle, skincare routine and treatment history before recommending an approach that’s tailored to your needs.

For clients with clogged pores and recurring congestion, our signature Ultimate Pore Extraction Facial focuses on thoroughly removing impurities while minimising unnecessary discomfort. Combined with calming treatments that help reduce redness and support the skin barrier, our goal is to leave your skin feeling cleaner, healthier and more balanced.

We also provide practical guidance on skincare and daily habits so that you can continue supporting your skin between appointments. Rather than recommending complicated routines or unrealistic restrictions, we focus on helping clients build sustainable habits that work with their lifestyle.

Healthy skin is rarely achieved through one dramatic change. It’s usually the result of many small, consistent decisions made over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking one cup of bubble tea cause pimples?

No. Acne develops over time, and one drink is unlikely to trigger an immediate breakout. However, regularly consuming large amounts of sugary drinks may contribute to factors associated with acne in susceptible individuals.

Is sugar or dairy worse for acne?

It varies from person to person. Some individuals appear more sensitive to high-sugar diets, while others notice improvements after reducing dairy intake. Many people are unaffected by either. Acne is influenced by multiple factors rather than one ingredient alone.

Should I completely stop drinking bubble tea if I have acne?

For most people, moderation is a more practical approach than complete avoidance. If you suspect bubble tea affects your skin, reducing the frequency or choosing lower-sugar options may be worth trying while monitoring your skin over time.

Will improving my diet completely clear my acne?

A healthier diet may support overall skin health, but acne often involves hormones, genetics, inflammation and pore congestion as well. Many people benefit from combining healthy lifestyle habits with an appropriate skincare routine and professional treatments.

How can I find out what’s triggering my acne?

Keeping track of your skincare routine, diet, stress levels, sleep patterns and hormonal changes can help identify patterns. A professional skin consultation can also provide a more personalised assessment of the factors contributing to your breakouts.

What You Can Do For Your Skin Beyond Cutting Sugar

Bubble tea has become an easy target whenever acne is discussed, but the relationship between sugary drinks and breakouts is far more complex than many people realise. While regularly consuming large amounts of sugar may contribute to conditions that make acne more likely for some individuals, it is rarely the sole cause of persistent breakouts.

Healthy skin depends on a combination of factors, including genetics, hormones, lifestyle, skincare habits and consistent professional care. Rather than fearing every sweet treat, it’s often more productive to understand your own skin, identify your personal triggers and focus on habits that support long-term skin health.

At My Cozy Room Beauty Spa, we believe acne management should be personalised rather than based on one-size-fits-all advice. By combining professional treatments with practical skincare guidance and realistic lifestyle recommendations, we help clients work towards clearer, healthier skin in a way that is both sustainable and achievable.

My Cozy Room is thrilled to share that our Ultimate Pore Extraction Facial has been crowned the Reader’s Choice Award Winner at the Beauty Insider Spa & Salon Awards 2025. Organised by Beauty Insider Singapore, the Spa & Salon Awards celebrate excellence in the beauty and wellness industry across Singapore and the region. Each award recognises treatments that stand out for their innovation, proven results, exceptional client satisfaction, and overall spa experience.

FIRST-TIME CUSTOMERS enjoy the award-winning Ultimate Pore Extraction Facial for only $144 (U.P. $338).

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