How To Brighten Dull Skin
How To Brighten Dull Skin – By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you consent to the storage of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage and assist in our marketing efforts.
Jen Adkins is a beauty writer and licensed cosmetologist. Sun protection and sun safety are her biggest passions, and she loves educating readers on how to take better care of their skin. She graduated cosmetology school in 1997 and is licensed to practice cosmetology in the state of Wisconsin.
How To Brighten Dull Skin
Ally Flynn has covered beauty since 2014. Her work has also appeared in Well+Good, The Joe Report, Brides, GreatTist, and PopSugar.
How To Brighten Dull Skin Naturally
Michelle is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her work has appeared in publications including Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Joe Report, W Magazine, and more.
Lucy Chen, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, FL. He specializes in Mohs surgery and skin oncology.
As far as skin goals go, achieving glowing, radiant skin tops the list. It sounds like an easy thing to achieve—and it can be—but anyone who’s dealt with a dull complexion knows that there’s a lot involved. Because dull skin is an all-encompassing term for unhealthy-looking skin, and there are many aspects to healthy skin.
“Some causes include a buildup of dead skin cells, debris from the day (like pollution), or even dehydration,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD. Apart from those aforementioned factors, age and lifestyle choices (drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes) also play into the equation.
Reasons Why Your Skin Looking Dull In Summer
So, the first step you need to take to brighten skin is to understand the root cause of dullness. From there, you can put together a plan to boost your skin’s overall glow. We tapped Bhanusali and top estheticians to share their best skin brightening tips so you can achieve your most radiant complexion.
Alcohol seriously dehydrates and dulls the skin. It can increase blood flow to the surface of the skin, which can become permanent over time for some people. If you feel the need for a drink and don’t want to see the effects on your skin, try drinking water with your drink.
You are what you eat. The quality of food you eat and the types of food you eat affect the health and appearance of your skin. Include foods high in fatty acids in your diet, such as fish (especially salmon), walnuts, and flaxseeds. Fatty acids are critical to healthy skin because they increase the production of cells below the skin’s surface, strengthen the skin’s barrier, and reduce inflammation. Think of it as nourishing your skin from the inside out.
Also, eating foods rich in antioxidants can help fight skin inflammation and free radical damage. Nuts and seeds and walnuts and pumpkin seeds and tomatoes can protect your skin while dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants that keep skin healthy. Make sure your diet is rich in probiotics – the healthier your gut, the healthier your skin too.
Make It Glow: How To Revive Dull Skin
According to Moaven, the sun depletes the skin’s levels of essential fatty acids and hyaluronic acid, which can lead to dullness and a pigment called lipofuscin. “The use of SPF every day is very important, and the level of SPF depends on the time of exposure,” says Mowen. “Use SPF 30 every day and SPF 50 for activities like hiking, swimming, walking or jogging.”
We hate to break it to you, but no matter how dry and dull your skin is, you can’t moisturize dead skin. Exfoliation can be the key to a glowing complexion, and you have options to incorporate it into your routine. You can gently exfoliate with a washcloth, use an exfoliating cleanser or scrub (make sure you’re using a gentle product that won’t cause any microtrauma to your skin), or go deeper with microdermabrasion treatments or a skin cleansing brush. Depending on your skin type you can go with a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Exfoliate your skin two to three times a week, or if you have sensitive skin, start once a week and see how your skin tolerates it.
If you exfoliate regularly, you’re constantly sloughing off dead skin and allowing new, plump skin cells to come to the surface of your skin, which is a critical step in achieving a glowing complexion.
A daily dose of orange juice containing vitamin C is good for keeping colds at bay, but vitamin C is a nutrient-rich antioxidant that fights signs of aging and is a skin-brightening agent. Vitamin C protects the skin from UV-related free radicals, lightens dark spots and improves the overall appearance of your skin. For best results we recommend the cult-classic Skinuticals C + E Ferulic Serum ($182).
Easy Ways To Brighten Dull Skin
Getting the right amount of shut-eye isn’t just important to your body, but it can be just as important to your skin. Cell regeneration occurs during our sleep, and lack of sleep plays a direct role in poor skin regeneration, resulting in tired and dull skin, says Mowen. If you’re having trouble getting a good night’s rest, try a pillow spray to help you fall asleep faster, like Deep Sleep Pillow Spray ($30) from This Works or a melatonin gummy.
Ever feel your skin stripped, dry and tight after washing? Upping the ante on your moisturizer is key to a well-hydrated, glowing complexion—especially if you choose one with hyaluronic acid. “Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture better than any other ingredient,” says Bhanusali. We recommend Toucha’s The Dewey Skin Cream ($72) which leaves skin feeling plump and softer than ever.
Try to wash your face twice a day: in the morning and before going to bed. It removes dirt and oil built up on the surface of the skin and removes makeup depending on the cleanser formula. Untouched dirt, oil, and makeup can clog pores, dull your skin, and lead to a dull complexion. If a day calls for putting on a ton of makeup, double-cleanse to ensure no makeup remains. On your face after a full day.
Fun fact: the environment has a direct impact on our skin. Some of the factors that can cause dull skin, says Moaven, are hypersensitivity, which pushes the epidermis to build a thicker layer of protection on top of the skin, leading to a dull and rough texture. Also, pollution has been proven to disrupt skin microbiota and increase sebum production and acne.
From Dull To Dazzling: 6 Ways To Brighten Skin
Give your skin regular treatments to boost your overall glow. Look for ingredients like turmeric, niacinamide, vitamin B3 and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). We recommend Avrani’s Glow Activator Exfoliator Mask ($29) because it combines purifying clay with turmeric and neem to smooth skin’s texture, fight acne and boost radiance.
We all know that smoking is bad for your health, but it is also bad for your skin. The toxins in cigarettes not only accelerate the visible signs of aging, but because they reduce the quality of oxygen and the amount of vitamins normally delivered to the skin, smoking ultimately leads to a dull complexion.
We take every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy. Taking care of your skin regularly may seem like a tedious task, but proper skin care is essential. Ideally, you can set a daily skin routine and follow it diligently. Picking the best-suited skin products that address your primary skin concerns should take everything into account.
Your cleansing routine can start as soon as you wake up, cleansing your skin to get rid of all the dead skin cells and dirt accumulated during your sleep. Likewise, at night, thorough skin cleansing is essential to remove make-up and dirt accumulated throughout the day. Neglecting daily facial cleansing can lead to unsightly breakouts on the skin.
Have Dull Skin? These Active Skincare Ingredients And Their Products Will Help
After dealing with the dead skin, the next step is to exfoliate the skin. This can be done with a good quality chemical exfoliator or a homemade scrub base. You need to gently apply the product on the face and elsewhere in circular motions for about 30 seconds. Then you can wash it off with lukewarm water.
After exfoliating your face, it’s time to use toners to help refresh the facial skin. It is best to use a hydrating toner to maintain maximum skin hydration. A good idea is to use a good quality toner throughout the day to maintain a fresh look.
The application of the serum depends on your skin type. Acne-prone or oily skin needs a premium serum that contains retinol and salicylic acid. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, a serum with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C works best.