Get your glow back! 5 common causes of dull skin and tips for reclaiming your radiance.
Dull skin is used to describe skin that lacks a healthy glow. It can appear lacklustre, tired, and may feel bumpy or uneven to touch. A few underlying issues can cause your skin to look less than its vibrant best.
Dead skin cells building up
If you don’t exfoliate regularly, dead skin cells and other debris build up on the skin’s surface. This build up is usually the main cause of dull skin.
Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to address - the quickest way to brighten up dull skin is to exfoliate!
Exfoliation removes the dead, dull skin cells and other toxic pollution particles on the skin’s surface. The result? Fresher cells are revealed and skin appears brighter, clearer, and more even.
Read our guide to the Different Types Of Exfoliants to discover the best choice for your skin.
Bottom line? Exfoliation needs to be part of your weekly routine. Our Gentle-foliants range offers exfoliation solutions for congested, sensitive, dry, and dehydrated skin.=
=You’re dehydrated
To get that healthy glow and banish dullness, skin must be properly hydrated.
Dehydrated skin lacks water and is a condition that can happen to any skin type. The symptoms can include dullness, itchiness, more pronounced fine lines, under eye circles, and increased sensitivity.
Address dehydration by choosing dull skin treatments which include humectant ingredients.
Acting like a personal hydration magnet for cells, a humectant ingredient draws water from the atmosphere and deeper layers of skin, to the surface. This keeps your stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin) hydrated and healthy.
The best products for dull skin in need of hydration include these humectant ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid: A natural humectant with superior hydration qualities. Acts like a magnet to attract moisture deep within the skin’s cells. Hyaluronic acid is revered for its ability to hold x1000 its own weight in water.
Niacinamide: Effective at restoring the skin barrier to guard against moisture loss and dehydration.
Double down on boosting hydration levels by topping them up from the inside too. Fill your plate - and smoothies - up with water-rich foods like watermelon, strawberries, cucumber, and celery.
We recommend: Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum
Perfect for all skin types and ages, this serum helps increase hydration from the inside out. In addition to hyaluronic acid, the serum also contains Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) which will help to balance skin and regulate oil flow.
Hydrating and Nourishing Acai Duo
The lightweight hydrating properties address multiple skin concerns at once - healing, protecting and hydrating.
You’re surrounded by air pollution
We’re all aware of the damage the sun can do when you get out and about without SPF.
But did you realise being exposed to air pollution can cause skin trouble too?
Nanoparticles in some forms of air pollution are small enough that they can actually become trapped in the pore and trigger free-radical damage.
Left unchecked, this damage can lead to the deterioration of skin health including dullness, uneven skin tone, and other premature signs of ageing.
If you live in a busy city area where pollution levels are high, the answer isn’t as drastic as relocating! A double cleanse in the evening is the ideal way to remove every trace of debris, including nasty nanoparticles, from your skin.
A weekly exfoliation session will help keep your pores clear of pollutants too.
Vitamin rich foods aren’t a big part of your diet
Your bathroom cabinet is stocked with dull skin remedies but you’re not seeing much improvement? You may need to switch up your diet.
Skin looks dull when we don’t eat enough foods rich in vitamins - and too much of the unhealthy stuff!
Certain food and drinks (you know the culprits - alcohol, caffeine and sugar) may contribute to skin looking dull and dehydrated.
Diet tips for dull skin? Keep your skin radiant with healthy choices including carrots, sweet potatoes, turmeric, salmon, papaya, avocado, spinach, kale, and blueberries - to name a few!
Try swapping your coffee for a green tea. Sipping on this antioxidant-loaded tea is incredibly beneficial for the health of your skin.
Hyperpigmentation can cause dull skin
If your skin is lacking a healthy colour, dullness may have shown up all over the skin - or maybe it’s isolated to certain dark spots, known as hyperpigmentation.
The best way to address dullness due to pigmentation is to include active brightening ingredients in your skincare routine.
Vitamin C is one of the best actives to help brighten skin and minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation. There are a lot of vitamin C derivatives but the pure form of Vitamin C is known as L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA).
The percentage of LAA in a product can range anywhere from 10% - 20%. Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is another common form of Vitamin C you’ll find in topical formulations.
We recommend - Pomegranate Brightening Serum. This hardworking serum contains Kakadu Plum extract - nature’s most potent source of Vitamin C which is superb for skin brightening.
You have a dry skin type
‘Dry' is used to describe a skin type that produces less sebum than normal skin. It’s common for this skin type to feel tight, rough, and look dull.
Or, you may be experiencing temporary dryness due to a change in weather, hot showers, and indoor heating which can all have a drying effect on skin - no matter your skin type.
Earlier we mentioned that dehydrated skin lacks water. Dry skin, on the other hand, lacks oil.
Without enough oil, it’s a struggle for the skin to retain moisture which can lead to excessive flaking and overall dullness. Caring for dry skin is all about helping it retain natural oils and moisture.
