What causes dull skin and how to make your skin look brighter.
Glowing and radiant skin looks healthy and filled with vitality. Dull skin says the opposite about your health and vitality. We all know that feeling of looking in the mirror upon waking and thinking, “God, my skin looks terrible today!” Sometimes, dull looking skin can come from poor eating habits, lack of sleep and daily stress. Other times, the dull tone can just be a lack in the right skincare ingredients to give skin that extra boost of radiance.
What exactly is dull skin?
Dull skin can lack a lumenis tone, show signs of uneven patches and sometimes does not look healthy to the eye. Texture of the skin may even appear a bit dry, flaky or chalky. Overall, dullness relates to the skin tone, color and texture.
7 Common reasons skin can be dull include:
- Skin dehydration
- Lack of exfoliation
- Not washing/cleansing
- Not using enough or the right moisturizer
- Stress
- Sleep deprived
- Eating poorly
Now, let’s break these reasons down a bit more to fully understand.
- Dehydrated skin is often confused with dry skin, however they are two separate issues. While dry skin lacks oil, dehydrated skin lacks water and overall moisture. Skin is constantly losing water through (TEWL) trans epidermal water loss, which is just one way that our body evaporates water. The skin’s “waterproofing” layer, called the stratum corneum, swells or deflates with gain or loss of water. Water can be a magic ingredient in plumping out the skin and restoring the skin’s health!
How to hydrate the skin:
Drink your water! Look for products containing hyaluronic acid, which is a fabulous way of adding moisture, plumping, and sealing nutrients into the skin. In fact, hyaluronic acid holds a thousand times it weight in water. Just think about that!
- Lack of exfoliation can cause a build up of dead skin cells, which creates a dull complexion. As we age, skin cells do not turn over as quickly and build up creating that lustless appearance. Giving those cells some help to turn over will not only give you healthier looking skin it will keep you looking young.
How to exfoliate:
There are two ways to exfoliate the skin, which are physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation using a polish can be done at least 1 to 3 times a week, depending on your skin’s needs. Other forms of physical exfoliation can be done professionally, giving even better results, using microdermabrasion, oxygeneo facials, or other modalities. These professional treatments are a wonderful source of monthly maintenance for the skin. Next, chemical exfoliation includes an array of products. Some great at home choices include glycolic or salicylic cleansers, retinols, and beta-carotene serums. It is strongly recommended to consult with a professional for the right exfoliation for your skin type and condition. The market is saturated with products and it is important to find the right one that works best for your skin. Professional forms of chemical exfoliation include enzymes and peels, which are also great choices for monthly skincare maintenance.
- Cleansing your face is a key step to regaining healthy looking, vibrant skin. Our skin is constantly exposed to pollutants and toxins every day. Also accumulating on our skin are dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells,
How to cleanse:
Taking a minute in the morning and in the evening to cleanse your skin will give a fresh clean start to the day and skin repair as you sleep. A favorite we have at In Vogue Med Spa is the lytic gel cleanser. Not only does this treatment cleanser clean your skin, it maintains the PH balance and assist in turning over dead skin cells. This product does double the work all in one application!
- Not using enough or the right moisturizer can give rise to dull looking skin. So often, people purchase the wrong moisturizer for their skin type and condition or decide they do not need one at all. This is yet another important step to revealing your best looking skin!
How to know which moisturizer is best for your skin:
Try opting for a professional skincare line, as drug store brands are watered down and consist of harmful chemicals and fillers. Know your skin type – are you oily, dry, combo? Dull skin can accompany any one of these skin types. Look for key ingredients to restore your glow, such as aloe, green tea, peptides, and niacinamide. Some favorite moisturizers at In Vogue Med Spa include renewal lotions by Epionce and for the “Ferrari of all anti-aging and dull skin needs” we LOVE Allastin’s Nectar and Simple Complex. Another great option to incorporate in your skin care tool box is a serum. Molecules in serums are even smaller, so they penetrate deeper. Vitamin C is a key ingredient used in serum to give skin a boost of vibrance.
Stress, sleep deprivation and poor eating habits are also contributors to dull looking skin. Make sure to get your zzzz’s, as our skin does all of its repair work while sleeping. Try adding in some avacados to your diet, as they provide our skin with much needed essential fatty acids!
