Why does my skin look so dull?
Having skin that looks dull and lifeless is definitely one of the most frustrating things, especially when you take extra care of it! Sometimes it just doesn’t cooperate, and if you find your skin isn’t looking its best, looking a little dull, maybe even grey, here are 5 reasons why and how to prevent that from happening again!
Stress
Do you have a demanding job? Have you had a huge argument with someone? Are you not getting enough sleep and wearing yourself out? It all piles up and you can see it. If you find that your daily stress is taking its toll, here’s a simple trick to help restore your skin’s glow.
Use a cream cleanser and allow the product to penetrate the skin. Don’t be too rigid, apply a lot of pressure and massage in circular motions all over your face. The pressure and movement stimulates circulation, bringing it to the surface of the skin, making it look plumper and more hydrated.
If you’re not a fan of the above techniques, don’t worry. You can also try using a microfiber cloth or washcloth. Both are stronger on the skin than your hands, but still gentle enough to avoid irritation.
Your skin is looking dull and lifeless due to stress, which seems like the perfect time to book a professional facial. So don’t treat yourself like this!
Dead Skin Cell Buildup
Imagine a dusty desktop. You can’t see the beautiful painted wood in the clutter. The same is true for your skin. Dead skin cells naturally fall off your skin, but often a buildup forms, causing your skin to lose its radiance and look duller and even a little gray. Here’s how to restore your face’s health.
Use an exfoliator once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells from your face. Procoal’s Exfoliating Facial Scrub is suitable for all skin types because you can reduce the intensity of the peeling by adding more water to your face before using the scrub.
Instead of an exfoliator, you can also use a liquid exfoliant, such as an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA). These are simple and easy to use. Put it on a cotton pad and wipe it over your face, avoiding your eyes. Let the acid do its job without over-rubbing the product on. You may notice a grey residue on the pads, that’s dead skin cells!
Pollution
I know you’re all busy and the idea of staying indoors all day seems ridiculous, but unfortunately, pollution can definitely affect your skin by causing inflammation and damaging your skin’s moisture barrier. Pollution also introduces free radicals to your face, which in turn causes collagen damage and, you guessed it, wrinkles! To protect your skin as much as possible from environmental pollution, do the following.
Afternoon: Remove all makeup and then double cleanse your skin. Choose something sturdier than your hands and try using a facial brush or cotton pad to thoroughly cleanse your skin.
Morning: In the morning, nourish your skin with the many antioxidants found in many moisturizers. Vitamin C is my personal favorite for restoring skin’s radiance and evens out skin tone.
Dehydration
Any skin type can become dehydrated, and while drinking enough water generally helps with your overall health, sometimes it may not be the help your skin needs. Dehydrated skin looks grey and dull, and you may even notice more wrinkles on your face! How to combat dehydration.
Use hyaluronic acid, which is often found in serums. Your skin will love this acid. You can literally hear her soaking it all in. Apply it in the morning for a super plump, hydrated look. It’s also a great starting point for a flawless makeup look.
Also, always moisturize, even if you have oily skin. When you choose an emollient, you create a watery film on your skin while also moisturizing it.
Overexposure to the Sun
Yes, you guessed it, I’m about to tell you something we all know, but it shocks me how many of you still overexpose your skin to the sun! If your skin is overexposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays, you’ll notice your skin becomes patchy, dull, and hyperpigmented (dark spots that cause uneven skin tone). I have some tips on how to protect your skin from sun damage.
I know this is obvious, and I don’t want to sound too much like Baz Luhrmann, but wear sunscreen. Wear it every day, whether you’re in the sun or not. You don’t have to worry about the sun causing skin problems like premature aging and dark spots when you’re on vacation.
Using a retinol product at night can help even out your skin tone, but don’t use it during the day because the UV rays will dissolve it and make it unusable. Save it for the evening! You can also combine retinol with vitamin C for a powerful anti-pigmentation combo!
These are some examples of why your skin looks so dull. There are many other factors to consider, such as hormonal imbalances, poor diet, and poor health. However, the advice I give you is the easiest way to restore your face’s glow in no time!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
