— SKINCARE
Tips On How To Get Glowing Skin
Figuring out how to get glowing skin goes more than just, well, skin-deep. It’s about much more than wearing luminizing makeup for a glow-like complexion. It’s about taking care of your skin from within.
Read on to learn more about the connection between dry skin and dullness, how the sun and your lifestyle affect your skin, and what skincare tips you should adopt to get that healthy glow that looks lit from within.
What Does Dull Skin Look And Feel Like?
You know it when you see it — dull skin is skin that simply doesn’t look healthy and glowing. It can show up in different ways. Instead of a natural glow, you might notice:
- Dark spots
- Dark patches
- Flaky skin
- Scaly skin
- Uneven skin tone1
These all clearly undermine that effortlessly radiant skin you’re after. But no worries! You can transform your skin by prioritizing your skin health by identifying the top causes of dull skin and seeing which ones may apply to your complexion.
Don’t Let Dull Skin Get You Down: Identifying Its Causes
Dull skin may be a result of your current skincare regimen — or it could be caused by factors you can manage but not control. Take a look at these causes of dull skin and try to make some changes, so you can enjoy your dewiest skin ever.
Your Skin Isn’t Shedding Dead Skin Cells
The human body naturally sheds dead skin cells as it produces new ones. But as you age, cell turnover slows down and dead cells can build up on the surface of your skin, resulting in dryness, patchy skin, and dullness. Exfoliation is key in helping slough off these dead cells and revealing the clearer, brighter skin underneath. So, be sure to include a gentle exfoliation step in your skin care routine.2
Not Enough vs Too Much
You may not realize it, but a lack of sleep from late nights, along with smoking and drinking alcohol, can affect your natural glow. Studies have shown that sleep is essential for the continuous repair of your body’s largest organ, and sleep deprivation compromises essential functions, like collagen production and skin barrier function (which can manifest as dullness).3
Similarly, cigarette smoke has been found to directly contribute to premature skin aging — causing dry skin and a dull appearance.4 Too much alcohol can also be very dehydrating, impacting the moisture content of your skin. And dry skin definitely doesn’t look and feel like healthy skin.5
Dehydration May Lead To Dullness
Not drinking enough water impacts your skin on a cellular level. Dehydration impairs optimal blood flow to your skin, leading to dryness, dullness, and other signs of aging. Blood circulation is integral to keeping skin plump and glowing, so make sure you’re downing plenty glasses of water each day (especially in warmer weather).6
Is Stress Causing Skin Concerns?
Unfortunately, stress may be taking a toll on your skin. When you’re stressed, much-needed blood flow may be diverted away from your skin — resulting in a dull, sallow, and tired-looking complexion (not to mention pronounced dark circles).7 Although it’s difficult to avoid stress entirely, minimizing it is very possible. Remember to allow yourself necessary “me time” doing whatever helps you feel at peace — whether that’s your skincare routine, gardening, or listening to music!
Exposure To The Elements Is Wreaking Havoc On Your Face
Pollutants in the air may also affect your skin, leading to everything from increased pigment production (read: more brown spots) to a compromised skin barrier (read: more water loss). Also, sun exposure is a major factor in uneven skin tone and texture, so you may want to beef up your sun protection strategy.8
Get Your Glow On With These Genius Tips
Now that you’ve pinpointed some likely reasons hindering your flawless skin, here are some skin care tips to help you on your way to a naturally glowing, less dull-looking complexion over time.
Aim For Maximum Moisture With Hyaluronic Acid
Give yourself glowing, smooth skin with a super-boost of moisture. Choose hydrating products (think moisturizers, serums, and sheet masks) that deliver a power dose of lipids, natural antioxidants, and other ingredients that can help the skin retain water by supporting its natural barrier.
One such powerful compound is hyaluronic acid. This ingredient offers superior hydrating benefits because it helps your skin cells attract and keep moisture, helping keep skin hydrated.9
Reveal Fresh Skin By Exfoliating Regularly
Don’t let a buildup of dead cells put a damper on your fresh glow. Adding a solid weekly exfoliating step to your skincare routine can help reveal smoother and brighter skin. Choose a scrub or mask with good chemical exfoliants, like salicylic acid or lactic acids, which help melt away debris and nudge skin cell turnover along.10
Brighten Up With Vitamin C
You can also invest in skincare products that promise skin-brightening and tone-evening effects, if pigmentation and dark spots are what’s undermining your radiant complexion. Consider vitamin C serums, which can help reduce the look of dullness and other signs of aging.11
Consider Using A Humidifier
You may not feel it, but indoor (and air-conditioned) spaces tend to have drier air. The drier the conditions, the more hydration in your skin is compromised. Help restore your dewy glow by restoring moisture levels in the air with the aid of a humidifier.12
Chill Out Your Skin
Boost blood flow to your face with chilled skincare products, a cold jade roller, or even a couple of ice cubes. The quick blast of coldness can help banish dullness temporarily by giving you a natural, blushy-cheeked glow.13
Make Some Changes
Get lots of beauty sleep, and drink lots of water. Easier said than done, so commit to starting these habits today. These two tweaks cost nothing, but they can go a long way toward helping you get your glow back.14
Protect Against Further Sun Damage
Don’t skimp on SPF. Avoid UV damage that can contribute to dullness (and other signs of skin stress) by religiously applying sunscreen before you step outside.15
True Beauty Lies In Healthy Skin
Address dull skin by identifying the root causes undermining your naturally beautiful skin. Glowing skin ticks all the boxes: it’s hydrated, fortified with beneficial nutrients, and protected from the environment. By covering all of these points, you’re sure to reveal naturally radiant, youthful-looking skin.
Sources
1 https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-brighten-dull-skin
2 https://www.healthline.com/health/dull-skin#dull-skin-causes
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20678867/
4 https://www.jdsjournal.com/article/S0923-1811(07)00321-0/fulltext
5 https://www.gq.com/story/how-bad-is-drinking-alcohol-for-your-skin
6 https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a36993/dull-skin-causes/
7 https://www.allure.com/story/dull-skin-causes-and-treatments
8 https://www.allure.com/story/dull-skin-causes-and-treatments
9 https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a36993/dull-skin-causes/
10 https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/meaning-of-exfoliating
11 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/
12 https://www.byrdie.com/humidifier-for-better-skin#:~:text=%22Using%20a%20humidifier%20helps%20counteract,to%20evaporate%20from%20your%20skin.%22&text=%22If%20you%20leave%20your%20skin,and%20dry%2C%22%20she%20explains.
13 https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-get-glowing-skin
14 https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/how-to-get-glowing-skin-in-7-days-with-day-by-day-instructions/
15 https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/how-to-get-glowing-skin-in-7-days-with-day-by-day-instructions/
