Do you feel as though your skin has begun to look a little drab as of late? If you don’t have a proper skincare routine in place, it’s likely that it will start to show, and especially as we age. Dull skin can occur for a number of reasons, including lack of sleep, high stress levels, dehydration, and the environment. However, while not all of these factors can be kept under control, you can start to incorporate a good skin care routine that will help you go from gloomy to glowing. Here are some tips and products you could be using.

Moisturise

It goes without saying that dull skin is going to be lacking in moisture. A simple moisturiser can really help to bring your glow back, but you need to know what you are looking for. For example, a natural hyaluronic acid serum can help reduce the production of sebum. While sebum is a natural oil produced by the skin, too much of it can lead to an oily complexion, which in turn clogs pores and can cause acne. For those of us with naturally dry skin, try to look for something rich in linoleic acid, like argan oil.

Exfoliate

Dull skin can also be caused by a build-up of dead skin cells. If we don’t help to regularly remove these dead skin cells, they can start to clog the pores and lead to an outbreak of blackheads and whiteheads – not exactly the glowing look you are going for! In order to prevent this, it makes sense to make exfoliation a regular part of your routine. However, you should only aim to do this two to three times a week, as too much exfoliation can irritate the skin and strip it of its natural oils. You can either use a physical exfoliant in the form of a scrub or opt for chemical exfoliation, which sounds a lot harsher than it is! Chemical exfoliation is simply the process of applying an acid-based cream, with ingredients like citric, glycolic, and salicylic acid.

Use Sunscreen

This may sound like obvious advice, but it cannot be reiterated enough. The damage that UV rays can cause to your skin cells can really play havoc with your complexion, and the last thing you want is for all of your efforts to go to waste because you didn’t apply sunscreen before you set foot out the door. Even if it doesn’t look as though the sun is shining bright enough, the invisible rays can cause premature ageing, burning of the skin, and even skin cancer. While UVB rays are those that become more intense in the summer, know that UVA rays have the same intensity all year round.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C plays an extremely important part in helping to brighten the skin and prevent pigmentation issues. This can help to reverse some of the damage caused from the days when you forgot to apply sunscreen. As well as taking a multi-vitamin each day, did you know that you can apply vitamin C directly to your face by adding a few drops to your moisturiser? However, this is one product that varies widely in price, but know that in this case, you really do want to go for quality rather than price. Higher quality products will provide the most consistent results when it comes to brightening up your dull-looking skin.

Last but not least, why not add a highlighter for maximum glow? Use a powdered highlighter on your cheeks and eyes to really make your skin stand out for all the right reasons.