Dull Skin

Facial skin needs to be exfoliated regularly-- otherwise, dead skin cells build up on the surface, giving it a dull appearance. Your skin will naturally shed away these dead skin cells, but as you age the rate at which this occurs will slow down. Finding other ways to help your skin prevent these dead skin cells from building up will help the fresh, new, and shiny skin to reach the surface. Chemical or physical exfoliation sloughs off excess oil and debris and allows fresh skin to emerge.

Blood plays an important process in your body. It’s responsible for carrying essential nutrients and oxygen to the various systems and cells in your body. An inadequate blood flow will mean that less of these nutrients and oxygen will make it to your skin cells, especially the outermost layers. As a result, poor blood circulation can result in a dull, pallid, or ashy complexion.

Exposure to pollution and UV rays produce free radicals in the skin that accelerate collagen loss, increase melanin production and discoloration-- all resulting in dullness. Harsh winds and arid climates can also strip away natural moisture, making the skin appear rough and flakey.

Dehydration has a direct effect on circulation to the skin. When your skin becomes dry and dehydrated, it can result in a more dull appearance while making fine lines and wrinkles become more defined and harsh. A lack of moisturizer, living in a dry climate, and taking long hot showers can all contribute to dehydrated skin. Studies have shown that higher water intake positively impacts normal skin physiology. Aim for a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day to maintain brighter, clearer skin.

With age, our skin cell turnover rate slows down, and we are more susceptible to hyperpigmentation. The result is an uneven skin tone that looks blotchy and dull. Additionally, the amount of moisturizer that is naturally produced by the skin will decrease, along with the production of collagen, but melanin production will increase. This means that not only will your skin dehydrate faster, but it won’t be able to repair itself as quickly and more dark spots will appear, creating an uneven and dull skin tone.

While the negative side effects of smoking on the respiratory system might be common knowledge, the negative effects on skin might not be as known. Cigarette smoking can result in the breakdown of collagen, resulting in sallow, waxy, and wrinkled skin. The heat will also contribute to drying out your skin, while the toxins in the smoke are a harmful environmental hazard for the skin. All of this is in addition to the free radicals being introduced inside the body.

Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and facial moisturizer is even more important during the winter months or in dry, arid climates. Look for products enriched with hyaluronic acid and ceramides (these are most similar to your skin’s natural oil) that lock in moisture and help revitalize.

Also known as the skin barrier or moisture barrier, the lipid barrier is found in the outermost layer of your skin and consists of dead skin cells and the natural fats of your skin. This incredibly thin “wall” helps to protect you from the harmful environmental toxins and pathogens that can cause you harm. If this layer is damaged by tiny and invisible cracks, then moisture could be escaping it, resulting in dull looking skin.

Sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and a poor diet can increase cortisol levels, which impair the body’s renewal and repair processes, causing the skin to look sallow and pallid. Stress will lead to an increased level of cortisol in the body and skin, which will contribute to increased skin inflammation. While this is known to worsen certain inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea or acne, it will also directly contribute to an uneven and dull skin complexion.

Your beauty routine may not contain the right products for correcting dull skin and may even exacerbate the issue by stripping oils from the skin’s moisture barrier. The key to getting your glow back is using dermatologist-tested actives that exfoliate, moisturize, protect against UV damage, and brighten dark spots.