Dull skin refers to skin that looks tired, lackluster, rough and dull. Your skin might appear to be grey, patchy or bumpy to touch. Additionally, dullness is often accompanied by an uneven skin texture because textured skin is less able to reflect light uniformly. Common signs of dull skin include dehydrated skin, skin that appears less radiant and more darker than usual and even dark undereyes.
CAUSES OF DULL SKIN
Dull skin can often be a cause of stress for many people. But what exactly causes the skin to become dull? Let us have a look at the following causes:
1. Skin that is dehydrated
Skin appears to be pale, dull and tired when the blood circulation to the skin is inadequate. If your water intake is insufficient, you are likely to have a dull skin. You may also experience shadows around your eyes and prominent under-eye circles. In some cases, prolonged dehydration even leads to wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Due to dehydration, the amount of moisture below your skin’s surface can decline, leaving you with skin that looks deflated and dull, instead of plump and bright.
2. Dead skin cells
If your skin appears to be ashy, it is most likely because there is a layer of dead skin cells on your face preventing your skin from reflecting light. As you age, your skin’s surface renewal ability declines, causing an increase in the build-up of dead skin cells. This can also result in dead skin cells. Other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis also contribute to accumulation of dead skin cells.
3. Over or under-exfoliation
Exfoliating too often or too less both can cause the skin to become dull. Exfoliation is important twice weekly in order to remove dead skin cells. However, exfoliating too hard or frequently can result in loss of moisture. Lack of moisture makes the skin appear dull.
4. Diet
As they rightly say, you are what you eat. Your diet plays a key role in maintaining a radiant and fresh-looking skin. Dull skin is often caused by poor diet. An unhealthy diet lacking vitamins and minerals makes the skin thin causing it to appear dull and weary.
5. Sleep deprivation
Sleeping well helps to rejuvenate and renew your skin. This occurs due to an increase in your body’s melatonin levels, a release of human growth hormone that enables tissue repair, and the decrease of cortisol, which is your body’s stress hormone. If you aren’t sleeping well, your skin cells are likely to dysfunction. This is often reflected through puffiness and darkness under your eyes.
6. Stress
When you are stressed, your fight-or-flight response kicks in, diverting blood flow from your face to other parts of your body, such as your muscles, resulting in a less lively, dull look.
7. Lack of moisturization
Hydration plays a vital role in a healthy-looking, youthful and radiant skin. If you do not moisturize regularly, your skin will lose its elasticity and make the skin dull.
8. Damage from the sun
Exposure to the sun can lead to dull and an uneven skin tone. UV rays break down important proteins in your skin and can also damage your skin barrier. Not wearing sunscreen can eventually make your skin look tired, dark and dull. Besides UV rays, your skin is also exposed to pollution every day. Such external aggregators too can result in dullness, discoloration, etc.
9. Sleeping with makeup on
Sleeping with makeup on can cause dirt accumulation on the skin surface. It is very important to remove your makeup overnight and cleanse your face. Tone and moisturize your skin every night to help regain its radiance and glow.
10. Free radicals
Pollution does not just affect your lungs, but your skin, too. The dirt and sulfur dioxide in the air create free radicals (unstable molecules that cause damage to the cells in your body) on your skin, damage collagen and stimulate pigment production, causing your complexion to look tired and drab.
11. Using the wrong skincare products
If your skincare regimen does not contain products that suit your skin type, it can break down your skin barrier. This can be a major cause of dull-looking skin. Using harsh soaps or products formulated with unsuitable ingredients on your face can also result in loss of moisture and essential oils. Often, skincare products that contain harmful ingredients when exposed to your skin, causes clogged pore, redness, freshness, dry skin, etc.
HOW TO GET RID OF DULL SKIN?
1. Remove your makeup
Develop a habit of always removing your makeup before hitting the bed. All the day’s dirt has been accumulated on your skin and if you sleep with makeup on, your pores are likely to be clogged causing dull skin. Hence, cleaning your face with a mild face wash or a cleanser is the key.
2. Exfoliate and moisturize your skin
No matter the weather, apply a moisturizer with sun protection that helps blocks both UVA and UVB rays. For visible improvements in fine lines and wrinkles, smoothness, brightness, firming, dark spots and pores, make it a routine to moisturize your skin to avoid dull skin. Exfoliate twice a week to allow new skin cells to emerge, leaving behind a skin that is not only fresh-looking but also radiant and healthy.
3. Use a face mask
If your skin lacks hydration, get yourself a sheet mask. They are packed with moisture and serums to target specific skin issues, leaving your skin looking radiant and young. If your dull skin is the result of dirt and grime, you can get yourself a deep-cleansing face mask to get rid of the unwanted debris.
4. Wear a sunscreen
Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen can protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays of the sun. To keep your skin barrier and moisture intact, it is important for you to wear sunscreen every time you step out in the day.
5. Eat well
Improve your eating habits and make sure you have the right amounts of vitamins, minerals and nutrients incorporated in your diet. For more healthy-looking skin, try to consume high-fiber and high-protein foods that are rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids;
6. Choose the right skincare products
Pick a mild, pH balancing cleanser for your face. Your skin’s pH levels lies between 4.7-5.7; making it weakly acidic. We tend to pick foaming cleansers under the assumption that they clean better. But in reality, the more the cleanser is foamy, the more alkaline the base of your cleanser is.
7. Keep yourself hydrated
Make sure to drink adequate amounts of water to boost the overall hydration levels of your body.
PRODUCTS FOR DULL SKIN
Use BelleCotte Paris’s range of skincare products. These are classified on the basis of your skin concerns. We have got you covered for all possible types of skin problems you might be facing. Be it dry skin, dull skin, pigmentation, oily skin or combination, we have just the right products for you. Visit our website online to scroll through our wrinkle cleansing foam, our Vitamin-C Serum, Anti-aging range and many more products that shall serve you right.
