A woman stands in front of a bathroom mirror, getting ready to start her skincare routine. Share on Pinterest
Leah Flores / Stocksy

Does your skin lack radiance or have a case of the blahs? If your skin is looking dull, you might be wondering what’s causing it and how you can create a healthy, vibrant辉光.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what could be causing your dull-looking skin and offer nine dermatologist-recommended ways to say goodbye to lackluster skin for good.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. So, it makes sense that there are going to be times when your skin seems a bit under the weather. The trick is to figure out why and what you can do to change that.

Let’s look at some of the most common causes for dull-looking skin.

脱水

If you aren’t drinking enough water, it’ll likely affect the appearance of your skin. In fact, one2015 study在喝足够的水和健康皮肤之间找到了牢固的联系。

喝大量的水将有助于从皮肤表面下方提高水合。另外,使用保湿face serumcan help bind moisture in the upper layers of your skin.

Lack of moisturizer

Skimping on moisturizer, especially if your skin tends to be dry, can affect the health and vitality of your skin. Using a moisturizer twice a day can help hydrate your skin and protect the delicate top layer.

Buildup of dead skin cells

Your skin naturally sheds dead cells on a regular basis to make way for new cells. But sometimes the dead cells don’t shed as they should. Instead, they build up the surface of your skin. This can result in skin that’s dry, dull, flakey, and patchy.

Dryness

Dry skincan quickly take on the appearance of being dull and lifeless. This is especially true during the winter months, when the air is cold and dry, or if you live in a climate that has very low humidity.

Tobacco use

According to a2010 review, smoking is an important environmental factor in premature skin aging.

The review found that smoking can impair the production of collagen and degrade the elastic fibers and connective tissue in your skin. It can also increase the oxidative stress in your skin cells. All of this can speed up the aging process and contribute to dull-looking skin.

Aging

衰老是生活中不可避免的一部分。是aging skin. And while you can’t control the aging process, you can adopt a skin care routine that helps provide your skin with the nourishment and hydration it needs to stay healthy and vibrant.

We all deal with the occasional bout of dull skin. But if you’re regularly waking up to lackluster skin, you might be wondering what you can do to improve your complexion.

The good news? You have plenty of options.

1. Go gentle on your skin

“您想确保自己从一天开始完全取下化妆和毛孔堵塞的污垢,但请轻轻地做。”Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD.

Her advice? Avoid harsh scrubs and drying soaps, which can cause skin irritation, tiny tears, redness, tightness, and flaky skin.

Instead, use a cleansing oil first to remove your makeup and sunscreen without stripping and damaging the top layer of your skin. Then, do a second wash with a gentle cleanser to remove the oil.

2.避免热水

会温柔的对你的皮肤也意味着没有热水or harsh soaps.

“Hot water can strip natural oils, which can cause dryness and irritation,” says Shainhouse. It can also cause superficial vessel dilation, which, Shainhouse says, can make the skin appear red, but only temporarily.

取而代之的是,清洁脸部时使用冷淡的水。还选择使用诸如椰子油,乳木果油, oralmond oilto help retain moisture.

3. Make exfoliation part of your routine

Regularexfoliation根据纽约市皮肤科医生的说法,是发光肤色的关键。Hadley King,医学博士。

当死皮细胞堆积在皮肤的外层上时,它会导致皮肤看起来钝,干燥和薄片,甚至可以堵塞毛孔。定期去角质可以防止这种情况发生。

According to King, exfoliation also helps to smooth and polish your skin, decreasing the appearance of fine lines and evening out your skin’s texture.

她说:“去角质有助于露出一层新鲜的皮肤,以便在施用保湿剂时保持水分。”“这可以帮助使皮肤充满,使其看起来更年轻,更光滑,更健康。”

金解释说,随着时间的流逝,定期去角质会增加细胞更新并刺激胶原蛋白的产生。

当在您的皮肤护理程序中添加去角质时,金通常建议通过每周两次去角质开始,并增加皮肤耐受的频率。如果您的皮肤过于干燥或刺激,您可能需要特别小心。

Exfoliation can be either:

  • 机械/物理。This can include exfoliating brushes, sponges, gloves, or scrubs.
  • Chemical.This can includeα羟基酸例如乙醇,乳酸,tart和柠檬酸或beta hydroxy acidssuch as salicylic acid.

After exfoliating, apply a moisturizer right away to lock in moisture and protect the newly revealed skin cells.

4. Add a serum to your lineup

Face serumscontain a high concentration of ingredients that help to brighten your skin, boost hydration, and diminish the signs of aging.

Because serums absorb quickly into your skin, you can apply them once or twice a day after cleansing.

Shainhouse recommends products with:

These ingredients have a strong antioxidant effect that can help prevent and undo collagen-destroying free radical damage.

Vitamin C also helps to fade色素沉着过度or dark spots, giving your skin a more even-toned appearance over time.

Another key ingredient to look for ishyaluronic acid,它暂时结合皮肤浅层层中的水。

5.用口罩约会

Treating yourself to a weeklyface maskis another excellent tool to get your skin glowing.

Look for masks that contain:

  • antioxidants
  • hyaluronic acid
  • 乳木果油
  • other hydrating and brightening ingredients

In general, you can use a face mask 1 to 3 times per week, but this depends on the product and your skin type.

Make sure to read the directions before using a face mask on your skin.

6. Maximize your moisturizer

According to a 2017 review , moisturizing twice a day with the right product can help maintain your skin health and treat various kinds of dermatitis.

Shainhouse说,更具体地说,定期在脸上使用保湿霜的好处包括:

  • 保湿剂可以修复和保护皮肤屏障。提示:寻找成分中的神经酰胺。
  • 它可以将水吸入表皮中,以帮助使皮肤饱满。提示:寻找透明质酸和甘油。
  • It can prevent moisture loss. Tip: Look for dimethicone and petrolatum.

7. Stimulate collagen growth with a retinoid

类视黄素Shainhouse说:“已被科学证明是维生素A衍生物,可以刺激胶原蛋白的生长并使皮肤细胞更新正常化。”

类维生素类动物有助于去除角质细胞,并将新鲜的新鲜皮肤细胞带到表面。它们还将细胞顶层平滑并稀疏。Shainhouse说,最终,灯光会从这个光滑的表面上更好地反射出来,从而使您更自然。

To start, she recommends applying a retinoid treatment 2 nights a week and then increasing the frequency as your skin gets used to this ingredient.

8. Consider an in-office procedure

Your dermatologist is trained in some of the best procedures to improve the appearance of your skin.

According to Shainhouse, procedures like anIPL photofacial sessioncan help minimize the appearance of brown spots. It can also help even out your skin tone and improve the light-reflectiveness of your skin. For best results, she recommends a once-a-year freshening session.

Fraxel lasers, another in-office treatment, help to resurface the skin.

“This procedure helps make skin smoother with fewer fine lines and more even pigmentation. This can make your skin look more glowy,” she says.

9. Wear sunscreen daily

Last, but certainly not least,wear sunscreen daily.

Shainhouse说:“这将有助于防止紫外线引起的损害,包括皮肤障碍,棕色斑点衰老以及粗糙,钝的质地。”

Dull skin can be caused by dehydration, lifestyle choices, or cutting corners with your skin care routine. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to boost your skin’s natural radiance.

Exfoliating your skin, moisturizing twice a day, using a hydrating serum and face mask, and applying a retinoid product may all help replace dull-looking skin with a healthier, more vibrant glow.

If you have questions about your skin or which product to use, be sure to talk to your doctor or a dermatologist.