How To Brighten Dull Skin

Few remarks are as frustrating as an unsolicited “you look tired” from friends, family, or coworkers—and quite often, the culprit is dull skin. While a lackluster complexion is often more common in the winter months, the reality is that skin dullness can appear at any time. And in most cases, dullness is a good indication that your skin is in need of a little bit of TLC.

But in order to restore your skin’s healthy appearance, it’s important to understand why it’s dull in the first place. That’s where we come in. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the common causes of dull skin and share tips on how to brighten skin for a more radiant, glowy appearance.

What Is Dull Skin?

Dull skin is best described as flat or lackluster—in other words, it lacks radiance. If your skin is dull, it can make you look as if you’re exhausted or don’t follow a consistent skincare routine, even if you get plenty of sleep and are faithful to your regimen. A dull complexion can also be uneven in tone, with dark spots or other discolorations contributing to a less-than-glowy appearance. And in many cases, it’s dry or dehydrated, which can make fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominent. Fortunately, the right skincare routine can help restore your skin’s healthy appearance.

What Causes Dull Skin?

If your skin looks less-than-glowy, “Why does my skin look dull?” should be the first question you seek to answer. The reason: identifying what’s causing your skin to appear dull is the first step toward achieving brighter-looking skin. Ahead, we’ll take a look at some factors that can contribute to a dull complexion.

1. Dead skin buildup

Your skin is constantly shedding dead cells to make room for new skin cells, but the rate at which that turnover happens slows as you get older. If your skin isn’t shedding quickly enough, those dead cells can get stuck on the surface, leaving your complexion looking dull, flat, and lackluster.

2. Aging

With age, skin concerns like dark spots, discoloration, and fine lines can leave the skin looking uneven and textured. Additionally, skin tends to get drier with age, which can contribute to a lack of radiance. These factors, combined with slower cellular turnover, can lead to a dull complexion.

3. Dryness or dehydration

Though they sound similar, dehydrated skin and dry skin are not the same. Dryness is caused by a lack of oil in the skin; dehydration, a lack of water. In either case, the lack of much-needed moisture can leave the skin looking dull, exacerbate the appearance of skin texture, and leave the skin feeling tight or rough. It’s also worth noting that while dry skin is a skin type, dehydration is a skin state—and even those with oily skin can become dehydrated if they’re not giving their skin the moisture it needs to look and feel its best (more on that in a bit).

4. Sleep deprivation

Dark circles and under-eye bags aren’t the only things that can be made worse by a lack of sleep: so can your skin’s overall radiance. One study found that sleep deprivation can exacerbate the appearance of several age-related skin concerns, including uneven skin tone, texture, and dullness. To ensure you’re getting enough shut-eye, the Mayo Clinic recommends aiming for at least seven hours per night.

5. Too much sun exposure

You may think you look glowy after a day spent in the sun, but over time, sun exposure can contribute to dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles—all of which can leave your skin looking dull and flat.

6. An improper skincare routine

It’s important to use the proper skincare ingredients to address your unique concerns when you’re dealing with dull skin or any other type of skin woe. For example, if your skin is prone to dryness and dullness, using formulas with ingredients that strip the skin of excess oils may make dull skin look even more flat. Skipping moisturizer, too, can leave your skin dull and contribute to a dull complexion. Use gentle products, moisturize daily, and be consistent with your skincare routine to help ensure your skin looks and feels its best.

How to Brighten Dull Skin

Adopting a targeted and consistent skincare routine is among the best things you can do to help improve the appearance of dull skin. Ahead, we’re sharing six things you can do to promote a brighter, dewier complexion.

1. Exfoliate skin regularly

Regular exfoliation is among the best dull skin remedies, as exfoliating helps remove dead skin cell buildup to reveal fresher-looking skin. It can also help improve the appearance of dark spots and other discolorations, further paving the way for clear, glowy skin.

For gentle yet effective exfoliation, we recommend adding the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliating Peel to your regular skincare routine. It contains a powerful blend of alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy, and poly-hydroxy acids and helps brighten the skin in a single use. Over time, it also helps improve the appearance of dark spots and dramatically brightens the skin for a fresh, healthy-looking complexion. The professional-inspired formula is suitable for all skin types and can be used up to four nights per week. If you have sensitive skin or are new to exfoliation, however, we suggest starting with once-weekly usage to avoid over-exfoliating your skin (which in itself can contribute to a dull complexion).

2. Try a targeted serum

As mentioned earlier, dark spots and other discolorations can contribute to the appearance of a dull complexion. Using products designed to help target dark spots can help promote a brighter, more even-looking complexion over time.

We love L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum because it provides gentle exfoliation and helps visibly fade all types of dark spots, including sun spots, age spots, and post-acne marks. Apply a few drops to your face and neck after washing your face to reveal instantly fresher, more luminous-looking skin.

Vitamin C serums can also be helpful for improving the appearance of tired, dull skin. Try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum to help brighten and refine the skin, improve the appearance of fine lines, and visibly even skin tone.

3. Prioritize hydration

If your dull skin results from dehydration, you’ll want to make moisture—and lots of it—a priority. Support skin hydration with products that contain humectant ingredients like hyaluronic acid. This hydrating molecule helps your skin attract and retain water, resulting in a plumper, more dewy appearance. Fortunately, you can find hyaluronic acid in a wide range of products, including toners, serums, and moisturizers. We’re fans of the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum since it deeply hydrates while helping to plump and firm the skin over time.

If you suffer from dry, dull skin under your eyes, add the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum to your routine. This hydrating eye serum helps de-puff, brighten, and hydrate the under-eye area to help promote a fresher, more youthful appearance.

4. Keep your skin moisturized

Moisturizer helps trap water in the skin to fend off hydration and promote a glowy, youthful appearance. And yes, it’s necessary—even if you have oily skin. To nourish your skin and help promote a glowing complexion, look for formulas that contain ingredients like ceramides or other barrier-friendly lipids. One of our top picks is the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream. It deeply nourishes the skin and helps seal in moisture for a smooth, plump appearance, and absorbs quickly without a heavy or greasy residue.

Those who like to treat skin with a richer texture should consider L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream, which is formulated with nourishing shea butter and vitamin E and melts into skin, delivering up to 24 hours of hydration. It also helps replenish the skin barrier and boosts radiance over time, making it a great pick for those with damaged or sensitive skin.

5. Wear sunscreen daily

Committing to wearing sunscreen every single day, regardless of the weather, is one of the easiest ways to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. If you find yourself avoiding SPF because you don’t like the texture or white cast, consider L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion. The vitamin C and E-infused formula has an ultra-lightweight finish and melts into the skin without leaving behind a greasy residue or a white cast. Plus, it helps prep your skin for makeup—meaning you can prime and protect your skin in one easy step (we love a multi-tasker).

6. Enhance your glow with makeup

Something as simple as the finish of your foundation could be the reason why your face seems dull. If you’re prone to dry skin, matte foundation can be very unforgiving, emphasizing dry patches and making your skin look dull. Save your matte makeup for warmer weather, or switch formulas altogether. To secure a glowy, radiant-looking base, start by applying L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer to your face and neck. The luminous formula adds a soft tint of color while helping to illuminate the skin for a lit-from-within look. If you want additional coverage, you can layer a medium-coverage foundation on top to help give your skin a more even, uniform finish (we love the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation). Don’t forget to highlight the high points of your face when you’re done to enhance your glowy look.

Next Up: 8 Skincare and Makeup Tips to Transform Your Skin Into a Dewy Dream