How To Counteract Dullness and Get Radiant Skin

Radiant skin is the goal everyone would like to achieve. After all, you feel more confident and put-together when it looks like your complexion is on point. (In other words, you don’t need an Instagram or Snapchat filter to look your best.) However, your skin can start to lose some of its vibrancy as you age, which can leave you with dull skin over time. There’s no harm in thinking about following a radiance-restoring skin care routine if you’re over 40 or below. Whatever your age, if you’re game to revamp your radiant skin care routine, we’re here to assist. Follow along as we share seven tips to help you achieve the skin radiance you dream of.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #1: WASH YOUR FACE WITH A CREAM FACIAL CLEANSER

No matter what skin goals you’re looking to achieve, you should always start with cleansing. Look for a cream facial cleanser formulated for mature skin, which tends to dull over time, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Nourishing Cream Cleanser. This facial cleanser gently yet effectively removes traces of makeup and cleanses without overdrying for skin that feels soft and smooth. Apply it every morning and evening. Start by moistening your face, then lather the cleanser in wet hands. Gently massage the product onto your skin, avoiding the delicate eye area. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #2: DON’T FORGET TO USE A FACE SERUM

When it comes to dull skin, using a serum can help brighten the look of your visage. It’s all about finding the right one for you. Below, we’re sharing five options to help you get more radiant skin.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol: This serum is formulated with our highest concentration of pure retinol. With every use, it tackles signs of aging like wrinkles and helps to smooth and brighten skin. Since it’s highly potent, it is essential to introduce it gradually into your skin care routine. During week one, start by applying two to three drops to clean, dry skin twice a week. Week two, use it every other night. Week three, use it nightly, if your skin can tolerate it. Follow up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen in the a.m. to protect the skin, which may become more sensitive to the sun.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum: A vitamin C serum is always a solid pick for tackling dull skin. This lightweight serum is formulated with 10% pure vitamin C and effortlessly glides onto the skin to immediately restore skin radiance and reduce wrinkles. Every morning and evening, apply a dime-sized amount onto your fingertips and apply it to a cleansed face and neck. Gently smooth the serum on while avoiding the eye area.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum: As we mentioned, our skin loses moisture as we get older. Hyaluronic acid is a potent water-attracting molecule naturally found in our bodies that enhances the skin’s own moisture-retention, thereby providing lasting hydration. This hyaluronic acid serum absorbs quickly to immediately replenish hydration and reduce wrinkles for visibly plumped, youthful-looking skin. Every morning and evening, apply two to three drops to the face and neck and gently smooth over the skin while avoiding the eye area.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum: This daily serum is specially blended with aloe, which is renowned for its soothing benefits. Over time, skin tone is visibly more even, and dark spots and wrinkles look better. Every evening, apply four to five drops to clean, dry skin.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Golden Serum: This offering is formulated with golden micro-reflectors that help instantly illuminate the appearance of your skin. It maximizes the skin’s power of rejuvenation by stimulating surface skin cell renewal to reveal improved skin radiance. Apply it morning and night onto cleansed skin.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #3: BREAK OUT A FACE MASK TWICE A WEEK

Face masks aren’t only reserved for pampering your skin. The right pick can boost your skin radiance with consistent use. That’s why we love the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Rosy Tone Face Mask. This mask helps to renew the appearance of skin’s youthful rosiness via a fresh, cooling experience. It’s formulated with imperial peony, AHA, and a mineral exfoliant, and intensely refreshes skin with a gelee texture to rejuvenate a washed-out tone. Immediately, the skin looks fresh and hydrated, and is left with a rosy, radiant look.

Apply the face mask to clean skin and leave it on for five minutes. Gently massage the face mask over the skin using light, circular motions to help exfoliate. Rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry. Use twice a week for the best results.

Editor’s tip: There’s so much more to learn about face masks for radiant skin. Here’s everything you need to know about Our Best Face Mask For Mature, Dull Skin.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #4: USE A BRIGHTENING EYE CREAM

Tired-looking eyes can easily bring down your visage—especially if they’re accompanied by dark under-eye bags. This is where an eye cream, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Anti-Aging Eye Brightener, comes in. This anti-aging eye cream has a unique whipped texture that instantly blurs to help visibly correct dark circles. The formula has imperial peony, which reduces the look of dark circles, visibly brightens skin around the eye area, and provides an overall younger-looking complexion. Immediately the eye area looks smoother, brighter, and more awake. Every morning, pat around the eye area and smooth gently until absorbed. You can use this eye cream on both the under-eye and eyelid areas.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #5: SMOOTH ON A MOISTURIZER

No excuses! Moisturizing simply must be part of your daily skin care routine—morning and night—after cleansing or using a face mask. Have your pick of our best moisturizers for dull skin below.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Day Cream: This creamy moisturizer is formulated with manuka honey extract and infused with calcium and antioxidants. It envelops the skin with a soft, silky layer of comfort to replenish your visage with hydration. It also effectively penetrates the skin’s surface layer to restore nourishing moisture to mature and/or very dry skin. Use it in your morning skin care routine.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Night Balm: Like the previous option, the luxurious night balm face moisturizer is formulated with nurturing oils and manuka honey extract. The balm melts onto skin for incredible nourishing comfort while effectively penetrating the skin’s surface layer to comfort and strengthen mature and/or very dry skin. Over time, skin on the face, neck, and chest is firmer, stronger, and more resilient. Use this balm in your nighttime skin care routine.

L’Oréal Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer for Mature, Dull Skin: This pink-toned moisturizer is a hot commodity for dull skin. It’s formulated with imperial peony extracts and LHA, and gently exfoliates sallow-looking skin. This face cream also stimulates surface cell renewal to revive skin’s natural rosy tone.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Night Cream: A night cream goes the extra mile as you get your beauty sleep and this pick is no exception. It pampers the skin with hydrating nourishment while helping to stimulate surface skin cell renewal. From the first moment you try it, skin will instantly feel more nourished and supple. And over time, you’ll be able to reveal more youthful-looking skin each time you wake.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #6: FAKE A GLOW WITH MAKEUP

Updating your skin care routine isn’t the only thing you can do to keep dull skin at bay. The right makeup can be useful, too. Here are a few products for dull skin you can use to easily create the appearance of more radiant skin.

L’Oréal Paris Visible Lift Radiance Booster: This skin care-based makeup primer instantly boosts radiance while hydrating skin all day. It’s designed to moisturize and protect skin to leave you with a smooth, clean canvas for flawless makeup application. The formula is enriched with nourishing oils and iridescent pearls for soft, luminous skin. Bonus: Its lightweight and non-greasy formula never settles into fine lines or wrinkles.

L’Oréal Paris True Match Color Correcting Crayon: We mentioned earlier that dull skin and dark circles are a frequent pair. Make sure to have color-correcting crayons on hand to even out your skin tone. These creamy skin tone-evening concealers provide coverage that blends easily and is lightweight. Green neutralizes redness caused by blemishes and blotchiness, yellow hides blue and purple areas like broken capillaries and age spots, and peach, bisque, and orange disguise dark circles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation.

L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shake & Glow Dew Mist: Of course, one of the quickest and easiest ways to boost skin radiance is by using an illuminating setting spray. This mist primes, sets, and refreshes makeup for a natural, healthy glow in just one spritz. It’s also formulated with quenching coconut water and brightening vitamin C to give your complexion a boost of healthy hydration.

RADIANT SKIN TIP #7: TAKE OFF YOUR MAKEUP BEFORE BED

Before you hit the hay, make sure to reach for a makeup remover. One easy option is micellar water, which doesn’t require any rinsing. Keep a bottle—like the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof - All Skin Types—stocked on your nightstand for easy access. Simply saturate a cotton pad with micellar water and wipe the pad across your face until clean.

Next: Learn all about The Moisturizing and Priming Combo For Dull-Looking Skin