Because dull skin and cruddy texture might not be serious enough to have you running to the derm’s office but it still bugs you, right?
There’s no such thing as a perfect complexion, but at the same time there’s nothing wrong with wanting to help your skin be its absolute best. Dull, lackluster skin gets us all at some point. And rough patches? Ditto. Of course, these small imperfections are all part of being human, so you shouldn’t fret about them too much, but setting yourself some realistic skin goals? We’re all over that.
So instead of striving for flawless, glass-like skin that wouldn’t look amiss on the cover of a glossy magazine, start off with the small stuff – like glowy, healthier-looking skin.
Glowing skin takes all forms and is something that any skin type can achieve with just a few simple lifestyle upgrades and skincare tweaks. Read on for eight of the best…
1. Chill Out
One of the quickest and cheapest (because it’s free!) ways to boost your glow is to brave a splash of cold water at the end of your cleansing routine. Lauded by many Hollywood stars and red carpet makeup artists, rinsing cleansed skin with cold water narrows the blood vessels in your face which helps reduce inflammation and gives your skin an instant, albeit temporary glow. We always recommend cleansing first with lukewarm water as this is more effective for removing dirt and debris, but a final rinse of the cold stuff? Priceless. You could even try ice globes, or wrap a few ice cubes in a muslin cloth and massage this across your skin to help counteract puffiness and take your glow to the next level.
2. Know Your Skin Brighteners
If you’re looking to upgrade your skincare routine to include some hard-working brightening ingredients look no further than green tea, niacinamide, peptides, retinol and, of course, the mightiest of them all (in our humble opinion, anyway!), vitamin C.
Vitamin C is the most well-known, glow-getting ingredient in skincare. Loaded with free-radical-fighting antioxidants which strengthen your skin against environmental damage, it also inhibits a certain component in your skin called tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that fuels melanin production so by reducing its presence, you simultaneously curb melanin and reduce your chances of ending up with mottled, uneven skin after too much exposure to sunlight. Bye-bye dark spots.
Try: Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser.
3. Do. Not. Smoke.
Everyone knows how harmful tobacco is for your health, but it’s also a real beast when it comes to your skin. Packed with thousands of harmful substances, the exact reasons smoking kills your skin’s mojo are unclear but most experts believe that it breaks down important proteins in your skin like collagen and elastin, leading to lines, wrinkles, sagging and dullness. It also increases inflammation; produces skin-damaging free radicals; slows the skin’s ability to heal itself and constricts the blood vessels which reduces the flow of valuable oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
It's pretty obvious that none of these things are conducive to bright, glowy skin, so if you want better-looking skin, forget smoking.
4. Get With The Exfoliation Programme
Of course twice-daily cleansing is vital for clearer, brighter skin, but exfoliation is the main event here.
The most common reason for dull, cruddy-looking skin is sluggish cell turnover which is inevitable as you get older. The average 20-30-something person has a skin turnover rate of around 28-40 days which is the optimum time for cells to form, travel to the surface, then shed. As you age, however, cell turnover becomes considerably slower. ‘Older’ skin cells tend to stick around longer than you’d like and your skin become less bright, fresh and youthful-looking.
Thankfully, there’s a very easy way to give this whole process a kick in the butt: exfoliation. Exfoliation speeds up cell turnover by either sloughing away dead skin cells via things like facial scrubs and mitts, or it uses chemical ingredients like glycolic or salicylic acid to break down the bonds between dead skin cells so they shed more easily on their own.
Try: Vitamin C Super Serum+ two or three times a week to boost your glow with brightening vitamin C AND exfoliating salicylic acid.
5. Stock Up On Some Skin Superfoods
Radiant skin comes from what you put inside your body just as much as what you apply to the outside. So, first up, avoid overdoing the obvious food bad guys which are sugar, salt, processed meats and refined carbs. Sugar, in particular is awful for your skin, attacking collagen and elastin and aging up you up way faster than you’d like.
Instead, make sure your diet includes all the good stuff. Our favorite skin superfoods are things like oily fish, lean proteins, fresh fruit and veggies, live natural yogurt (one word: probiotics), seeds and nuts. Unsalted nuts are packed with antioxidants, plus they’re high in protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.
6. Make SPF Your BFF
Allowing the sun to do a number on your skin is a big no-no if you want to maintain a radiant glow. UV radiation burns your skin (seriously bad news), and it’s the biggest cause of external skin aging which isn’t just about lines and wrinkles but also includes hyperpigmentation, aka patchy skin, and dullness.
One of the easiest ways to ward off those sucky UV rays is to include a broad-spectrum SPF in your morning skincare routine. Try to get into the habit of applying it every day as your last step – it’ll only take a few days before it becomes the norm – and your skin will really thank you for it. Oh, and don’t forget to apply it to your neck and other exposed areas while you’re at it.
Try: SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C.
7. Give Your Skin A Mini Workout
Massaging your face and neck is an awesome way to boost circulation, bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to the surface of your skin while helping to drain away unwanted toxins that can make your skin look dull and lifeless.
More good news, you can easily crush a facial massage as you cleanse or moisturize your skin and all it takes is about two minutes. There are no real right or wrong ways to do it but try to work with smooth strokes, using light pressure with your hands and always moving in upward and outward motions from the center of your face.
8. Exercise For The Skin Win
Certain studies shows that exercise can help improve the structure of your skin, making it a very worthy lifestyle choice if you want to help curb the signs of skin aging. How so? Well, for one thing it increases blood flow (and with it all those incredible nutrients) to the skin. It also boosts collagen production and releases endorphins which help improve your mental wellness and neutralize stress hormones like cortisol. Altogether great news for your skin.
Not a workout kinda person? No problem. Go for a brisk walk every day or try yoga two or three times a week.
