We’ve all had days when just nothing seems to work. You’ve been consistent with your skincare routine, eating those greens, drinking plenty of water but you still can’t seem to get rid of that stubborn dull skin? Done racking your brain trying to figure out how to get that glow? Don’t worry, we’re here for you.
What causes dull skin?
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Environment- Excessive cold or heat, and low levels of humidity in the surrounding could cause the skin to become dry and dull.
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Stress- Stress often takes a quite visible toll on skin. Our body produces hormones called cortisol and adrenaline when we’re stressed. These hormones may cause a surge in sebum production and lead to clogged pores. Stress may also aggravate existing skin conditions and may cause the skin to become more sensitive.
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Diet- Getting proper nutrients through food is essential to maintain healthy skin. Besides, consumption of certain foods can lead to dull skin, for example excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates has been linked to acne.
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Dehydration- Water is a key constituent of the human body. Dehydration is a major cause for dull skin as not having enough moisture in the body reflects on your skin.
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Dryness- Dry skin tends to have a compromised epidermal barrier meaning it does not hold moisture well. It’s important to moisturize the skin to prevent dryness and have healthy skin.
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Under/Over Exfoliation- Exfoliation is an essential step to have glowing skin. But the key is the right amount, too much or too little of it could wreak havoc on the skin. Over-exfoliating can lead to damage of the epidermal barrier while under-exfoliating will cause a build-up of dead skin cells and clogged pores.
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Age- Signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines and age spots can cause the skin to appear dull. Sometimes these may also appear due to sun damage as sunlight is shown to accelerate signs of aging.
Symptoms of dull skin
Some of the symptoms of dull skin are-
- Pigmentation or discoloration
- Lack of luminescence or brightness
Risk Factors for dull skin
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Sleep– Not getting enough sleep puts you on a fast track to a number of skin woes. Similar to stress, not getting enough sleep could increase the level of cortisol in the body. It may lead to hormonal imbalance, affect collagen synthesis and we all know this one- dark circles. Sleep is crucial for your body to repair and rejuvenate. Inadequate sleep can put you at a risk of having dull skin.
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Excessive exposure to sunlight- When the skin cells come in contact with the UV rays in sunlight, as a natural response, skin cells are triggered to produce melanin which leads to hyperpigmentation. Sunlight also causes signs of aging such as fine lines and dark spots to appear faster, not to forget the risk of skin cancer.
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Lifestyle habits- Certain lifestyle habits such as smoking could also make you susceptible to dull skin.
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Skincare routine- The purpose of a skincare routine is to improve the skin by tackling skin problems. But having an improper skincare routine can actually do the opposite. Not using the right ingredients, or not using the ingredients in the right way could become a cause for dullness of the skin.
How to prevent dull skin?
- Make sure to moisturise your skin day and night. Just slapping some moisturiser on does so much more for you than you think. Not only does it prevent dry skin, it ensures a healthy skin barrier.
- Avoid taking hot, long showers as it could damage your skin and strip it of moisture.
- You might be tired of hearing this but drink water! Hydration is the key to tackle many skin concerns. Drinking water helps hydrate and flush many toxins out of the body. It’s not just a requirement for plump skin, it’s essential for your body so drink plenty of water.
- Exfoliate the right amount. It’s important to slough away the build-up of dead skin cells but it’s important not to overdo it. Use an AHA or a BHA weekly to exfoliate the skin effectively.
- Make sunscreen your best friend. Sunscreen can help protect your skin from sun damage and signs of aging associated with it, which are two of the major causes of skin dullness. So, make it a habit to wear sunscreen every day.
- Adopt a good skincare routine and use ingredients to tackle specific skin concerns.
- Always remember to remove your makeup before going to bed. Even though you might just want to crawl into bed after a long day, make sure to just take a few minutes and at least remove your makeup and wash off the dirt if you can’t do your entire routine.
What ingredients to use for dull skin?
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Niacinamide- Niacinamide is a cult favourite due to its barrier repairing properties. A healthy epidermal barrier means lesser transepidermal water loss and healthy, hydrated skin.
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Alpha Arbutin- Alpha Arbutin is primarily used to tackle hyperpigmentation. If patchiness, dark spots and pigmentation are the reason for your dull skin, consider including Alpha Arbutin in your skincare routine.
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Vitamin C- Touted for its skin brightening and antioxidant properties, Vitamin C not only tackles dull skin, it also prevents any further damage of the skin in many ways.
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AHAs and BHAs- AHAs and BHAs are chemical exfoliators, which loosen the bonds between dead skin cells and effectively slough them away to reveal a brighter, even-toned skin.
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Licorice Root Extract- Licorice Root Extract is also a skin-lightening ingredient. It works as a tyrosinase-inhibitor which makes it effective in treating hyperpigmentation.
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Kojic Acid- Kojic Acid also works as a tyrosinase inhibitor and inhibits the production of melanin. It also mildly exfoliates the skin, making it the perfect ingredient to tackle multiple skin conditions which may cause the skin to appear dull.
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Hyaluronic Acid- One of the most hydrating ingredients out there, Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant which is excellent for reviving dry and dull skin. It works by holding moisture on the skin, ensuring that the skin is deeply hydrated.
Deconstruct’s range of products for dull skin
Deconstruct Clearing Serum with 2% Alpha Arbutin + 5% Niacinamide
This serum consists of two potent ingredients useful for treating dull skin. Alpha Arbutin works against pigmentation and dark spots while the Niacinamide repairs a damaged barrier and prevents dullness.
Deconstruct Brightening Serum with 10% Niacinamide + 0.3% Alpha Arbutin
With 10% Niacinamide and 0.3% Alpha Arbutin, this serum treats uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. It’s effective in making the skin appear brighter and get rid of dullness. The serum is suitable for all skin types.
Deconstruct Vitamin C serum with 10% Vitamin C + 0.5% Ferulic Acid
Consisting of 10% Vitamin C, this serum is a perfect addition for your everyday skincare routine regardless of your skin type and age. It provides protection against sun damage and brightens the skin with consistent usage.
Deconstruct Exfoliating Serum with 18% AHA + 2% BHA (Salicylic Acid)
Exfoliation is a useful way to get rid of dullness of the skin. This exfoliating serum combines the benefits of an AHA and a BHA to remove a layer of dead skin cells and deeply unclog the pores.
Conclusion
Dull skin can be caused by multiple reasons such as diet, environment, stress and skincare routine. It can be challenging to deal with dull skin, as sometimes the cause isn’t easily determined. Good news is that it can be treated using the right ingredients and consistency. Just make sure to follow the precautions and have good skincare habits and bid adieu to dull skin in no time.
FAQs
Dull skin is characterised by dryness, uneven skin tone, patchiness, darkness under the eyes, a lack of radiance and an overall dull appearance of the skin.
- What ingredients are good for dull skin?
Ingredients such as Vitamin C, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, Azelaic Acid and AHAs like Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid and Lactic Acid are effective against dull skin.
Dull skin can be caused by a wide range of reasons such as dehydration, environment, stress and diet.
Eating well, getting plenty of sleep, staying hydrated and using the right ingredients are amongst some of the ways to treat dull skin.
