Why Does My Skin Look Dull?

One of the key markers of healthy skin is that radiant, dewy glow - but what can you do if your skin is feeling dull, and why does this dullness occur?

From a lack of exfoliation to lack of hydration, dull skin can occur for a number of reasons, and can be easily remedied with a change in skincare products or habits. In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about dull skin, so you can enjoy that healthy, radiant glow all year round. Let’s take a look!

What causes dull skin?

Dull skin is a common skincare complaint, and tends to occur for one or more of the following reasons:

Lack of exfoliation

Exfoliation is an essential part of any skincare routine - regular exfoliating will help slough off any dead skin cells, remove dry skin or flaky patches, and keep your skin feeling bright, smooth, and glowing. If you aren’t exfoliating enough, the accumulation of dead skin cells and dry skin will give your complexion a duller, less radiant appearance. 

You may also be using the wrong type of exfoliating product - if you’re stripping your skin using a harsh scrub or a product not suited to your skin type, you might also be purging moisture from your skin, which will in turn make it appear dry and dull.

Air pollution

Dry, dull skin can even be caused by the environment in which you live, where air pollutants such as dust, dirt in the air, and smoke settle into your skin and give it an overall dulled appearance. This one is a bit more tricky to remedy - especially if you live in a highly polluted area - but there are a number of steps you can take to minimise its impact. 

Ensuring that you wash and cleanse your skin every night is essential - you want to make sure your skin is free of any wrinkle-causing dirt and bacteria before sleep. If you have the means to do so, buying an air purifier is perhaps one of the best ways to protect your skin from its surrounding environment - even as you sleep.

Diet

We know that it’s a cliché by now, but it really is important to drink water if you want to maintain healthy skin. In fact, your diet can significantly contribute to the appearance of your complexion on a day-to-day basis: a diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and enough protein is going to reflect positively on your skin and give you a more radiant, glowing complexion. Similarly, a diet rich in junk food, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats is going to dull your skin, and can even make it more oily. Studies have shown a direct link between the consumption of unhealthy foods and acne breakouts, as sugar provokes a spike in insulin, which in turn produces more pore-clogging sebum.

How CeraVe Products Can Help 

So, how can you remedy dull skin and rock a naturally glowy complexion all year round? Cerave products have developed a positive reputation all over social media, and for good reason! Their back-to-basics approach to skincare involves science-backed simplicity, and introducing CeraVe products into your skincare routine can help you rid your skin of dullness and dryness for good.

But how? It’s simple - CeraVe incorporates scientifically-renowned skincare ingredients in their formulas that have been proven to tackle dull skin; niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides:

Niacinamide 

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B, and is known to help tackle dullness, improve skin tone, and reduce the visibility of enlarged pores. Those with dull skin could try out CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream, formulated with brightening niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid for plumped, soft, radiant skin in the morning.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is great if your skin is in desperate need of hydration: hyaluronic acid is able to hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water, and can plump up skin that’s feeling parched, dry, or dull due to a lack of hydration. CeraVe’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum is perfect for this, and can be used both day and night for 24-hour softness.

Ceramides

Don’t forget that cleansing in the AM and PM is essential for dull skin - you want to ensure that any air pollution your skin picks up during the day (or night) is rinsed off and can’t settle in your pores. For dull skin, CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser is formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration while giving your skin that speaky-clean post-cleanse feeling.