The only thing worse than feeling flat, tired and lifeless is looking it. Unfortunately, the stresses of everyday life combined with ageing can take its toll on our skin leaving it looking dull and grey. Luckily, there are few things you can do to revive dull skin and bring life back into your complexion. If you’ve already tried at-home high street skincare products, exfoliating ingredients and building a brightening skincare routine, but you’re still finding your skin is looking dull, in the first instance you should turn to professional at-home skincare. However, in-clinic treatments can also be a great addition to your professional skincare regime.
In-clinic treatments can help banish dull skin with stronger ingredients and specialist equipment. But how do you know what actually works? We’ve got you covered. Here at Face Dr, our skin experts have decades of experience in the skincare world. They’re clued up on the latest in-clinic treatments out there to help brighten the skin.
The best in-clinic treatments for dull skin are:
- Facials
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Microneedling
Each of these treatments can help to exfoliate away dead skin cells, resurface the skin and promote the production of new, fresh and healthy skin cells to replace the dull ones. Whether you’re looking for something low-key with little downtime or you’re ready for anything to get a healthy complexion, there’s an in-clinic treatment out there for you.
Need to shake-up your at-home skincare routine before you dive into in-clinic options? Book your free video skincare consultation with an expert here.
What is dull skin?
Before we dive into why those treatments make our top four, it can be helpful to understand what dull skin is. Dull skin is often described as skin that just doesn’t look as healthy as it should. Perhaps you’re noticing your skin looks sallow, grey and lifeless or that you have to use more and more makeup to bring some colour into your complexion.
Dull skin can be caused by many things, but the most common causes are:
- A buildup of dead skin cells
- Dehydration
- Poor lifestyle—like a poor diet, alcohol and smoking
- Environment—like pollution and dry air
- Sun damage
- Using the wrong products
Dull skin can also come in many forms. Perhaps you notice it comes and goes with stress or periods of poor lifestyle, or perhaps a lifeless complexion is something you’ve always had. Either way, in-clinic treatments can offer an effective way of banishing dull skin and giving you a dewy, radiant complexion and all the confidence that comes along with it.
The best in-clinic treatments for dull skin
Here are our top in-clinic treatments to get glowing skin and what exactly they involve.
Facials
What is a facial? You may have already had many facials before and they’re popular for a reason: they’re relaxing, affordable and often, you leave the treatment with glowing healthy skin. Facials can be beneficial for those of us with dull skin as your practitioner can use clinical-grade ingredients to exfoliate and hydrate—the two key steps to banishing dull skin.
Who are facials perfect for? Everyone! As there are so many different combinations of products and ingredients a facial practitioner can use, any skin type and tone can find one that suits them. Be sure to share any concerns, like if you're prone to acne or have sensitive skin, before the treatment.
Where can I get a facial? Most medispas will offer facials and most types of facials will help tackle dull skin to a degree. Be sure to look out for facials that use exfoliating ingredients like glycolic or citric acid, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and anything that includes resurfacing or chemical peels. Be sure to speak to your practitioner about your dull skin concerns so they can use the best ingredients for the job.
Facial to try:
Champagne Enzyme Facial
With a potent concentration of glycolic acid, the Champagne Enzyme Facial is ideal for exfoliating away dead skin cells to reveal glowing skin underneath. The facial includes clinical-grade ingredients to tackle dull skin with a mask, massage and serum. It also uses warming honey to nourish the skin and give you a relaxing treat, too.
Price: £65 to £120
In or around the Perthshire area? Book your treatment at Tay Medispa
Elsewhere? Find your nearest Champagne Enzyme Facial practitioner
Microdermabrasion
What is microdermabrasion? Microdermabrasion is the next level up when it comes to exfoliation. If you’re finding at-home products and in-clinic facials aren’t enough to get your skin glowing, why not try something a little tougher on dead skin cells. Microdermabrasion uses small crystals or particles to buff away the top layer of skin with a pain-free treatment that has minimal downtime. It’s stronger than any at-home exfoliating products, but not quite as strong as other in-clinic treatments like microneedling or chemical peels.
Microdermabrasion can also help with hyperpigmentation and other discolouration which often leads to a grey, lifeless complexion. It can also reduce the signs of ageing, so you’ll leave with skin that looks younger, fresher and brighter.
You may need a few treatments or to pop in regularly to get the best results from a microdermabrasion treatment.
Who is microdermabrasion suitable for? All skin types, even sensitive, though it may not be suitable for darker skin tones as it can cause hyperpigmentation and discolouration. Speak to a professional to see if it’s for you.
Where can I get microdermabrasion? Sk:n have clinics across the UK
Price: £40 to £80
Chemical Peels
What is a chemical peel? Chemical peels are another treatment option that’s perfect for tackling the buildup of dead skin cells that so often leads to flat and tired-looking skin. The treatment includes acids like lactic or citric acids that work to break down the bonds between dead skin cells so they come off easier.
Though chemical peels are available in at-home skincare products, the treatments available in clinics will use a stronger concentration of acids and therefore are more effective at exfoliating and resurfacing the skin. Once the top layer of dead skin cells are removed, new ones are encouraged to grow, meaning a fresher, healthier looking complexion is on its way.
Despite the stronger acids, these treatments have little downtime. You may experience some redness and irritation in the days following your chemical peel, but it should be painless and any noticeable signs normally go down after a few days. You may need a course of several peels to really banish dull skin for good.
Who is a chemical peel suitable for? As some acids can be harsh on the skin, be sure to speak to a practitioner who can help you pick the right chemical peel treatment for you. Even sensitive skin types can find superficial or more gentle treatments which can still provide benefits when it comes to getting skin glowing again
Where can I get a chemical peel?
In or around the Perthshire area? Try the Prodigy Peel P2 System Treatment at Tay Medispa
Elsewhere? Find an authorised Prodigy Peel practitioner
Price: £250 to £295
Microneedling
What is microneedling? Microneedling treatments use small needles to puncture the skin and make tiny holes in the surface. These holes then heal with new, fresh and healthy skin cells that look much more radiant and full of life. Collagen and elastin are also encouraged during this healing process which plumps the skin and gives it a youthful boost. It’s a resurfacing treatment that can provide results with minimal downtime.
Along with promoting a more dewy looking complexion, microneedling also helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and clear up blemishes, both of which can add to skin looking more tired and grey than it should.
What one customer had to say about the experience: "I expected the treatment to be uncomfortable, but it was actually very relaxing! Michelle was very professional and talked me through my treatment. The next day, my skin felt revitalised, fresh and looked healthy. The enlarged pores on my nose had completely gone, and after a few days I was completely blemish free!" — Hannah
Who can have microneedling? All skin types and tones, so it’s a great option for those with darker skin tones as there’s no risk of discolouration
Where can I get microneedling?
In or around the Perthshire area? Tay Medispa AQ Growth Factor Microneedling Facial
Elsewhere? Visit the AQ Skin Solutions website
Price: £140 to £300
Ready to get results?
Those were our favourite in-clinic treatments to get glowing skin, everything from relaxing facials to stronger treatments that guarantee a refreshed complexion. If you’re ready to get results, but you’re unsure where to start, why not turn to an expert to help?
Here at Face Dr, we’ve got a team of experts on hand who have decades of experience in the skincare world. You can book a free online skincare consultation with a skin expert who can analyse your skin and recommend the perfect skincare products for you. We’ll listen to your concerns and discuss which treatments will suit you and get you the results you’re looking for.
Plus, we can also recommend products and an at-home skincare routine to continue with after your treatment to keep your skin glowing for longer. We only ever recommend products that we know provide great results, so you can trust that however dull your skin is, we can help you find a way to get it glowing again in no time.
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