Dreaming of a glowing complexion, but finding your skin looks like it’s fast asleep? Despite striving for dewy-looking skin, it’s all too easy to find that our skin is instead dull, grey and lifeless. Luckily, there are skincare products out there designed to get that sparkle back and boost skin’s radiance. But how do you know which brand to turn to?
That’s where we come in. Here at Face Dr, we’ve got years of experience in the skincare world working with the latest products. Our clients come to us to get that glowing skin we all dream of, so we know a thing or two about the best way to do it.
Here, we’ve rounded up our favourite skincare brands with products designed to banish dull, tired-looking skin and instead re-energise skin for that glowy look.
Our top brands for dull skin include:
#1. ZO Skin Health
#2. Obagi Medical
#3. Glytone
#4. La Roche-Posay
#5. SkinCeuticals
#6. iS Clinical
If you’re looking for the best ingredients to banish dull skin or how exactly to build products into a skincare routine, we’ve covered that, too.
Before we dive into why exactly these five brands make the cut, let’s talk about what dull skin is exactly.
What is dull skin?
Dull skin isn’t a medical diagnosis, but instead a concern many of us have at some point in our lives. It’s often described as skin that looks tired, lifeless, grey, dull, flat or just not healthy and glowing.
Many things can cause skin to become dull. A few common causes include:
- A build-up of dead skin cells
- Dehydration
- Poor diet and lifestyle
- Environment—like dry air or pollution
- Sun damage
- Using the wrong products
What are the best skincare brands for dull skin?
Though it can sometimes feel like even the brightest of highlighters can’t save dull skin, there are actually plenty of products out there that can help. Here is a combination of our tried and tested favourites we recommend to our clients, and some more great brands with products to get that complexion glowing again.
1. ZO Skin Health
Founded by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi, ZO Skin Health is a must-try brand for those with dull skin. The brand has a whole collection of products designed to brighten the look of skin, exfoliate away dullness and revive tired complexions. To help you decide which of these products to use, our experts at Face Dr can create a tailor-made skin brightening program with the perfect ZO products as part of our free skincare consultation.
Products to try:
Prices start from: £36
2. Obagi Medical
Obagi uses powerful ingredients in its clinical-quality products. There are ranges dedicated to hydration, exfoliation and tackling skincare concerns like dry skin, rough skin and signs of ageing. Try Obagi’s line of products with vitamin C, which can banish greyness and revive a tired-looking complexion. There are serums of varying strengths depending on your skin type, and a microdermabrasion mask which exfoliates while providing a potent dose of the brightening ingredient.
Products to try:
Prices start from: £28
3. Glytone
Founded in 1992, Glytone is a medical-grade skincare brand that takes its name from its star ingredient, Glycolic Acid, known for improving skin tone and texture. Over the past 30 years, it has become a leader in acid-based skincare in the United States, offering both in-office peels and at-home treatments. Combining pharmaceutical expertise with a commitment to aesthetic and corrective dermatology, Glytone offers professional skincare solutions designed to deliver clinically proven results.
The skincare brand offers a range of targeted skincare solutions, each powered by carefully selected acids to exfoliate, smooth, and brighten the skin. From daily cleansers to potent serums and in-office chemical peels, these dermatologist-developed formulae work to refine texture, enhance clarity, and support overall skin health.
Products to try
Prices start from: £32
4. La Roche-Posay
With products focused on dry, dehydrated and uneven skin tones, La Roche-Posay can help to tackle many concerns, including dull skin. Many of the brand’s products are made with antioxidant-rich thermal spring water from the town of La Roche-Posay in France. They’re known for being gentle on skin while delivering results. Try one of the brand’s serums, either the vitamin C serum, which is made to boost skin’s radiance, or the Effaclar Serum, designed to clear up blemishes and promote a healthy and clear complexion.
Products to try:
- La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum
Prices start from: £12.50
5. SkinCeuticals
SkinCeuticals has products especially designed for uneven skin tones, dehydrated skin and blemish-prone complexions, all of which can affect those of us with dull skin. The brand has everyday essentials like cleansers, toners and sunscreens, as well as powerful treatments. Try SkinCeuticals’ vitamin C serum, which is designed to tackle discolouration and brighten the skin, and the clarifying clay masque for a weekly deep cleanse.
Products to try:
- SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque
- SkinCeuticals Serum 10
Prices start from: £28
6. iS Clinical
iS Clinical uses pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that pack a punch. As well as a resurfacing cleanser you can add to your everyday routine to boost radiance, the brand has treatments like serums and masks. Try the Active Serum that uses Willow Bark and Bilberry leaf extracts to exfoliate, brighten and even out the skin tone.
Product to try:
- iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
- iS Clinical Active Serum
Prices start from: £24
Time to wake up tired skin
Those are our seven favourite skincare brands for brightening dull skin. Now it’s time to choose which products to use to transform your skin. If you need help deciding what’s best for you and your skin, why not get expert advice?
Here at Face Dr, we offer free online skin consultations where you can get tailored advice. A member of our team will analyse your skin and recommend products to help with your exact concerns. They can also answer any questions you may have about other ways to brighten your complexion or any other skin concerns.
Want to find out more about how to banish dull skin for good? Click the titles below to read more:
Top 6 ultimate skincare products to tackle dull skin
Find out how to build the perfect skincare routine to banish dull skin
What causes dull skin?
How much does it cost to get rid of dull skin properly?
Our top tips to get glowing skin
