A bright, glowing and radiant complexion is what all of us dream of, but all too often, our skin has other ideas. If you’re finding your skin looking a little lacklustre lately you’re not alone, over a third of people experience dull skin and are self-conscious about it.
Dull skin can change from person to person, but most of the time it’s skin that looks:
- Grey
- Lifeless
- Tired
Sometimes it can be easy to hide with makeup, but other times, even the most full-coverage foundation won’t brighten your complexion. Luckily, there is something you can do about it.
Here at Face Dr, we’ve helped thousands of clients brighten their complexions and get the dewy, healthy-looking skin we’re all striving for. Our team of experts have decades of experience with the latest products, in-clinic treatments and tips and tricks to help. To book your free online video skincare consultation with a Face Dr Skin Expert, tap the button below, or read on for more information on dull skin.
If you’re looking to revive dull skin, read on to find out how.
What causes dull skin?
Dead skin cells
Your skin is constantly renewing itself, producing fresh new cells and shedding the old ones. But as we age, or when our skin isn’t functioning at its best, dead skin cells can hang around longer than they should, sitting on the surface and dulling your glow. This is especially common in drier skin types and in those with conditions like eczema.
Pro tip: If your skin feels rough, flaky or looks uneven under makeup, chances are dead skin cells are the culprit.
Dehydration
A dehydrated body can’t work its best, and that includes the skin. If you’re dehydrated, your skin can lack suppleness and a fresh colour. But it’s not just in need of a glass of water, skin can also be dehydrated if its natural moisture barrier is damaged meaning it can’t hold onto moisture very well.
Poor diet and lifestyle
What you eat and drink shows up on your skin. A diet full of alcohol and fast food, smoking, lack of sleep and stress all wreak havoc with the look of skin, stripping it of much-needed moisture, clogging pores and generally not allowing it to work—and therefore look—it’s best.
Environment
Whether it’s pollution, central heating, air-con or sunlight, your skin deals with a lot. Over time, exposure to these elements can disrupt the skin’s natural balance, leading to dryness, inflammation and dullness. Even the water you shower in or your daily commute can take its toll.
Interested in learning about the causes of dry skin? Click here to visit our blog.
Sun damage
Speaking of excess sunlight, sun damage is a common cause of dull skin. As our skin comes into contact with sunlight, it creates melanin—the pigment that gives skin and hair its colour. Melanin often appears on the surface as a tan or as sunspots, but it can also cause an all-over greyness, discolouration and “off colour,” leaving it looking tired and dull.
Want to learn more about SPFs? Discover ZO Skin Health's expertly formulated sunscreen collection to protect and enhance your skin.
The wrong skincare products
Just like how the wrong products can cause an acne flare-up, your skin can also react to things it doesn’t like by becoming increasingly dull, dry and grey-looking. This includes everything from everyday cleansers and moisturisers to once-a-week treatments and even the makeup you wear.
Book your free skincare consultation and let our Skin Experts create a personalised skincare regimen, using medical-grade products tailored to your unique skin needs.
Book your free video skincare consultation
How to treat dull skin
Now for the good part: dull skin isn’t permanent. With the right products, habits and advice, you can bring life back to your complexion.
Exfoliate
As we said, a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin is a leading cause of a dull-looking complexion. So one of the first steps to promote a dewy complexion is to exfoliate.
Exfoliating products break down dead skin cells and buff them off your skin, revealing the live and glowing cells underneath. Start slowly, especially if your skin is sensitive, and build up to exfoliating two to three times a week.
Product example to try:
ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish is a gentle scrub with fine magnesium crystals that remove dead skin cells and impurities, revealing smoother, brighter skin. Enriched with Vitamins A, C, and E, it provides antioxidant protection to support a healthy, radiant skin barrier.
We’re unable to display ZO Skin Health prices online, in line with brand guidelines. However, you can request the full price list by emailing us at hello@myfacedr.com. Prices for individual products typically range from £42 to £195, while skincare kits are usually between £120 and £225.
Complete the simple ZO Skin Health order form here
Hydrate
First up, up your water intake to ensure you’re hydrating your skin from the inside. Next, focus on healing your skin’s moisture barrier and providing it with plenty of moisture-boosting ingredients to boost hydration levels. Opt for products with hyaluronic acid, squalane and glycerin and invest in high-grade hydrating products like a moisturiser, non-drying cleanser and soothing serum.
Product examples to try:
Glytone Mild Gel Cleanser is a gentle, gel-based cleanser formulated with 4.7 PFAV™ Glycolic Acid, designed to exfoliate and hydrate the skin. Suitable for all skin types, this cleanser effectively removes impurities while promoting smoother, softer skin.
Glytone Mild Gel Cleanser costs £32 for 200ml, providing a high-quality, dermatologist-recommended cleanser at excellent value.
Upgrade your diet and lifestyle
We know you’ve heard it all before, but getting your five a day really does do wonders for your health. Now, there’s another reason to eat healthily—your skin! Opt for food high in antioxidants like berries, leafy greens and even dark chocolate. Get your healthy fats from avocados, nuts and seeds and keep an eye on your sleep and stress levels. You'd be amazed at how much of a difference these small things could make!
Supplements
Most of the time, we can get all of the vitamins and nutrients our skin needs from our diet alone. But if you’re finding it hard to eat a varied diet and need a boost, supplements can help.
Consider taking a vitamin D supplement if you live somewhere that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight or vitamin B12 if you’re a vegetarian or vegan. The supplements that are the most beneficial for reviving dull skin include vitamin C and E, which stop damaging free radicals and brighten discolouration, and fish oil or an alternative omega-3, which improves texture, boosts hydration and promotes a healthy glow.
Environment
It can be hard to avoid pollution and harsh weather, but you can still make environmental tweaks to help refresh tired-looking skin. Consider a humidifier to add moisture to the air if you live in a dry area. Avoid hot showers and central heating, which can strip the skin of moisture, and limit time spent in direct sunlight.
Wear sunscreen
When it comes to the sun, you don’t need to avoid it altogether though, just be sure to wear a proper sunscreen. Look for one that’s broad spectrum to protect against UVA and UVB rays and opt for one with at least an SPF of 30. Remember to wear year-round—even on overcast days. Take a look at our sun protection collection here.
Product example to try:
- ZO Skin Health Broad Spectrum SPF 50 around £45 - An ideal lightweight, non-irritating facial sunscreen that protects the skin from UVA, UVB, infrared and blue light.
Use the right products
Spend some time finding the perfect skincare routine for you and your skin will thank you. Find out if you have dry, combination or oily skin and opt for products designed with this in mind. Using the right moisturiser—cream-based for dry, lotion for oily—can make all the difference.
Opt for skin brightening products with ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid and glycolic acid. These could be part of your everyday cleanser and moisturiser or come in a serum or mask treatment.
Product examples to try:
- Skinceuticals Discoloration Defence Serum £85 — a brightening serum with kojic acid to lighten discolouration and exfoliate away dead skin cells
- ZO Brightalive Skin Brightener around £96 — exfoliates and brightens the skin for a more even and glowing skin tone
- Kiehl’s clearly corrective dark spot solution £42 — vitamin C and botanical extracts lighten discolouration and promote a healthy complexion
Need professional advice?
Dull skin doesn’t have to stay dull, with a few simple tweaks you can get a glowing healthy-looking complexion. Want tailored advice on where to start? Why not speak to one of our skin experts.
You can book a free consultation and a member of our team will analyse your skin. They can then recommend tips, tricks and products to help with your exact concerns. If you decide to go with any of our recommendations, we’ll send the products straight to your door so you can get started straight away.
Find out more about our Online Skincare Consultations
Book your Online Skincare Consultation now
Want to find out more about how to banish dull skin for good? Click the titles below to read more:
