When your skin is clear and glowing, you feel like you can take over the world. When it’s dull and lifeless, it’s all too easy to let it get you down. What’s worse, dull skin can last for years and can sometimes be tough to cover up with makeup. Luckily, there are skincare products out there designed to tackle the problem.
From exfoliators to serums, masks to moisturisers, it seems like everything on the market these days is promising to get your skin glowing again. But, where do you start? And how do you know which products actually work? That’s where we can help.
Our top six products for dull skin include:
#1. ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish
#2. ZO Brightalive Skin Brightener
#3. AllSkin Med Pigmentation Control Serum
#4. ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.5%
#5. Obagi Medical RX Clarifying Serum
#6. Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
Here at Face Dr, our skin experts have decades of experience in the skincare industry. We’ve worked with thousands of clients to get that glowing complexion we all dream of, so we know a thing or two about the best products out there.
To get you started, we’ve rounded up these six products that can tackle dull skin. From everyday go-to’s to stronger treatments, all of these products come from trustworthy brands and have consumer reviews to back them up. Plus, we’ve got you covered if you’re looking for how to implement brightening products into a routine. Click the link below to read more.
How to choose the right skincare routine for dull skin
Before we dive into the reviews, what even is dull skin?
What is dull skin?
Dull skin isn’t exactly a medical diagnosis, but studies show that over a third of people experience it—and are self-conscious about it—at some point in their lives. It’s usually defined as skin that looks grey and lifeless. Instead of a clear, dewy and glowing complexion, you might find your skin looks more flat and tired.
What causes dull skin?
Many things can cause skin to become dull, including everything from our everyday environment to the products we put on our skin. Some common causes of dull skin include:
- Dead skin cells
- Dehydration
- Poor diet and lifestyle—think smoking, fast food and alcohol
- Environment—like pollution, dry air and cold temperatures
- Sun damage
- The wrong skincare products
What are the best products for dull skin?
Now you know a little behind what causes dull skin, it’s time to do something about it. Here are our six favourite products on the market right now which can help.
1. ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish
Good for: Gentle exfoliation
Price: around £54
One of the leading causes of dull skin is a build-up of dead skin cells. Luckily, it’s an easy problem to fix. Simply incorporate a high-grade exfoliating product into your skincare routine to buff away dead skin cells and reveal a healthy complexion underneath. This ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish uses magnesium crystals to slough off dead skin cells and brighten the look of dull skin without aggravating it. We have had lots of great results encoporating ZO's Exfoliating Polish into our client's skincare routines.
2. ZO Brightalive Skin Brightener
Good for: A brighter, more even skin tone
Price: around £96
For a go-to all-in-one product that brightens, hydrates and exfoliates, turn to the ZO Brightalive Skin Brightener. Botanical extracts soothe and calm any irritation, hydrating ingredients like glycerin boost the skin’s moisture levels, and natural ingredients exfoliate. Skin is left brighter and clearer, with less hyperpigmentation and dullness.
3. AllSkin Med Pigmentation Control Serum
Good for: Reducing appearance of current pigmentation and preventing future pigmentation from occurring.
Price: around £65
A triple-action serum that provides exfoliation to renew and brighten the complexion. The lightening complex targets each stage of melanin synthesis and skin hydrators soften the skin.
4. ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.5%
Good for: Breaking up existing pigmentation and increasing cell regeneration to rapidly brighten the skin.
Price: Around £82
A high potency Retinol serum (also available in 1%), this brightening product works fast on pigmentation, age spots and discolouration. Full of anti-oxidant ingredients, the serum works to protect the skin from future pigmentation and sun damage over time.
5. Obagi-C RX Clarifying Serum
Good for: Brightening Dull skin and pigmentation
Price: £138
Dull and lifeless skin could sometimes use a brightening boost, and that's exactly what this product provides with high doses of Vitamin C and hydroquinone.
6. Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
Good for: Discoloured complexions
Price: £42
For those whose dull skin comes from hyperpigmentation, try the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. The serum uses vitamin C and botanical extracts like white birch and peony to reduce dark spots and discolouration. After a few weeks of use, people report brighter, more even skin tones and dewy complexions.
How do you know what’s best for you?
While we’ve tried to narrow down your options with our top six favourite products, we know choosing skincare products can be confusing. If you’re not sure where to start, why not speak with an expert?
We offer free online consultations where you can speak to a member of our skincare team. An expert can analyse your skin and give you tailored advice on which products to use, plus anything else you can do to banish dull skin. What’s more, if you’ve got any questions about in-clinic treatments to get that glowing complexion or tackle other concerns, they’re all ears.
Want to find out more about how to banish dull skin for good? Click the titles below to read more:
How to choose the right skincare ingredients to tackle dull skinFind 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
