Imagine if you could get the blemish-free complexion that foundation gives you, the dewy look of highlighter and the healthy flush of blusher, all without make-up. Many of us strive for glowing skin with our make-up, but with a few tweaks to your skincare routine and lifestyle, it’s possible to have clear, healthy and radiant skin naturally. Here’s what we recommend for a healthy glow.
Our top tips for glowing skin are:
#1 Exfoliate
# 2 Hydrate
#3 Try a facial massage
#4 Get more Vitamin C
#5 Eat more avocados
#6 Keep things clean
#8 Try an in-clinic treatment
Here at Face Dr, our team of skin experts have helped thousands of clients get clear complexions and glowing skin. We’ve got decades of experience in the skincare world and have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. Before we dive into how each one will help boost your skin’s radiance, let’s look at the things that often get in the way of glowing skin.
The main causes of are dull, tired and lifeless skin are:
- A build-up of dead skin cells
- Dehydration
- Poor diet and lifestyle—like smoking, drinking and fast foods
- Environment—like cold temperatures or dry air
- Sun damage
- Using the wrong products
Read on to find out how to take care of skin so that it’s glowing in no time. If you’re looking for products, ingredients and skincare routines for glowing skin, we’ve covered that, too. To find out more, click to read our articles below, or read on for our skincare tips.
Our top 6 skincare products to tackle dull skin
Top 5 skincare ingredients to treat dull skin
How to brighten dull skin with your skincare routine
How to get glowing skin
1. Exfoliate
One of the main causes of dull skin is a buildup of dead skin cells. To remove these and reveal a fresh and healthy complexion underneath, it’s important to exfoliate. You can either incorporate a daily product into your routine, like an exfoliating cleanser or serum, or use a weekly or biweekly treatment, like a scrub or overnight peel. Keep an eye out for exfoliating ingredients like glycolic acid, citric acid or just alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
Take a look at our Exfoliating favourites here.
2. Hydrate
Hydration is important for both you and your skin. First up, make sure you’re drinking enough water. When your body’s dehydrated it draws water away from less important areas like the skin. Sip on six to eight glasses of water throughout the day.
Top tip: Use a reusable water bottle. It's a fab way to keep a track of the amount of water you're drinking, without too much hassle!
Next, include hydration in your skincare routine. This means looking out for ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, both of which draw moisture from the air and pull it into the skin. Serums are key for locking in moisture after cleansing, but you can also look out for moisture-boosting masks for a weekly treatment.
3. Try a facial massage
While a back massage can be a great stress reliever, a facial massage in particular can be useful to get the blood flowing and liven up the complexion. Better circulation leads to more colour and life in the skin for that fresh healthy glow. Facial massages can also help to reduce puffiness around the eyes, too.
You can use a facial roller or even just your fingertips to gently massage your face, moving outwards along your jawline, cheekbones and around the eyes. Massage for about five minutes a few times a week.
Top tip: Look for a real Jade facial roller. If you believe in the power of crystals, you’re in luck, as jade is associated with protecting against negative energy, balancing your chi and reducing anxiety and fatigue. If you don't, facial rollers are still an excellent way to make sure your serum is penetrating the deeper layers of your skin. So win, win!
Another way to boost your circulation is through exercise, so be sure to get movement into your days with about 30 minutes of exercise a day.
4. Get more Vitamin C
Vitamin C is often seen as a miracle ingredient in skincare. That’s because it can help with everything from lightning dark spots to combatting signs of ageing. When it comes to glowing skin, it can help with that, too. It evens out the skin tone, protects against harmful free radicals that can cause ageing and discolouration, and it promotes collagen for a plump youthful look.
Look out for Vitamin C serums and go for the highest concentration your skin can handle. That’s usually about 20% for oily and combination skin types and 10% for dry or sensitive skin. 15% Vitamin C serums are ideal for those in the middle whose skin isn’t too dry or prone to irritation.
Check out our product recommendations below:
ZO 10% Vitamin C Self Activating
Obagi Medical Professional-C Serum 15%
5. Eat more avocados
If you needed another excuse to indulge in avocados on toast for breakfast, here it is: avocados are actually great for your skin. They’re high in healthy fats, Vitamin E and, that all important skin ingredient, Vitamin C. Healthy fats help to plump and boost skin’s hydration. Vitamin E, like Vitamin C, helps to protect your skin from free radicals, but it also helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, making it less prone to irritation, redness and blemishes.
Your diet has a huge effect on the look of your skin, so as well as avocados, opt for whole foods, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and keep alcohol and processed food to a minimum when you can.
6. Keep things clean
It’s all too easy for dirt and oil to get trapped in your pores and cause the skin to break out leaving you with spots, blemishes or just a congested complexion. One way to keep this from happening is to make sure you cleanse your face twice a day, especially before bed to take off any make-up.
Another way to avoid breakouts to make sure anything that touches your face throughout the day is cleaned regularly. That includes your make-up brushes, phone, glasses, pillowcase, and even your fringe. Try to avoid touching your face throughout the day, too.
7. Choose the right cleanser
Cleansing is a can’t-miss step in any skincare routine, especially at night when you need to remove any make-up, dirt and oil before bed. Make sure you’re using the best cleanser for your skin type to leave it as healthy and dewy as possible.
For those with oily skin, opt for a lotion-based or gel cleanser and one with oil-fighting and balancing ingredients like clay or salicylic acid. Those with dry skin should choose a creamier product with hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and botanicals.
If your skin is prone to irritation, you’re better opting for a gentle hydrating cleanser, whereas those with less sensitive skin should try out an exfoliating cleanser that can work harder on removing dead skin cells and other things prone to clogging pores.
Need some help choosing the right cleanser for you? Take a look at our tried and tested cleansers here or book a free video skincare consultation with one of our experts for more advice.
8. Try an in-clinic treatment
There’s only so far diet and skincare products can go and if you’re looking to really brighten up your skin, an in-clinic treatment may be the way to go. For a stronger, more effective way of removing dead skin cells and resurfacing the skin, consider microdermabrasion which removes the top dead layer of skin to reveal a fresh and healthy complexion underneath. To promote healing and the production of collagen and elastin. which plump and heal the skin, consider a treatment like microneedling. This treatment uses small needles to make holes in the skin to trigger the natural healing and rejuvenating process.
Plus, if you have a specific concern like acne, hyperpigmentation or ageing that’s leading to skin looking dull, discoloured or flat, in-clinic treatments can provide a fast way to tackle these.
Need more advice?
There are so many things you can do to ensure your skin is as healthy, dewy and radiant as possible. But, how do you know what will work for you and your skin?
That’s where we come in. Here at Face Dr, our team of skin experts have decades of experience helping clients get the glowing skin we all dream of. Whether that’s through treatments, at-home products or even just a few simple lifestyle tweaks. We can help you refresh the look of your skin with one of our free online skincare consultations.
With a 30-minute consultation, you can speak with a skincare professional about any concerns you have. They’ll analyse your skin and recommend the best products for you. We only ever recommend products that we know provide real results, so you can trust you’re using something that’s guaranteed to work.
Plus, we can help you build the perfect skincare routine for you. From cleansers to serums, masks to peels, the right products can make such a difference when it comes to boosting skin’s radiance. We’ll talk you through exactly what to apply and when, so you can get your skin glowing in no time.
