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The Top Products for Dumping Dull Skin & Getting Brightness Back
Natural Solutions
An expensive product isn’t always better. If you’ve noticed your skin has lost some of its luster, the most likely causes are the buildup of dead skin cells or a lack of moisture. These are two relatively easy issues that you can tackle without making a trip down the cosmetics aisle.Sugar and Water Scrub
For mild exfoliation, mix brown (gentler) or white (more abrasive) sugar with water until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency, apply to the skin in gentle, circular motions, then wash off with lukewarm water.Oatmeal Mask
Oatmeal is also a good exfoliating option for those with sensitive skin, as it has soothing properties. You can mix a pack of instant oatmeal with a little less water than recommended in the directions, and apply it in the same manner as the sugar and water scrub.Honey and Avocado Mask
Moisturizing after exfoliating restores some of that lost moisture while conditioning your skin – it is a great way to prevent dull skin. Draw moisture into your skin naturally by mashing up some avocado with enough honey to make a gloopy paste and applying it to the skin. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Honey draws moisture from the air into the skin, and is a natural moisturizer with antibacterial properties, so it’s beneficial to those suffering from acne. Avocados also supply moisture, as they contain oils that easily penetrate the skin.
Skin-Brightening Products
Exfoliators
Look for exfoliating scrubs that contain abrasive beads and alpha hydroxyl acids such as glycolic or lactic acid, which help to loosen and dissolve the dead skin cells on the skin’s surface that dull the complexion. Our recommended exfoliators:- Clinique Turnaround Instant Facial
- Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub
Moisturizers
Moisturizers help the epidermis retain water, leading to a brighter complexion. The main ingredients in most moisturizers are humectants and emollients. Humectants draw water from the air to your skin, and they work particularly well in humid climates, but do little in dry weather. Urea, glycerin and alpha hydroxy acids are examples of humectants. Heavier-duty emollients sink into the spaces between skin cells and help replace the lipids that make your skin look healthier. Emollients include shea butter, cocoa butter and petrolatum. Our recommended moisturizers:- Lancôme Absolue Night Treatment
- L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Cream
- Kiss My Face Peaches and Creme AHA Moisturizer
At-Home Devices
Poor blood circulation is one of the causes of dull skin, and can lead to an ashy, tired complexion. Pulsations have been shown to boost blood microcirculation, and the LUNA pulses up to 8,000 times per minute. Plus, the LUNA gently dislodges skin-dulling dead cells on the surface of your face, encouraging the cell turnover that will give your skin a healthy-looking glow.Professional Procedures
If nothing seems to get rid of your dull skin, you should consider seeing an esthetician or a dermatologist. The following are very effective treatments for removing excess dead skin cells, but take more time and expense, and may cause discomfort.Chemical Peels
High concentrations of alpha hydroxy acids are applied to the skin, peeling back the dead or dying layer and revealing the brighter, fresher skin underneath. However, this treatment does carry risks. The substances used in chemical peels can cause blistering and scarring or change your skin tone - we recommend having a doctor perform the procedure.Microdermabrasion
This treatment is a better choice for skin brightening. A tool that sprays tiny abrasive crystals over the skin is applied, then a vacuum removes the dead layer of skin. But you will not notice the results immediately. First, swelling and crusty skin may appear, followed by several weeks of redness.Laser Surgery
Using light waves to vaporize the top layer of skin, laser surgery goes deeper than microdermabrasion, exposing the fresh skin beneath. As with any surgery, there are preoperative and postoperative steps you have to take, and you should discuss potential risks with a qualified doctor.Makeup
For those of you who need a quick fix to dull skin, it is possible to use makeup to give the appearance of radiant skin using skin-brightening foundations or highlighters. Look for makeup that contains light-reflecting particles for an instantly luminous look. Our makeup recommendations:- Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation
- Physicians Formula: Beauty Spiral Skin Brightening Liquid Foundation
- Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
- Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
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