Dull Skin Causes: 10 Ways To Say Bye And Get Your Glow Back

Does your skin feel kind of down? Is it looking less glowy and a little more…blah? Before you jump to conclusions, your dull skin might be the cause of a rough nights sleep. If not, you may be dealing with a case of dull skin. But, fret not! Beauty Insider is here to help! In hopes of helping you get your glow back, we have come up with a list of causes and solutions. Mixing and matching it up, we have also included some home remedies you can try for a quick fix! Time to catch the culprit who’s been hiding your glow in the shadows and say bye-bye, to lacklustre skin. Read on to find out what causes dull skin and how you can get your skin back!

What Causes Dull Skin

There are several causes of dull skin. Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out why! The one thing we can do is trying to make it avoidable. By taking care of your skin, you give it a lesser chance of becoming dull and losing its glow. Dull skin is usually caused by dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. These dead skin cells build up on the surface of your skin. Hence, your skin can look dry, dull, flaky and even get clogged! Check if these 10 causes below are the thieves stealing your glow and take back what’s rightfully yours!

1. Diet

Maintaining a good diet is what helps keep your skin glowing. An unhealthy diet, however, can leave your skin looking lacklustre and dull. As the saying goes, “You are what you eat”! Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is crucial in getting healthy skin. For a youthful glow, try eating raw fruits and food rich in water!

2. Dehydrated Skin

Have you been drinking enough water? If you haven’t, I want you to stop whatever you’re doing and go drink some water! Go on. I’ll wait. Back? Great! Now, moving on, it is essential to keep your skin hydrated. Lack of hydration is a cause of dull skin. It can leave shadows under your eyes, and even dark circles! Drinking tons of water is the simplest way to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. 

3. Lifestyle

Certain lifestyle habits can also cause your skin to become dull. Activities such as smoking is a big no-no if you want your skin to glow. So, I suggest you quit now! Unhealthy lifestyle habits contribute to less radiant skin. Not only do you end up with dull skin, but it can cause your skin texture to change as well. 

4. Lack of Sleep

Now, this is for all the night owls and people pulling all-nighters. Get some sleep! Lack of sleep is one of the causes of dull skin that can be called self-sabotage. Because we did this to ourselves. Especially teenagers who think that staying up till 4 AM in the morning is cool! Your skin is not going to think that in a few years. And yes, I know that sometimes all-nighters are necessary for work and even school. But if it isn’t necessary, please just go to sleep! 

5. Hormones

Something that is out of our control is when your hormones just decide to flip out. When our hormones fluctuate, it can cause damage and affect our skin. The level of hormones can fluctuate based on different factors such as puberty, menopause or medication. Sometimes it’s even due to uncontrollable situations! Thus, it affects the skin in different ways such as hyperpigmentation, increased oiliness and even bigger pores. 

6. The Sun

Ah yes, the sun. this is unavoidable. We see the sun every day, so we should always be prepared! The sun is mostly the main cause of dull skin. In addition to that, it can also cause hyperpigmentation and even sunspots on the skin! Environmental pollution and exposure to the sun can lead to the loss of collagen and excess pigment.

7. Dryness

If your skin is feeling dry, or you have dry skin, it is best to keep it moisturised. Dullness can be caused by dry and dehydrated skin. Thus, it can make your skin look lifeless as well. At the same time, dry skin can also accentuate fine lines and wrinkles, making them look harsher.

8. Age

The signs of ageing is also an inevitable factor that causes dull skin. No one can stop ageing (well, unless you’re a vampire). So, even though you can’t stop your skin from ageing, you can try to slow it down. By incorporating a skin routine that nourishes and rejuvenates your skin. This way, your skin will most like stay bright and healthy!

9. Stress

Being or feeling stressed can be the root cause of a lot of problems. With something that seems more like an emotion, it sure does cause a ton of physical damage! When you’re feeling stressed out, it can lead to breakouts and even contribute to dull skin. Chronic stress can also lead to cortisol levels in your body to rise. 

10. Lack of Blood Circulation

The lack of blood flow can also lead to dull skin concerns. The lack of flowing blood in your body means your cells aren’t receiving enough nutrients. This can lead to skin with a lesser glow because there is a lack of oxygen as well. 

Remedies For Dull Skin

Now that we have identified some of the causes of dull skin, we can figure out what to do! Here, we have some easy-peasy lemon-squeezy remedies that you can try at home. Albeit, we do have one that is for heavier concerns of dull skin. Try out these hacks and if they work wonderfully, let us know in the comments! Or reach out to us over on our Instagram and Facebook! 

1. Avoid Hot Water

Using a gentle approach to your skin can help reduce drying. Hot water can be harmful as it strips the natural oils of the skin and causes irritation. It can also cause the face to appear red momentarily. That is why you should wash your face with lukewarm water instead. Simple enough!

2. Exfoliate

Try to exfoliate at least once or twice a week. Choose between using a chemical exfoliator or a physical exfoliator. While physical exfoliators can be incorporated into your cleansing routine, chemical ones can be used in the form of toners or masks! Regularly exfoliating also helps your skin glow and prevent dull-looking skin. 

3. Moisturise

Applying moisturiser is a well-known step part of a skincare routine. It’s best to apply when your face is a bit damp so it can help retain the moisture. Using a moisturiser also helps create a surface that is more reflective to light. Thus, your skin will look healthier!  

4. Procedures

Going to a dermatologist or specialists can also help solve your problem of dull skin. Most will do a procedure that helps remove brown spots and improve the appearance of your skin. This type of procedure can help even out your skin tone and also make your skin glow!

5. Sunscreen

Next up, this is for those that are always out in the sun. Even if you aren’t, you should always incorporate sunscreen into your skincare routine! Wearing sunscreen can help provide benefits to prevent UV damage from the sun. Therefore, you won’t be prone to dull skin too!

6. Use A Facial Roller

Another remedy that can help fix your dull skin naturally is by using a face roller! I’m pretty sure most of you guys have bought one before, and now it’s just laying somewhere in your room! Using rollers can help increase the flow of blood circulation, thus sending nutrients to your skin cells. 

7. Hanging Upside Down

You know that feeling you get when you hang upside down? Blood rushing to your head? That is exactly what you need to do! This hack is super fun as you can just dangle off the edge of your bed! Literally hanging your head upside down can boost the circulation of blood to your face. Just do it for a few minutes each time!

8. Retinols

Retinols are another great way to help with the causes of dull skin. The use of retinol can help boost collagen and minimise hyperpigmentation. When using a retinol, you should also slowly incorporate it into your routine as it can be drying. Retinol also helps exfoliate older skin cells. Thus, it helps bring out fresh skin to the surface!

9. Use A Serum

Using a serum also contains several benefits to help brighten up the skin! Serums also boost hydration and help reduce signs of ageing. Serums with ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, ferulic acid and resveratrol have antioxidant effects. Since serums absorb quickly, you can use them almost every day!

10. Get A Humidifier

Last on our list of how to fix dull skin, you should try investing in a humidifier! These little contraptions come in all shapes and sizes so you can get a mini or large one! A humidifier helps add water contents back into the air. Since indoor air is usually quite drying, a humidifier can help your skin stay hydrated and dewy!