Everyone asks me about it and no one wants it. Dull skin. There are many causes for dull skin including age, environmental factors such as sun damage and smoking, and even general health.
The good news is, there are a few things you can do to get a healthy glow just in time for summer selfies!
1. CLEAN SKIN IS IMPORTANT
Sun damage, irritating products, air pollution and blue light from digital screens can all impact your skin’s natural barrier. But the right skincare routine can limit the damage and keep skin looking young. A good routine always starts with cleansing your skin, that way it receives maximum benefit from other products.
Make sure you choose a cleanser for your skin type.
2. SPF IS THE MAGIC WORD
We’re all familiar with protecting our skin from the sun when we’re on the beach, but the sun emits harmful UV rays all year round, even on cloudy days. That’s why it’s important to wear a broad-spectrum moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher all year round to protect your skin from sun damage. Apply your SPF as the final step in your morning routine, 15 minutes before leaving the house.
3. ANTIOXIDANTS CAN LIMIT SKIN DAMAGE
Antioxidants help to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals. Free what? Free radicals are atoms and molecules with an odd number of electrons. They’re released by sunlight or air pollution, and float around in the body looking for electrons. Every interaction with healthy cells causes damage. Luckily there are antioxidants to limit the damage. The list of ingredients that work as antioxidants is endless, but includes vitamin A, C and E, green tea, pomegranate and grape extracts to name a few. I am working on a Vit C serum packed with other powerful antioxidants so stay tuned!
4. SKIN CELLS MUST COMMUNICATE
If there’s one thing that keeps skin looking young, it’s that cells act young. This requires cell-communicating ingredients, which ‘talk’ with the defective cells by sending signals to stop producing bad cells and start producing healthier, younger cells
Retinol, niacinamide and peptides are great communicating ingredients.
5. EXFOLIATING IS KEY
Your skin sheds dead skin cells on a daily basis and renews itself from below the surface. When you’re young, this is a speedy process, but as you age and skin gets damaged, it can take up to three months before your skin renews itself. The result: dull-looking skin. Luckily there are exfoliants to help remove dead skin cells. Aha exfoliants are suitable for dry, dull skin and sun-damaged skin. bha exfoliants are oil-soluble, allowing them to clean inside your pores. It’s what makes them suitable for oily skin prone to breakouts. The anti-inflammatory effect of BHA also makes them ideal for rosacea-prone or sensitive skin.
6. YOU CAN REPLENISH YOUR SKIN’S NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Your skin has a natural supply of replenishing ingredients, that unfortunately diminish with ageing and sun damage. Imagine your skin as a brick wall, with your skin cells as the bricks and your skin’s natural ingredients as the cement holding it all together. They prevent harmful substances from entering your skin’s barrier and keep it moisturized. Two easy to find replenishing ingredients are hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
7. A HEALTHY DIET IMPROVES SKIN
it is true that you are what you eat. Some ingredients that are applied to your skin can also benefit it from within. Fruit and vegetables are full of antioxidants such as vitamin C and E. Omega fatty acids are mainly found in oily fish, but also in various vegetable oils obtained from flaxseed, grapeseed and sunflower seeds. Minerals such as iron, zinc, copper and chromium are essential for your health and most also work as antioxidants. Examples of foods rich in minerals include dark green vegetables, nuts, beetroot, eggs, oysters, beef, liver, dried fruit (such as raisins and apricots), beans and linseed.
8. AGE IS NOT A SKIN TYPE
Choose your skincare products based on your skin type and your skin’s condition rather than your age. For example, oily skin benefits more from lightly textured moisturizers, whereas dry skin benefits more from rich moisturizers.
The most important thing to remember with any skin care routine is to be consistent and patient.
Schedule a 20-min video consolation with me and take the guess work out of planning an effective skin care routine.
