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Are you fighting dull skin? Looking for a way to brighten your complexion and add glow? I found myself in that very position after I turned 45. My skin wasn't as dewy and glowing as it used to be, and I started looking for skin care products to brighten my dull skin. At first, I hoped for a quick fix with some sort of miracle dull skin product, and while I did find products that added glow to my skin, what I eventually learned was that I needed to start with good skincare. In this post, I discuss skincare tips to combat and brighten dull skin in middle age, so that you can incorporate them into your skincare routine to freshen up your look. I also identify some skincare products and makeup to add to your routine to help your skin absolutely glow.
Start With Good Skincare
The good news is that there are some tried and true steps you can take to combat dull skin. When done in combination, they can have a dramatic effect on dull skin and leave you looking fresh-faced!Drink plenty of water: I can't stress this enough, even though I totally admit that I don't drink near enough water. But I try. Great skin starts with great hydration from within.
Exfoliate regularly: This doesn't mean over-scrub your skin; rather, focus on gentle ways to exfoliate. For some, that may mean a delicate facial scrub or simply using a cloth to wipe off your daily cleanser. Or, you may choose a chemical exfoliator, such as the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads (I love these), which uses alpha and beta hydroxy acids to gently remove dead skin cells.
Moisturize morning and evening: This is a step that I just can't skip if I want fresh-looking skin, and I've found that the lighter moisturizer I used to use when my skin was oiler (and younger) doesn't work as well anymore. Now I have dry areas along with an oiler t-zone, and this requires more moisture on those areas.
Incorporate serums that meet your skin's needs: My skin took a major turn for the better (and brighter) when I started using serums within my skincare routine (for more on how I do that, see this post on my antiaging skincare routine). I use three serums for my combination skin: vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, and ceramide. But which should you use? You might try taking Skin Inc.'s quiz, which ultimately generates recommendation for a serum cocktail that will address your skin's unique needs. Even if you don't end up buying one of their serums, the quiz will tell you what kind of serums you should look for.
Products That Add Natural-Looking Glow
Radiant face primers: Two that I recommend are CHANEL's Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base and Sisley's Instant Eclat Primer (for a full review of the latter, see this post). I'm on the lookout for a nice, drugstore face primer that adds radiance without artificial glitter or sparkle, but I haven't found one I absolutely love yet! If you know of one, let me know in the comments below.
Subtle-but-there highlighters: I love a good highlighter, and when you pick the right one and apply it correctly, it can aid your glow. I'm not talking about the glare-that-you-can-see-from-outer-space instagram highlighter that looks painted on. Highlighters don't have to be "in your face." I love MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade for a subtle highlight that imparts a pretty glow. A good drugstore option is the Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Powders. They come in various shades for various skin tones.
Luminous finishing powders: Hourglass makes a line of Ambient Lighting Powders that come in various tones and add a beautiful luminous glow to the face. Simply apply lightly over your foundation for a glow-from-within look.
Note: I don't recommend using all of the above products in combination - you might end up TOO glowy. Try adding one (or maybe two) to your new glow routine.
A Final Tip
My last bit of advice when it comes to combatting dull skin is to not over-powder your face. I'm not saying to totally omit powder; just to use a light touch when applying. I have combination skin, and while I make sure to powder my t-zone, I apply powder sparingly to the other areas of my face where I tend to be drier. This is in stark contrast to when I was younger and had oily skin and could powder away like nobody's business!I hope you found all this information on skincare and glow products to be helpful as you work to brighten dull skin! What is your best secret to combatting dull skin in middle age? Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
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