5 ways to revive dull, tired-looking skin
How to get your glow back after late nights and too much wine and fries
Australian summers tend to be synonymous with ‘party season’. The warmer temps, longer days and general sunnier dispositions of those around us are the perfect recipe for feeling like we’re kind of half on a break for three months. And so, we’re a bit more liberal with our cocktails and vinos, socialise more often and later into the night, and dig into far more fried foods than we ordinarily would. While all of that is a definite good time, sometimes our skin doesn’t agree. What was once a smooth, even and bright complexion suddenly becomes dull, lacklustre and – like you – a bit tired.
So, if you don’t like what the late nights and unhealthy food are doing to your skin, here are five ways to sort the situation.
1
Find a brightening face mask
Face masks have a good rep for helping add nourishment and moisture, which is always a good thing when you’re dealing with fatigued skin. But double up on the benefits and use a mask that’ll deeply hydrate and has the right ingredients to boost brightness. Try Sand & Sky Australian Emu Apple Super Bounce Mask. The Kakadu plum in it is packed with vitamin C, so it’s going to be working hard to tackle pigmentation issues and give your skin a glow. Use once or twice a week and you’re good as gold.
2
Up hydration with a sheet mask
Fact: The more hydrated your skin, the more radiant it’ll look. So increase your water intake and indulge in regular sheet masking sessions - their sole purpose in life is to deal with dehydrated skin, so take advantage. You can apply nightly if you’d like, but we recommend a morning application so you’re left looking luminous all day long (instead of wasting it while you sleep). The Olay Skinfusion Camellia Nourishing Sheet Mask offers eight hours of moisture, so you know your skin will feel soft and juicy all day long.
3
Exfoliate away those dead skin cells
If you don’t deal with those dead skin cells accumulating on your face, your skin is guaranteed to look more dull and lifeless. Use a gentle exfoliator once or twice a week and slough your way to smoother, more radiant skin. The Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash cleanses while it scrubs, so it’s pulling double duty to clear away the day’s makeup and build-up of oils and dirt while clearing the way for a brighter complexion.
4
Find an energising moisturiser
If you apply moisturiser every day, you’re one step in the right direction to getting your skin back on track (see above points about how hydration = glow); but do yourself a favour and find a moisturiser that’ll add some much-needed pep. The L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Red Cream has red ginseng in it to help increase circulation, which will help give your skin more radiance. It’s also got orange-red pigments (hence the name) in it to instantly improve your skin tone.
5
Vitamin C is key
When it comes to picking ingredients to up skin brightness and even out tone, vitamin C is the one you want in your arsenal. You can find vitamin C in cleansers, moisturisers, masks (see point number one) and so much more, but one of our favourite ways to get a healthy dose of the good stuff is in a serum or treatment product. The Nip+Fab Vitamin C Fix Concentrate Extreme 3% only needs to be add into your routine once or twice a week to help illuminate and brighten.
Those are just a few ways to get your skin’s glow back – but if you just focus on ensuring your skin is hydrated, you’re exfoliating regularly, and you’ve got some heavy-hitting brightening ingredients in your routine, you’ll be well on your way.
If you’ve decided 2020 is your year for good skin, tune into Get Lippy’s interview with the insanely knowledgeable Dr Dennis Gross:
Do you have any tricks for restoring your skin’s glow? Please share in the comments section below.
Main and inset image credit: Sevak Babakhani
Hair & makeup credit: Lei Tai