7 Wellness Bloggers' Best Tips for Instantly Brightening Dull Skin Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Smart Skin 7 Wellness Bloggers' Best Tips for Instantly Brightening Dull Skin From hydrating topically (and within) to weekly scrubs, masks, and peels, this is how they glow. By Jessica MigalaMedically Reviewed by Ross Radusky, MDReviewed: May 10, 2019Medically Reviewed Monique Volz April Christina and Jennifer Phillips know what it takes to liven up lackluster skin Photos Courtesy of BloggersYou know those days when skin just appears drab? You had a late night or have been tossing and turning, and now your complexion looks tired. You need something to wake it up and bring back your brightness. Unfortunately, days where you notice dull skin are probably increasing as you age. “Over time, a combination of a loss of collagen and increased production of melanin appear as brown spots. Together with a natural loss of hydration in skin as we age, you may notice dullness,” says Marisa K. Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NewYork–Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center. Getting your glow on now requires solutions that lighten discolorations, improve tone, and replenish hydration. “All these things equal brightness,” Dr. Garshick says. Chemical exfoliants (like alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs) exfoliate to create a new layer of skin, she says. Other ingredients, including antioxidants like vitamin C, are crucial for preventing the free radical damage that, in the long term, leads to dullness, while repairing existing damage. There’s a reason why you may put such a focus on facial brightness. Past research has suggested that skin with more red and yellow undertones — something that translates unscientifically into “glow” — were perceived as being in better health. RELATED: The Skin-Care Glossary Every Woman Needs to Have We asked eight wellness bloggers about what they do to improve the clarity of their complexion on the days they need a bit of brightness. From what to drink and eat to what to apply, here’s their smart advice.58 Feed Your Skin Some Vitamin C for Naturally Brighter Glow Lestraundra AlfredDermatologists say that one of the best things you can do for your skin is use topical antioxidants, particularly vitamin C. Lestraundra Alfred, founder and host of the Balanced Black Girl Podcast (@balancedles), says it’s something that has made a huge difference in her complexion. “I naturally have very dull skin, so I’m always looking to brighten things up for a dewier look. Last year I started using vitamin C serum, which has helped bring new life to my skin,” she says. Vitamin C serum is a smart investment. “Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant; I call it silver polish for our skin,” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, a dermatologist based in Miami and founder of Dr. Loretta Skincare. Vitamin C will also help guard your skin from the UV damage that compromises skin cells’ ability to naturally turn over. “When you apply C, it mitigates some damage, like an SPF booster,” she says. Use vitamin C in the morning. RELATED: 6 Ways to Eat and Drink Your Way to Healthier Skin59 Hydrate Regularly to Give How You Look and Feel a Boost Carly TumenThere’s something to be said for getting back to the basics with H2O. “After a late night out, I’ll have hot water with lemon in the morning and stay hydrated throughout the day with plain water or a green juice,” says Calyn Brooke, a fitness and wellness influencer (@calynbrooke). Hydrating can benefit skin function, especially if you’re not drinking enough water to begin with, according to a study published in August 2015 in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends drinking ½ ounce (oz) to 1 oz of fluid daily for every pound of body weight you have. But these recommendations aren’t one size fits all. For example, pregnant or breastfeeding women may need more fluid, including water, for optimal health.60 Try an At-Home Facial to Soothe and Reawaken Your Skin Monique Volz (2)Sometimes you need to step up your skin-care routine. Once weekly, Monique Volz, founder of Ambitious Kitchen, a food and wellness website (@ambitiouskitchen), applies a 20-minute mask that contains a blend of AHAs, which gets rid of dead skin cells, per a review published in July 2012 in the Journal of the German Society of Dermatology. The product also contains salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid, or BHA), which, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, unplugs pores — and, noted an article published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, reduces redness. “It really helps to even out tone [and] get rid of blemishes," Volz says. Her go-to is TLC Sukari Babyfacial by Drunk Elephant, which is a cult favorite beloved among beauty bloggers and dermatologists alike. Volz’s pro tip: If your skin is sensitive, apply a mask like this for five minutes to start. Afterward, she slathers a rosehip or marula oil onto her skin to hydrate. Sheryl Clark, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and a clinical assistant professor at Cornell University Medical College, likes Babyfacial because it includes antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide to reduce risk of irritation, she says. In office, a peel may contain more than 70 percent of an AHA, like glycolic acid, says Dr. Clark, but an OTC product with 25 percent AHA is a good find. RELATED: 10 Things Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You — and How to Respond61 DIY a Gentle Scrub to Eliminate Dead Skin Jennifer PhillipsAs an aesthetician who DIYs products, natural beauty blogger Jennifer Phillips (@jenniraincloud) also relies on exfoliation to revive a tired complexion. But she whips up a quick, gentle scrub from just two ingredients: ½ cup of sugar and ¼ cup of sweet almond oil. “Several times a week I use this scrub after being in a hot shower for about 10 minutes. The steam softens the skin, making it easy to remove the top layer of dead skin,” she says. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to skip the sugar exfoliant, says Garshick. But “sugar based exfoliants may be okay for once or twice weekly use." The sugar granules are small, so they won't be abrasive to the skin. "Sugar is also a natural humectant, which means it helps to draw in moisture, leaving the skin hydrated,” she says. Not to mention, sugar is a source of glycolic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid, which is another reason why the sweet stuff may help slough off dead, dulling skin cells. Post-exfoliation, she applies a moisturizing mask, followed by facial oil and eye cream. “This is an easy at-home routine that will instantly brighten the skin,” Phillips says.62 Show Your Skin Some Love by Gently Massaging It Telisha GibsonA serum containing brightening ingredients vitamin C and kojic acid is wellness and beauty blogger April Christina's (@imaprilchristina) go-to booster. Her favorite is the Even Tone Super Glow Serum by Urban Six RX. She says she massages four to six drops into her skin; the kojic acid and vitamin C duo not only renews skin, but targets discoloration to help even tone over time. Along with that, though, is something more holistic. “I eat food high in antioxidants to bring some brightness,” says Christina. She’s onto something: While it might not work immediately, there’s evidence that fruit and vegetable intake can increase yellow pigments in skin, which are seen as more attractive, noted a study published in February 2012 in the American Journal of Public Health.63 Carve Out Time for Self-Care on the Weekend Amanda LopezWhen you’re showing yourself some TLC on Sunday, make time for a mask to brighten things up. “Clay masks work wonders for me. They draw out impurities to help keep my skin radiant,” says Chelsea Williams, MPH, wellness blogger at ThatsChelsea.com (@thatschelsea). She currently uses a botanical-based mask. “I use a clay mask once a week, at night, before bed. I usually answer emails, do laundry, or do other household chores while masking,” she says. Some masks, like those labeled “exfoliating,” can be irritating, says Garshick, so always take your skin type and concerns into account when choosing one. Masks are great at providing extra occlusion, which means they lock in and help moisture penetrate the skin, she says. Plus, adds Garshick, they can be a fun way to use skin-care products. If they make you feel good, it’ll show. RELATED: 5 Nighttime Skin-Care Mistakes That Are Sabotaging Your Beauty Goals64 Try a Rejuvenating Peel to Reveal a New Brighter You Nicole PearlYou’ve scrubbed, you’ve masked, you’ve massaged. Now for another option to slough off that dead, drab layer of cells: a peel. Nicole Pearl, beauty expert and founder of TheBeautyGirl.com (@nicolepearl1) swipes on an AHA-based towelette for a quick treatment. The M-61 Powerglow Peel from Blue Mercury is the one she’s loving now. After exfoliating, Pearl uses a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid. While OTC peel pads are great — they don’t take a ton of time and the payoff is immediate — moisturizing alone will help. “Dehydrated skin appears dull. Using a moisturizer can give skin a refreshed glow, which people translate into brightening,” says Garshick. More in Skin & Beauty 10 Rules for Washing Your Face Dermatologists Dos and Don ts Celebrity Skin-Care Secrets The Good The Bad and the Potentially Ugly The 7 Best Bloggers to Follow for Healthy-Skin Tips How to Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles — Without Getting BotoxNEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Skin Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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