Do you often look at your skin and think of how dull, lifeless and "old" it appears? Don't worry, we have all been there.

Our skin can look dull, tired and lacklustre for several reasons. Let's take a look at the six areas to consider when it comes to dull-looking skin and my top tips to fight the dullness and claim back your GLO in time for summer!

This is one of the most common reasons for dull-looking skin. Our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 1-3 months, depending on our age. These dead skin cells are dry and dull.

The solution? Exfoliate! Regular exfoliation will rid your skin of those cells and encourage it to be consistently smooth and bright. How often to exfoliate depends on each skin. If you are new to exfoliation, aim for twice a week. Finding the best exfoliant for your skin is also essential.

Here are my 3 favourite exfoliants to smooth and brighten the skin:

Does your skin feel tight? Or does it feel dry, yet oily?

Dehydration is a common occurrence in our skin, and the environment around us certainly contributes to this - along with diet, lifestyle and age.

Dehydrated skin can lead to breakouts, fine lines and sensitivity, so as an increase in oil flow (the skin's way to compensate for the lack of hydration). Dehydrated skin feels tight, dry, and looks dull.

Hydrated skin, on the other hand, looks plump, radiant, and it feels healthy.

So what keeps our skin hydrated?

Hyaluronic Acid - Naturally found in the skin, Hyaluronic Acid plays a vital role in the function and health of the skin, and it is capable of holding 1000x its weight in water.

Unfortunately, with age and external aggressions, Hyaluronic Acid production naturally decreases, leading to an increase in dehydration.

Stress causes our bodies to release cortisol as a coping mechanism. Although small doses of this hormone are harmless, when stress levels have been high for some time, it can start changing the skin.

Some of the changes are acne, ageing and sensitivity. High-stress levels can then lead into some bad habits - not eating our usual healthy foods, lack of sleep and an increase in alcohol consumption - all which accelerate the dehydration process in the skin.

• Do you go to bed with your make-up still on?
• Do you go to bed without doing your skincare routine because you are too tired?
• Do you avoid moisturiser in the morning because you feel more oily?
• Do you have products in your cupboard, but are inconsistent with using them?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I have a solution.

Try this for a week:  

Cleanse your skin in the morning and at night and apply your home care products consistently every single day of the week. If these products are right for your skin, then I can guarantee you will notice a difference. From there, keep going.  

My skincare routine is done morning and night without fail, and my skin feels and looks better because of it. I am human though, and there are rare occasions in which I go to bed without cleansing my skin, but I can certainly feel it the next morning. My skin feels tight and looks blotchy, and I feel yuck. Keep consistency every-single-day. Your skin will be thankful!

Oh, the sweetness of life! It's funny how chocolate is the first thing that comes to mind for me - decadent and comforting. Besides our waistline, sugar does affect our skin considerably, and I am talking more from the processed sugar angle.

Would you believe that sugar sucks all the hydration out of our skin cells, leading to dehydration and dull-looking skin? Eating foods with high levels of processed sugar can also lead to an increase in inflammation and oil, which is a feeding ground for bacteria if you have acne-prone skin.

Our daily surroundings can affect our skin in different ways. Pollution, for instance, is one of the biggest enemies of our skin.

Pollution particles are small enough to enter the skin and strip the skin of barrier lipids, which help retain moisture and keep out dirt and other impurities.

A compromised skin barrier can lead to increased skin sensitivity, discomfort and premature signs of skin aging, especially pigmentation issues. Pollution also increases the dull appearance of the skin.

If you feel like your skin is looking dull and need some advice, please reach out to us.