Whether you’re getting a little older and your skin is starting to lose its glow or you’re just in a funk and looking a bit dull, you can brighten your complexion with everyday substances and simple techniques. They help bring out a face that looks dewy, glowing — and youthful.
Rest and Relax
The all-nighters you’ve been pulling to finish that assignment wreak havoc on your skin. Everything from flakiness to breakouts to an uneven, muddy complexion can be attributed to not getting enough sleep and stressing out.
Try hitting the hay earlier and giving yourself extra time to unwind before bed. Take up a de-stressing activity like yoga or meditation to deal with stress and help your body decompress after a long day.
Your face will thank you for it.
Drink Water
If you’re not drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, you’re not drinking enough and your dull complexion could be the outcome. Skin needs water to stay plump, hydrated, and bright. Without enough water, your face will look sallow, saggy, and sad.
As skin ages, it loses moisture and needs that water, even more, to stay dewy-looking. Suck up as much water as possible. If you can’t handle the taste, try squeezing fresh lemon or lime into the glass to pep things up.
Exfoliate
One of the quickest ways to brighten up skin is exfoliation. Invest in a natural loofah or exfoliating cream product and massage your face and neck with it.
Use light pressure and small, circular motions to scrub away at the surface of your skin, then rinse with lukewarm water. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells that may be dulling your complexion.
It also stimulates new cell growth and reveals a fresh layer of skin. Be sure to follow with a rich moisturizer to seal in hydration. Repeat once a week.
Supplement
Check out your diet to make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need. Dr. Brooke Jackson of Chicago’s Skin Wellness Center, quoted in Good Housekeeping magazine, suggests adding 100 to 300 micrograms a day of the skin-brightening antioxidant CoQ10 to your diet.
Vitamins A and E are essential for healthy skin, so take a good multivitamin if your diet is lacking. Omega fatty acids found in walnuts, salmon and flaxseed oil are like moisturizing your skin from the inside out, so incorporate more healthy fats into your diet.