Blonde female holding vitamin c micellar water against face Blonde female holding vitamin c micellar water against face

How to brighten dull-looking skin?

Even healthy skin can appear dull sometimes, even if you think you’re doing everything right. While a lot of skin concerns will be related to your skin type, dull skin can affect anyone. However, if you want to find out how to brighten dull skin, you’re in the right place – there are ways to manage dull skin and make your skin look healthy and radiant again!

What is dull skin?

First of all, what is dull skin? Essentially, dull skin is skin that lacks radiance, and doesn’t reflect light well. When skin is dull, it might appear dry or patchy, or you might have an uneven skin texture.

What causes dull skin?

There are several potential causes of dull skin. Your dull skin might be caused in part by pollution – pollution can cause dry skin to begin with, but when your skin is already dry, it can make it appear dull. Dead skin can make your skin look dull if it builds up, as can dehydration, so it’s important to keep your skin hydrated and cleansed.

Your lifestyle and skincare routine can contribute to dull skin. Poor diet and lack of sleep can both be causes of dull skin, as can a sedentary lifestyle, leaving your makeup on overnight, and exposure to the sun. Ageing, which is beyond our control, can also cause dull skin.

Dull skin treatments

Fortunately, if you have dull skin, there are treatments you can try to really revitalise your skin and make it look healthy. Here’s how to brighten dull skin.

micellar water and reusable eco pads

Remove your makeup

When you don’t remove your makeup before bed, it impacts skin sloughing, where new skin cells replace dead skin. As we know, dead skin can lead to dull skin, so it’s important to remember to remove your makeup before you go to sleep.

You can try Garnier Vitamin C Micellar Water for Dull Skin, which removes up to 100% of your makeup and lifts impurities and dead skin cells from your face. The Vitamin C enriched micellar water helps brightens and boosts dull, uneven skin, and the formula is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

Simply apply the water to a Reusable Eco Pad, and wipe gently across the face until no more residue comes off. Plus, there’s no need to rinse.

Use Vitamin C serum

To lock in the benefits of your skincare routine, apply your serum and your moisturiser . Vitamin C Serums can really help brighten dull skin, as it reduces the signs of ageing and boosts your skin’s hydration too. Moreover, they’re easy to use, making it simple to slot them into your existing skincare regimen. You can try Garnier Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spots & Brightening Serum, which combines Vitamin C with Super Citrus extracts to treat dull skin.

Enriched with Vitamin C, lemon extract, niacinamide and salicylic acid, our serum works to brighten the skin, and tackle dark spots. Just apply a dropper of serum twice a day, and massage into your skin – avoiding the eyes. Then, you can use your usual day or night cream.

Vitamin C products on yellow background
Vitamin C serum cream with benefits

Moisturise

You don’t need us to tell all the ways in which moisturising can benefit you, but it can really help dull skin in particular. Garnier Vitamin C Brightening Serum Cream pairs Vitamin C with Super Citrus extracts and helps give you bright, glowing, and clear skin – making it great for skin that’s dull and uneven. Super Citrus is adept at brightening your skin. A serum-cream combo allows you to get the best of both worlds for maximum skin benefits!

Our serum cream is suitable for all skin types, and it can be used daily for best results. Just apply in circular motions to a clean face and spread it evenly.

Use a sheet mask

Don’t forget to treat yourself to a sheet mask too! Our Vitamin C Sheet Mask contains the equivalent of a full bottle of serum, infused with Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, and just 15 minutes can really help brighten dull skin and make it appear more radiant, while our 1% Vitamin CG + Pineapple Anti-Fatigue Ampoule Sheet Mask is another option. You can leave this one on for just five minutes, making it a super-speedy option for anyone who doesn’t have longer to spare.

If you want to target your eyes in particular, don’t forget to use our Moisture Bomb Hyaluronic Acid & Orange Juice Eye Sheet Mask, which is enriched with hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of eye bags and dark circles. Just leave it on for 15 minutes.

You can browse our complete range of products containing Vitamin C, formulated specifically to help brighten the appearance of dull skin, here.

ampoule sheet masks with decorative ingredient assets laid on pink background

Wondering what's best for your skin? Find out now!

Get your personalised AI skin analysis