All work and no play gives even the healthiest skin a drab, lifeless, and weary appearance. While working from home during the mid-Covid-19 quarantine was intended to be all fun, it has instead led to more screen time and a skewed healthy lifestyle, with jobs still taking first and domestic duties coming in second.
You may be suffering dullness if your skin lacks a healthy glow and seems lustrous and weary. Symptoms that are common include:
- Skin that is dehydrated
- Dark circles beneath the eyes
- The skin seems duller than normal
- The skin is darker than usual
We've all had a case with dull skin at some point in our lives. The repercussions of our imbalanced lifestyle, in which we attempt to juggle all responsibilities at once, have begun to show on our faces, making them appear dry with dark under eyes and less luminous or darker-looking skin.
While there is no doubting that “you are what you eat,” our growing up years result in a buildup of dead cells on our faces, which, in addition to eating an unhealthy diet, contribute to the skin looking dry and lifeless.
# Eat well to glow wellWhat you consume determines who you are, on the outside at least. The quality and types of foods you eat have an impact on your skin's health and appearance. Include extra fatty acid-rich foods in your diet, such as fish, walnuts, flaxseed, and so on, they are essential for healthy skin. Consider it as nurturing your skin from the inside out. Antioxidant-rich meals can help to reduce skin irritation and free radical damage. To preserve and revitalise your skin, eat nuts and seeds like walnuts and pumpkin seeds, etc. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, and tomatoes help protect your skin from UV damage. Also, make sure your diet is high in probiotics, because a healthy stomach leads to a healthy complexion.
# Stay hydrated for glowing skinThe dehydration reduces the amount of blood flow to the skin and makes it look pale and dry. Failure to provide your skin with the necessary hydration can result in long-term damage such as fine lines, sagging skin, and even scales and deep creases so make sure to stay hydrated and remember to drink eight glasses of water everyday.
# Cater your skin gentlyYou want to make sure you've removed all of your makeup and pore-clogging dirt from the day, but go slowly as vigorously washing your face can cause irritation, small tears, redness, stiffness, and flaky skin. This all can be caused by abrasive scrubs and drying soaps. Instead, remove your makeup and sunscreen with a cleaning oil first to avoid removing and harming your skin's top layer. Then, to eliminate the oil, conduct a second wash with a mild cleaner.
# Say no to hot waterIf you want to be gentle on your skin, avoid using hot water or strong soaps. It is often said that hot water can remove natural oils, causing dryness and irritation as it can also produce superficial vascular irritations, which can make your skin seem red. Instead, cleanse your face with lukewarm water. To assist preserve moisture, choose a hydrating cleanser that contains ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, or almond oil.
# Scrub off the dirtExfoliation is essential for a healthy skin, and it may be done in a variety of methods. You can use a washcloth to lightly exfoliate, an exfoliating cleanser or scrub, or microdermabrasion treatments or a skin cleansing brush to go even deeper. It's important to remember to exfoliate your face and body skin on a regular basis—at least once a week. Start with twice a week and gradually increase the frequency as your skin allows. If your skin is extremely dry or sensitive, you may need to be extra cautious. Scrubbing can be done in one of two ways:
- Mechanical/physical: Brushes, sponges, gloves, and scrubs are examples of exfoliating tools.
- Chemical: Glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids are examples of alpha hydroxy acids, whereas salicylic acid is an example of beta hydroxy acid.
- Apply a moisturiser as soon as you finish exfoliating to seal in moisture and preserve the freshly exposed skin cells.