Ever wondered why sometimes your skin lacking its own natural glow and radiance? You don’t have hyperpigmentation and stuff but your skin looks dry and lifeless. Well, my friend, I am afraid you’re probably having issues with dull skin.
It’s fine, you’re not the only one. My skin is pretty much oily all year round but there were a couple of moments in my life where I looked at my skin in the mirror and asked myself “Where is my glow?”
That turned me into a full-on panic mode and I started buying more skincare products that promise a healthy, glowing, and radiant complexion. You know what, it’s actually not that simple. If you’re a dry and dull skin sufferer, many factors can be working against you (environmental, lifestyle, ingredients to name a few) — but with every difficult situation, there are solutions.
Read on to know exactly what you can do to rejuvenate dry and dull skin!
So what causes dry and dull skin?
Environmental stresses
I love living in Malaysia but getting exposed to harmful substances almost all the time is definitely not it. Things like smoke and getting exposed to the sunlight may damage the skin’s protective barrier. I just wish I knew these sooner.
You may ask, “What it is like to live in Malaysia?”
Well, it’s hot and humid all year round. You may want to consider having an air-conditioner in your house. Sometimes it’s more like a must-have. But that’s the thing though, to be in an air-conditioned space almost every day, that’s a recipe for disaster. I mean, for your skin, of course.
Your skin will get super dry and flaky because you have been around in an air-conditioned room for a long period of time — your skin is screaming for moisture, and your complexion will just appear lifeless and uneven. Long story short, your moisture barrier is messed up.
You shower with hot water
Believe it or not, some people still shower with hot water. I know certain people in my life still does this. There’s no amount of “Do not shower with hot water, it will strip your natural oils, which can cause dryness” that can get them to understand. You need to know that showering with hot water can play havoc on your skin, especially your face. That’s all I am going to say.
Not exfoliating enough
If you haven’t been exfoliating recently, there’s a chance you have a buildup of dead skin cells. Sometimes dead skin cells don’t shed as they should. Instead, they build on the surface between you and your healthy glow.
Not getting enough sleep
I mean, obviously? Not getting enough sleep will likely affect your skin’s appearance, duh. When you’re not taking enough care of yourselves with a good night’s sleep, it shows on your face — say hello to dark circles and a duller complexion.
Here’s how you can rejuvenate dry and dull skin:
Limit dry interior conditions
Let’s just say, constant air-conditioning is not good for your skin. If it’s unavoidable, you can always limit your usage and keep it on the 22-26°C region, which is the ideal temperature setting that’s not too hot, or too cold.
Drink enough water
Oh, how can I forget the #1 Beauty Rule! Drinking enough water (8 glasses a day) can help hydrate your skin from below the surface. This process makes sure to keep your skin’s moisture level high and bring back hydration that you lose, also allowing your skin to not look dry and dull.
Avoid hot water
Please be gentle on your skin. Avoid using hot water while you’re in the shower. Just like I said, it’s going to strip your natural oils and leave you with dry and sensitive skin. Instead, use lukewarm water especially when it comes to cleansing your face.
Be gentle on your skin
Always go gentle with your skin. Harsh scrubs and drying soaps are a no-no. And do you know how some skincare products are drying as F because they contain a high level of alcohol? Yeah, you might want to avoid that too.
Exfoliate your skin
Exfoliation is a process that does wonders for the skin. However, please opt for a gentler option of exfoliator — alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), which will penetrate the skin to get rid of dead skin cells. And make sure you don’t over-exfoliate! Twice a week should be okay.
Healthy sleeping schedule
I always make it a habit to at least have 5-6 hours of sleep at night because sometimes getting a full-blown 8 hours seems impossible. Getting enough rest at night is so important for the recovery process to take place and that includes your skin’s health!
Practice the right skincare routine
The ‘right’ skincare routine plays a huge part in my skin journey. It’s important to know your skin before committing to any type of product. When my skin was slightly dry in some areas and dull-looking, I knew very well that it was dehydrated. Yes, you can have oily skin and dehydrated skin at once.
Do you know what I did? I panicked. Yes, panic comes first and do the thinking later. But it’s not helping at all, guys. Please don’t be like me. Instead, do these and thank me later.
Order matters!
I don’t care if people said it’s useless because our skin will absorb some of each product anyway. I think the order is important because of 1) efficacy; 2) I don’t want to waste my money.
Double cleanse > Tone > Serum/ Actives > Moisturise > SPF
It’s always this and this only. Simple. And once I got the order right, I started paying attention to put on water-based skincare products first and then the more concentrated and heavier ones after.
Sheet masks are your best friend
What an excellent way to get your skin glowing. This is what I am most dedicated to. I am very fond of sheet masks. I always look for sheet masks that contain Tranexamic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Squalane, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol and the one I am using from Hansaegee Nature is just the best at keeping my skin hydrated and glowing.
Do not skip moisturiser
We need to moisturise regardless of skin type. Moisturisers prevent moisture loss, help repair and protect the skin’s moisture barrier and plump the skin making it appear less wrinkly and smooth. My favourite moisturiser to use at the moment is from Hansaegee Nature. The texture is unbeatable and perfect for this hot weather!
SPF is a must
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I will always put on my sunscreen even if it’s raining outside. Doesn’t matter how simple or tedious your skincare routine is but if you skip this step, it’s no use. Your skin will be exposed to the harmful UV rays anyway and when there’s none to protect it, your skin will keep on acting up, it’s going to be dry, lacking its natural glow, and puts you at risk of skin cancer.
While we’re talking about skincare…
I know I have been hinting at Hansaegee Nature a little so this is a portion where we’re going to talk about it more. Hansaegee Nature was kind enough to send me their Aloe Gel Mask, Aqua Whitening Cream (that I love so much) and my favourite Gold Nano CC Cream. Thank you so much Hansaegee Nature!
Hansaegee Nature 92% Aloe Gel Mask
After all this time, an aloe vera mask is still my favourite type of mask to use because it’s the OG sheet mask for me if I want extra moisture and hydration. This one, in particular, is so wonderful. It’s packed with almost overflowing aloe essence that’s perfect for both my face and neck!
The mask fits perfectly on my face and has just the right thickness to it.
Aloe vera gel is known for its many benefits and I love the fact that this sheet mask is not just hydrating and moisturising but it also helps brighten the skin, soften dead skin cells and makes my skin smooth and plumped. A great way to boost moisture in a snap of a finger and makes whatever makeup you put on top looks immaculate.
Packed with aloe vera gel
High-quality sheet mask, not too thick and not too thin
The perfect time to use a sheet mask is whenever you feel like it. I use it both AM and PM and usually after showering because I just love it. You have nothing to lose if you use sheet masks every day, it’s fine. The order would look like this: Double cleanse > A toner > Serum > Hansaegee Nature 92% Aloe Gel Mask > Moisturiser (to lock in moisture!) > SPF
Hansaegee Nature Aqua Whitening Cream
I have said it once and now I said it twice. Do not skip a moisturiser regardless of your skin type. Every skin type has its own moisturiser but Hansaegee Nature’s Aqua Whitening Cream is appropriate for every skin type especially if you have dry and dull skin! It’s crucial to apply moisturisers to lock in moisture so your skin is hydrated and healthy-looking all the time.
What I love the most about this moisturiser is that it’s water-based, has no sticky or greasy residue and is so comfortable on the skin even for oily gals like me. It has a gel consistency that blends like water and reveals these water droplets goodness. If you’re in to have a glowy and radiant finish, this is the one.
I use this moisturiser both AM and PM as well because why not? It has this cooling sensation upon application and that’s just what I need in this hot, hot weather. I can’t get enough of how radiant my skin looks with it all day and it maintains the moisture and sheen until I wake up in the morning.
So far, the order looks like this: Double cleanse > A toner > Serum > Hansaegee Nature 92% Aloe Gel Mask > Hansaegee Nature Aqua Whitening Cream > SPF
Hansaegee Nature Gold Nano CC Cream
Ever since I got this in the mail, this is what I am reaching for every time I go out to run errands. It’s literally what I need. As a fellow oily gal, it’s getting an “Approved” from me.
It’s not greasy, it has this nice dewy finish that makes my skin appear healthy and happy. I love it! It’s perfect for daily usage and on-the-go, it’s lightweight, colour corrects my redness, does a great job at filling in pores, instantly brightens and is suitable for almost all skin types.
It comes out white with tiny brown bits that will break apart and matches whatever skin colour.
With products like this, you don’t need a brush or a sponge to even it out. All you need is your fingers (make sure they’re clean). This is the answer to my “five-minutes-and-I’m-done” look. Being a CC cream it has very light coverage but honestly, I don’t have that much to cover nowadays other than my redness so that’s great.
Now we’re done ooh-and-aah-ing about the product, it’s time for the actual protecting power to shine.
This is not just a regular CC cream. Other than it colour corrects, it also protects. This CC cream has a built-in SPF50+ with PA+++ to protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB! I love a good multifunction product. So this is what my full routine looks like as of recent: Double cleanse > Toner > Serum > Hansaegee Nature 92% Aloe Gel Mask > Hansaegee Nature Aqua Whitening Cream > Hansaegee Nature Gold Nano CC Cream
A little goes a long way and you can kinda see the eyeshadow shades from my ABH Soft Glam Palette are more pigmented on top of the CC cream. That palette is already pigmented but with the CC cream, it’s getting a *chef’s kiss* from me.
My pores are also more blurred and my overall complexion is instantly brightened without any greyish cast.
As far as ingredients go, this CC cream contains Niacinamide which we all love. It also has Mineral water to balance the skin’s pH level and increase the skin’s elasticity. It also consists of Ipomoea Hederacea Callus Culture Extract to relieve any skin irritation and has an anti-bacterial effect. Last but not least, the star ingredient which is Nanogold that will improve any signs of wrinkles as you age and is also known for its high antioxidative activity.
Just throwing these out there because it’s worth mentioning. I don’t really recommend products if they’re not working for me. That’s just straight-up lying. If I mention a certain product on my blog, that means I tried them and they worked well. So this CC cream from Hansaegee Nature is just it for me. It makes a good pore-filling primer, eyeshadow base, and it’s well-formulated for most Asian skin that even in this heat it’s not gonna get blotchy and patchy.
I hope these tips are going to help any sistas out there who are suffering from dry and dull skin. We’ve all been there, at least once in our lives. I really think the sheet masks, moisturising and SPF part did me good. I have come a long way and it’s time for my skin to shine!
Check out Hansaegee Nature now:
Website: https://hansaegee.com/shop/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hansaegeenature/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HansaegeeNature
