Introduction

An important part and sign of healthy skin is a natural glow. But causes like lack of sleep, stress, age, and even what you eat can make your skin glow. The good news is, you can make dull, tired skin shine and glow at home. Just follow these expert tips for it and makeup, home remedies, and top skincare products from the scientists and dermatologists at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to get your face looking great. Overnight. Or even immediately!

1. Clean regularly (and thoroughly!)

Keys to Radiant Skin: Cleanse your “canvas” by thoroughly removing dirt, oil, and pollutant particles that can clog pores and cause dullness. Wash your face morning and evening by gently massaging in a small amount of facial cleanser with your fingers in circular motions.

For daily use, try Beauty Lab’s best-tested radiance boost facial cleanser, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, and go deeper weekly by applying your facial cleansing with a facial cleansing brush, e.g., a good housekeeping seal. From Olay Advanced Facial Cleansing Brush System.

2. Exfoliate your skin

“One of the best customs to lighten the skin and increase its shine immediately and in the long term is to exfoliate,” says Wiseman, but according to our survey, almost half of GH readers skip it. “The process removes the outer layer of dead skin cells, making their surface smoother, cleaner, and reflecting light.”

Use a physical scrub, e.g., B. a face peel two to three times a week or a chemical peel, e.g., B. a facial peeling, once a week for sensitive or dry skin, and a maximum of three times for other skin types. For example, try the Brightening Skin Scrub, Acure Brightening, or Peel Facial Scrub from GH Beauty Lab, Philosophy The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel, which also evens out skin tone, reported 71% of the testers.

3. Then moisturizes and protects

For more radiance, apply a layer of moisturizing cream afterward, such as the famous Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel from GH Beauty Lab or the So Rich Hydrating Gel by SeSpring. When the skin moisturized, it also reflects light and instantly makes it appear lighter. And be sure to protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen or SPF 30+ day cream, as exfoliating makes it more prone to sun damage, including dark spots. Test winner GH Beauty Lab L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal SPF 30 also contains glycolic acid, gentle peeling, and vitamin C.

4. Look for glowing skincare ingredients

For topical skincare treatments like serums and moisturizers, check out the packaging

for terms such as “lighten” and “matching skin tone” and active ingredients for skincare such as:

Vitamin C, “an antioxidant that improves the skin by blocking an enzyme that makes pigment,” says GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek. Try GH Seal Star No7 Early Defense Glow Activating Serum, made with Vitamin C.

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) “slows down the production of pigments to lighten dark spots,” says Wiseman. The test winner from GH Beauty Lab, SkinCeuticals MetaCell Renewal B3 Serum, contains it. Likewise, resorcinol and alpha-arbutin break down pigments for a more even skin tone, says Cynthia Price, M.D., a Phoenix dermatologist. She suggests Skin Better Science Even Tone Correcting Serum Face.

Daily use of these star brighteners can lighten your complexion over time: the effects can be visible in a few weeks, with optimal results in around three months.

5. Moisturize the skin regularly

Don’t just apply moisturizer now and then or when your skin feels dry to the touch. “Lack of hydration dulls the appearance and even accentuates wrinkles,” said Jeanine Downie, M.D., a dermatologist at Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ. “Apply a topical moisturizer in the morning and at night to replenish moisture.”

Which way to choose? “Our tests show that facial creams and lotions are generally more hydrating than oils, serums, and other formulas,” explains Birnur Aral, Ph.D., director of GH Beauty Lab. water) that bring moisturizing ingredients to the upper layers of the skin and help it retain moisture. ” To rehydrate the skin fence, try GH Seal Star Olay Regenerist Micro sculpting Cream, which has increased skin’s moisture content by 50% over 24 hours in GH Beauty Lab tests.

6. For a quick fix, try a face mask

To instantly plump and brighten skin when skin feels dull or before a special event, apply a hydrating face mask and let it soak into the skin. For example, the GH Beauty Lab test winner Skin Laundry Hydrating Face Mask increased skin’s moisture content by 25% in just a few minutes, as measured by the chronometer device.

7. Or make your DIY mask

Use this homemade skin care facial mask from Joanna Vargas, a famous facial caregiver in New York City, to add vitality to the skin. “It’s relaxing and tightens pores,” she says. “If you want an extra scrub, add two tablespoons of Almond Power and rub the formula into your skin before using it as a mask; your it will glow!”

8. Give your face a massage

A massage is not only good for the muscles. “Every day, I massage my face as I wash; exercise increases blood flow and gives my skin a natural glow,” says Mona Gohara, M.D., a dermatologist at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven CT. “Make some up and down movements on each cheek to see the effect.”

9. Use a shiny lotion to add shine.

Good news: you can shine in seconds too! The new category of hybrid skincare and makeup products called “Glitions” combines the hydrating benefits of a moisturizer with the radiant effect. (A GH Beauty Lab favorite: L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer.) These formulas contain moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that draw moisture into the skin and make it look instantly plump and plump, explains Wnek. In addition, it blended with finely ground minerals like mica that reflect light to give skin an instant yet subtle glow.

Apply as a face lotion before makeup, use only for a natural look, or dab a smudge on upper parts of the face such as cheekbones and under eyebrows for a touch of makeup-free shine. Try GH Beauty Lab’s picks below.

10. Eat foods rich in antioxidants.

Yes, what you eat can affect the spark of your skin. Get grapes, berries, and nuts like walnuts and walnuts that are high in polyphenols like ellagic acid and resveratrol. “Preliminary research has linked this type of antioxidant to protecting skin cells from UV damage, such as hyperpigmentation,” says former GH director of nutrition Jaclyn London, MS, RD, or simply as a soft drink.

11. Hydrate from the inside out

And don’t forget the old H2O. “Adequate hydration is directly related to the regeneration of skin cells,” says London. So try to drink eight to ten cups of unsweetened beverages such as water (including carbonated or fortified drinks), tea, and coffee a day.

12. Know when to call a dermatologist

To address persistent skin hyperpigmentation issues such as large or numerous dark spots (due to sun damage or other causes) and melasma for long-lasting clarity, visit a board-certified dermatologist who can recommend the best options. This could include topical prescription products, in-office medical skincare treatments such as professional facial scrubs, microdermabrasion, and lasers, or a combination of therapies, says Pearl E. Grimes, M.D., clinical professor.

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