How to Brighten Mature Skin: 5 Key Steps

Yes, there are many factors that come into play and can cause dull skin. Although the aging process is not always kind, there are ways to decrease the signs of aging and brighten mature skin. In fact, mature skin by no means should suggest dull and lifeless skin. On the contrary, advancements in skincare research, and people awakening to the benefits of caring for their skin means there is no need to look our age. Medical science has now given us the answers to achieving youthful skin, but they must be appropriately applied in order to be effective.

(Lack of luminosity, looks dull)

If you think your skin has become dull and lacks the youthful glow it once had, there is help! Mature skin is and can be beautiful at any age with the right care.

Luminous Skin Can Be Achieved at Any Age

The dewy glow of youth doesn’t have to fade, even in middle age. Yes, maintaining radiant skin is not always easy and sometimes takes a concerted effort. Luminosity is afterall considered a sign of youth, and most of us want to increase the brightness in our skin so we can help the appearance of our age.

Of course, when your skin is dull, it appears lifeless. The glow is gone, and the lines and wrinkles seem to take center stage. However, most of us don’t begin to notice changes in the brightness of our skin until after our thirties. So understanding the factors that can lead to less luminous skin is vital for correcting the problem.

What Are the Primary Factors of Dull Skin?

You look in the mirror and see a dull and lifeless complexion - and panic starts to set in. You think, if your skin looks tired, dry, and dull, there is no chance for obtaining a healthy glow. But brightening your skin begins with rejuvenation, so consider the following factors to see which ones are affecting your skin.

• Dehydration is problematic and affects all age groups. When your skin is dehydrated it is lacking the inner water supply it needs. This tends to cause a grayish complexion, and makes your skin less supple and bouncy or dewy. As we’ve mentioned before, moisture must begin from the inside out. You can apply moisturizers all day, but dehydration will still affect your skin if not addressed with the right ingredients. Look for moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid, and other humectant ingredients as they are the best way to correct dehydrated skin . Dehydration also leads to decreased blood volume in the skin, making it appear pale and dull.
• Sun exposure should be avoided as much as possible because it wreaks havoc on our complexion. (We know you know this one like the back of your hand!) Too much sun damage leads to brown spots, lines, and wrinkles. Your facial skin is vulnerable to the sun and will look dull and lifeless with too much damage.
• Cellular turnover is profoundly diminished as you age, particularly after you turn 25. Meaning your body’s ability to make new skin cells effectively slowly but surely diminishes, resulting in a decrease in collagen synthesis. When your body is not creating new skin cell growth, the results are a loss of glow in your skin.
• Sleep deprivation can also have an impact on the glow of our skin. While sleeping, the body goes into an advanced process of rejuvenation and healing. It gets rid of damaged cells and works to repair and replace. Getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep each night is beneficial for helping our skin glow with youthfulness.
• Did you know stress can also play an integral role in the development of dull skin? Yes, when you are stressed, cortisol is released in high numbers. And cortisol is a hormone that can reduce blood flow to the skin. Eeesh! Meaning high levels of cortisol can also affect how your skin heals.
• Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. The carcinogenic materials in cigarettes will damage your skin by decreasing blood flow and collagen production. Smoking can also damage the collagen you have. If you want brighter skin, stop smoking now!
• A poor diet can also lead to skin dullness. What you put into your body is going to have a direct impact on your complexion. Eating a healthy diet that is high in fruits and vegetables will increase the antioxidants that are available to your skin. Remember - antioxidants fight free radicals and help increase cellular turnover for a healthier glow. Also, get rid of sugar and refined carbs to ensure your skin is healthy.

How to Protect Your Skin from Becoming Damaged

When your skin is damaged, the dewy, supple glow is certainly diminished. Yes, keeping damage at bay is more difficult with mature skin because cellular turnover and repair are minimized. Still, once we reach middle age, it is more important than ever to protect our skin from damage. So how can we protect our skin and ensure it glows?

• 1. Exfoliate skin on a regular basis to help eliminate dead skin buildup so new and healthy skin growth is revealed. This will also allow all your other skincare products to absorb into your skin better. Keep in mind that strong chemicals are not recommended because they can be too harsh on the skin.
• 2. Invest in serum with brightening antioxidants. Vitamins C and E are vital for preventing oxidative stress and will help the complexion look a lot more luminous and glowing. This will also help with the evenness and the tone by helping to eliminate excess pigmentation or sun damage.
• 3. Use a good moisturizer that offers what your skin needs. With precious oils, a little goes a long way.
• 4. A high SPF lotion is essential for the protection of your skin. Wearing sunscreen daily is essential. UV rays penetrate the skin cells and can cause cellular abnormalities. When cellular abnormalities occur, they can lead to damage and in extreme cases possibly cancer.

Mature Skin Does Not Have to Look Older

Many of us take our skin for granted in our youth because we don’t realize damage is being done. Unfortunately, many of us don’t understand the dangers of damage until it’s too late. However, here are a few tips that will help make your skin look amazing.

Water is Essential
It cannot be stressed enough that water is essential to healthy skin! If you don’t drink enough water, your skin will pay the price. Drinking enough water each day will slowly increase the moisture levels in your skin, so dehydrated skin won’t be a problem. And we don’t want dehydrated skin, because dehydration is what makes mature skin look much older.

A Healthy Diet Makes You Glow
If you want your skin to look fabulous, you must consume a healthy diet. Junk food and foods that are highly processed and full of sugar are not going to help your skin. Sugar disrupts cellular regeneration and can even destroy healthy skin cells. Eating a diet that is full of healthy fruits and vegetables will give your skin the antioxidants it needs to combat and protect against damage.

Exercise Increases Blood Flow
Did you know blood flow is vital for healthy skin? Yes, increased blood flow is essential for your skin as blood carries oxygen and nutrients to your cells. The increased cellular turnover that comes from regular exercise means brighter skin. When the skin is well oxygenated it looks brighter and more luminous. Adversely, when your blood is not flowing correctly, your skin cells become stagnant and can begin to show signs of damage. Walking, riding a bike, swimming, or aerobics are all excellent choices for improving the health and appearance of your skin. So get pumping ladies!

Sleep
As you know, cellular regeneration is essential for good skin health. As cellular regeneration happens more effectively when you sleep, aim for getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night.

Putting It All Together

Understanding the building blocks of skin health is crucial. Yes, mature skin is more challenging to keep healthy, but it is possible. You must focus on healing from within and using the right skincare products. Because, when these two are coupled together, your skin will start to respond in amazing ways!

Up until the age of 25 you have the benefit of having your body regenerate completely new skin in about 27 days. However, this process slows down naturally as we age, 27 days becomes 45 and 60 and so on. So while it takes time to see progress, it will happen. Afterall, skin brightness and luminosity come from healthy skin cells.

Your body has approximately 724 trillion skin cells. That is a lot of cells to keep healthy! Thankfully, keeping your skin healthy is not as challenging as it might appear. Besides eating a balanced diet and exercising, developing a consistent skincare routine is the way to go.

Yes, by caring for your body, you will find skin dullness will be greatly improved and starting now, will get you on the way towards healthier skin. Keep in mind that results will typically take about one skin cycle to show (45-60 days), which means you could have glowing skin within two months!

To Wrap Up

It’s easy to forget that age is truly just a number when it comes to youthfulness. Of course mature skin has its challenges, but these can be overcome with the right products and a healthy lifestyle. If you feel like your skin isn’t glowing anymore, and seems dull and dry, remember that you’re not alone. Improving your daily habits, like your diet and exercise in addition to implementing a daily skincare routine will turn your skin around. Yes, no skincare product can offer you endless youth, but a skincare routine will help your skin look younger and more vibrant than ever before. It takes a concerted effort, but your skin will start to respond to the changes. With time, those dull and unhealthy skin cells will be replaced with healthy and radiant skin that glows.