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It’s officially fall, which means we need to up our skincare game. Not only do we want our dry skin to feel moisturized and quenched, but the colder weather tends to dull the glow we all have within. This means that in order to get ahead of the game, we need to search for products right for us that also brighten up that pesky dullness we want to avoid.
The best thing about skincare and the chemical components we know and love? A vast majority of them have brightening agents in them that ensure the skin is emanating that glossy glow we love so dearly. I struggle with dry, dull skin, so it’s important to know what kinds of products I should look out for and consider trying. You should always always always do a patch test when using new skincare, but brightening serums and creams tend to have a much gentler effect on the skin compared to harsher remedies like prescription Tretinoin. Let’s get into the products that we believe you should have your eye on to get that caffeinated glow.
Topical vitamin C is significantly important when it comes to healthy, bright skin. What does bright skin even mean? Well, if you struggle with hyperpigmentation, vitamin C can treat those relentless dark spots and lighten them up for a clearer, more even-toned skin barrier.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which functions to fight toxins that may be lurking atop or even under the skin barrier. Harvard Health refers to this study, coming to the conclusion that topical vitamin C also improved the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over a three-month period. So, not only are you brightening your skin for a glowy, even tone, but you are also simultaneously applying a remedy for other issues (whether you have them or not). Vitamin C is constantly under a microscope, so I’m sure somewhere down the line we’ll find out that the vitamin also offers preventative anti-aging abilities. It’s important to point out that vitamin C typically should not be worn under the sun, as it tends to inflame the skin and lose its effectiveness.
Below are some of our favorites at the moment, so consider shopping them so you can feel and look your best in the colder months ahead.
Both AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids) are two types of acids that act as natural, chemical exfoliants for the skin. The two acids both work to promote skin cell turnover, which is why they’re considered natural exfoliants. So, instead of using abrasive scrubs that might end up tearing away at your skin barrier, AHAs and BHAs are the miracle workers that function under the skin instead of just being a topical remedy.
AHAs specifically target fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discoloration, which are all main culprits of dull skin. Cera Ve states that alpha-hydroxy acids are “naturally occurring in sugarcane (glycolic acid), milk (lactic acid), and fruit sources (citric acid).” All of these ingredients help eliminate unwanted, dead skin cells whilst ensuring a more even tone and brighter skin.
THe most popular BHA is salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin without all of that abrasiveness we mentioned before. Salicylic acid specifically breaks down what’s tethering our skin cells together, and in turn, promotes the exfoliation process as we shed the pesky outer layer of skin that is likely already dead. Furthermore, this allows the fresher layer of skin to shine through, which is typically what we know as healthier, glowy skin. Shop some of our recent picks below if you’re in the market for a gentle exfoliant to add into your skin cycling rotation.
Many skin care brands have introduced hydrating, mixed serums that have many skin-quenching properties. Hydration functions to promote healthier, bouncier, and brighter skin without switching up too much in the skin’s natural process of cell turnover.
There unfortunately is such a thing as too much hydration, but many serums are typically created so the user should not have to worry about this. These serums might contain squalene, for example, which is an emollient that hydrates and softens the outer layer of our skin. Other serums might contain vitamin E oil, which is similarly known for its smoothing properties. In the process of smoothing out the rough edges so to speak, relentless hyperpigmentation and pesky bumps tend to get booted out of our skin. Emollients are gentle, but acne prone individuals should be wary, as some ingredients in mixed serums might be considered comedogenic (pore-clogging). Luckily, Sephora has no deficit of amazing serums, so we picked out our favorites that’ll brighten you up before you know it!
Given what we already know about skin-brightening ingredients, most brightening moisturizers have at least one of what we’ve mentioned. Moisturizers are the second-to-last step in any skin care routine, so it’s important that you invest in a product that’ll seal in all of the good you’ve done for your skin.
The last way to combat dull, dry, and uneven skin? Using sunscreen. So, we threw in a moisturizer that contains SPF (but you should always double dip on this). The road to brighter skin might seem long, but there are products out there for everyone that are created for all skin types. Make sure to get ahead of the curve before the season starts to dull your sparkle. You deserve it.
