How To Get Glowing Skin: From Dull To Radiant

Catching yourself in the mirror and realising that your skin is looking a bit...meh is never a good feeling. Whilst the issue may not be as glaringly obvious as an acne outbreak or red, inflamed and irritated skin, a dull and tired complexion isn’t ideal either.

But fret not, with a few simple tweaks and the right products, you can absolutely turn things around. Glowing, healthy skin isn't just for celebrities or filtered selfies, it's something you can achieve at home too. Ahead, we’re talking easy steps, glow-boosting ingredients, and small lifestyle habits that’ll have your skin looking fresh and radiant in no time.

What Causes Dull Skin?

First things first, let's figure out what’s making your skin lose its spark. Dehydration is a major one, so if you’re not drinking enough water, your skin’s going to look as thirsty as it feels. Dead skin build-up can also leave you looking a bit grey and lacklustre, while a lack of sleep, daily pollution, and lazy skincare habits don't exactly help either. Stress, diet, and even the weather can have a say too. Basically, life happens, but luckily, there are loads that you can do to bring your skin back to life, starting with shaking up your skincare routine.

How To Get Glowing Skin

Step 1: Hydration Is Key

If your skin’s feeling flat, chances are it’s crying out for some hydration. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day makes a huge difference, but your skincare needs to pull its weight too. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera, which all work wonders at drawing water into your skin and keeping it there. A hydrating serum or moisturiser can really give you that plump, bouncy finish we’re after. Here are our favourites:

Step 2: Gentle, Regular Exfoliation

One of the fastest ways to revive dull skin is a good exfoliation. Giving your skin a gentle scrub or using a chemical exfoliant (like glycolic or lactic acid) helps clear away all the dead skin that's hanging around and blocking your natural glow. This is key if you were wondering how to get smooth glowing skin. Aim to exfoliate once or twice a week, just don’t go overboard, or you’ll end up doing more harm than good and leave your skin feeling irritated and raw. Think smooth, not sandpaper. Here are some of our top picks:

Step 3: Nourish Your Skin Barrier

Your skin barrier is like your body’s built-in shield, and when it’s happy and healthy, your glow comes through effortlessly. Unfortunately, many people tend to overlook this area of skincare, running straight to harsh actives to remedy any and all skin issues.

To keep it strong, bring in serums packed with ceramides, niacinamide, and fatty acids. These ingredients help repair and protect your skin, making it look and feel a whole lot healthier. It’s a gentler and more nourishing approach to getting your glow back.

Don’t forget to seal everything in with a moisturiser that locks in hydration and keeps your skin cushioned and soft. Here are a few of our favourites:

Step 4: Brightening Ingredients To Add To Your Routine

If you really want to dial up the radiance, it’s time to add some brightening heroes into your routine. Vitamin C is a favourite for boosting glow and evening out your skin tone, while niacinamide and liquorice root extract help tackle any stubborn dull patches or redness. Try popping a vitamin C serum on in the morning under your SPF to really bring life back to your complexion. Here are some top picks:

Step 5: Never Skip SPF

We can’t say this enough, face SPF is an absolute must. Sun damage, in the form of dark spots, uneven pigmentation, along with loss of firmness and elasticity, is one of the biggest causes of dull, uneven skin, so protecting your face every single day is key if you want to stay glowy.

Look for a lightweight, dewy-finish sunscreen that sits nicely under makeup or on its own and gives your skin that healthy, fresh look without feeling heavy. Remember that sun protection should never fall by the wayside, no matter what skin concern you’re trying to address. Here are some of our favourites:

Quick Lifestyle Tweaks For How To Get Glowing Skin

How to get clear glowing skin is not just about the products you use on your face; what you do day-to-day matters too. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and plenty of water will show up on your skin just as much as a fancy serum will.

Try to get plenty of beauty sleep and keep your stress levels in check, which is easier said than done, but worth it. A bit of facial massage or a gua sha session now and again can also get the blood flowing and boost your natural glow. With little changes come big differences. For a body glow to match the one you’ll achieve on your face, check out our guide on The Best Body Scrubs For Smooth And Glowing Skin.