Dull skin is often a result of a buildup of dead cells, dust, sebum, and even skincare products on the skin’s surface. Skin cells can struggle to renew themselves due to aging, damage of collagen by UV rays and environmental pollutants, as well as lifestyle habits like stress, lack of sleep, alcohol use, and poor nutrition. This makes dead cells stick around longer.
And when you don’t exfoliate enough or cleanse properly, this buildup and sluggish cell turnover make skin appear dull instead of luminous over time. But overexfoliation can leave microtears and dull the skin, too.