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You don’t have acne, dryness, wrinkles, or even pores. But your skin still doesn’t look as good as it should. You’re following your skincare routine but it still feels like something’s missing. Dullness is a whole can of worms no skin type is immune to. You can suffer from loss of radiance and glow at any age and stage. And those times call for fast-acting tools that can give you instant results. And what’s more fast-acting than a face serum? But the more important question is what are some good serums for dull skin?
The answer depends completely on the reason why you’re dealing with dull skin in the first place. Several factors can contribute to the process.
If you’ve been skipping exfoliation, the dead skin cells that are building up on the surface of the skin can literally mask your skin’s natural radiance. Look for exfoliants!
If you’re a city dweller, pollution can wreak havoc on your skin’s overall health. Similarly, if you’re enjoying the sunlight without proper protection, the exposure can very well damage your skin’s health by causing oxidative stress. Look for vitamin C!
Bad habits, dehydrated skin, and even pigmentation can cause your skin to look tired and lifeless. Look for hyaluronic acid and niacinamide!
No worries, though. Whatever your skin type is, we’ve put together the best serums to refresh and revive dull skin.
The Best Serums For Dull Skin
1. Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum
As the mother of all that is brightening, glow-boosting, and illuminating, this vitamin C serum digs up dull skin from the grave, breathes new life into it, and gives it a complete makeover.
And it puts your skin back on its feet with a combination of gentle alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like malic and citric acids to reveal your glowiest skin ever. It resurfaces the skin through exfoliation and polishes it with vitamin C, making this one the best brightening serum for dull skin.
Key Ingredients: 20% vitamin C, 10% fruit-derived AHAs
Key Benefits: Gently exfoliates, resurfaces, evens skin tone
Skin Type: All, except for very sensitive skin
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
2. SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
If you think your skin looks dull from dryness and dehydration, hyaluronic acid is your best friend. That’s the first thing your skin should be gulping before any other serum or cream. All those exfoliants and brighteners become secondary when your skin is in urgent need of hydration.
This gel-textured serum replenishes dull skin instantly! With hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, the serum deeply hydrates dull and dry skin, brings a healthy wash of color to your cheeks, and gives you an even skin tone.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5
Key Benefits: Hydrates, plumps
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, fragrance-free
3. Versed Stroke of Brilliance Brightening Serum
An amazingly light serum that is brightening, hydrating, and affordable. Not to mention, non-toxic! And it’s an amazing serum for dull and aging skin. It has hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin and fill in wrinkles. It also has the multi-tasker niacinamide (vitamin B3) to even out the skin tone and radiance-booster licorice to keep your complexion glowing.
With vitamin C to brighten the skin and guard it against free radicals, the serum gives your skin an additional layer of protection to prevent UV damage.
Key Ingredients: 0.5% vitamin C, 1% niacinamide, 1.6% licorice extract
Key Benefits: Brightens, evens skin tone, fades hyperpigmentation
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
4. Renee Rouleau BHA Clarifying Serum
If you have dull skin that’s oily and prone to acne, this one is for you. Salicylic acid is like kryptonite for acne. It works by dissolving the oils and bacteria trapped inside the pores and shedding them off. By decongesting the skin, it stops acne at its trace. The serum has salicylic acid for that.
And it has glycolic and lactic acids to also provide a surface-level exfoliation. As an additional benefit, the lactic acid serum effectively increases the skin’s natural moisturizing factors. It hydrates but doesn’t make the skin greasy. The targeted serum is perfect for clearing up the skin, reducing acne and pores, and improving skin tone.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid
Key Benefits: Exfoliates, clears up pores, evens skin tone
Skin Type: All
Size: 0.5 oz/15 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
5. Neostrata Illuminating Serum
The formation of dark spots and patches can make you look way older than you are. Plus, they don’t help with achieving a bright and even skin tone. This serum combats that by targeting pigmentation and increasing the skin’s hydration. It has glucosamine -an amino acid that exfoliates and stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid.
It also contains vitamin C to reduce and prevent hyperpigmentation as well as vitamin B3 to improve skin tone. Plus, it has licorice extract to brighten the skin.
Key Ingredients: 4% niacinamide, licorice extract, actyl glucosamine
Key Benefits: Treats and prevents hyperpigmentation, brightens
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
RELATED: How To Brighten Skin
6. Glossier Super Glow Vitamin C + Magnesium Serum
This one is a tiny bit thicker than regular serums but is no less potent. It’s made with 5% vitamin C to revive dull skin and magnesium to boost hydration. Jojoba oil and sunflower oil are moisture enhancers that give the serum its unique texture.
That way, the serum keeps your complexion glowing and strengthens the skin barrier by replenishing it. It’s good for normal skin as well as combination skin that’s on the drier side.
Key Ingredients: 5% vitamin C, magnesium PCA
Key Benefits: Replenishes skin, reduces dark spots, illuminates
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, cruelty-free
7. Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum
Last but not least, if you want to get rid of dull skin but don’t want to deal with active ingredients because they can irritate your skin, you’re going to love this one. You guys, it’s among Caudalie’s best sellers and a must-have for natural skincare lovers.
First of all, it’s oil-free. So it’s great for skin prone to blemishes too. And second of all, it’s made with Caudalie’s patented resveratrol. So it brightens the skin not with vitamin C but with a plant-based antioxidant. It’s also incredibly replenishing with squalane. The serum disappears into the skin but leaves a healthy glow. So it’s good for achieving brighter skin both instantly and long-term.
Key Ingredients: Viniferine, squalane
Key Benefits: Brightens dull skin, leaves skin glowing
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, vegan
So these are the best serums for dull skin. Some work by exfoliating the skin while others work by infusing the skin with antioxidants. Either way, you’ll get better results if you’re consistent with your skincare routine. Also, don’t forget to wear sunscreen daily to maintain healthy, glowy skin.
Read Next: The Best Pore Minimizing Serums
