Who doesn’t dream of maintaining or achieving a glowing, healthy, and even-toned complexion? This is why most skincare routines aim to get even skin tone and texture. You can undoubtedly fulfill your skincare goals by following a proper skincare routine and choosing your skincare products with the right ingredients. However, the journey to even-toned and radiant skin may not be as convenient or simple as it sounds, especially if you’re new to the vast world of skincare.
The unlimited number of options available on the market may make it even more challenging to find the right skincare products that you really need to maintain your skin’s glowy and healthy appearance.
But no worries! We’re here to help you achieve a smooth and even-toned complexion. Keep on reading to learn simple and effective ways of attaining an even skin tone.
What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?
Let’s begin with some factors that can have negative effects on your skin and lead to uneven skin tone. Our skin is exposed to many environmental elements on a regular basis, which can adversely affect the health and appearance of our skin.
These factors include UV rays, bacteria, dirt, free radicals, and other toxic compounds in the air. Moreover, sometimes, certain internal dynamics can also cause the skin to look dull and uneven, including hormonal anomalies, aging, inappropriate diet, dehydration, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, medications, and various unhealthy daily habits.¹ These factors can make the skin vulnerable to age spots, freckles, melasma, sun spots, dullness, and other forms of hyperpigmentation or discoloration.
How to Treat and Prevent Uneven Skin Tone?
Since the main reason behind uneven and discolored skin is environmental agents, a thorough and preemptive skincare approach is essential to counteract the skincare challenges and problems that our skin goes through on a regular basis. Here are some important tips and steps to keep your skin thriving:
Cleanse Your Skin Properly - Although cleansing is the most fundamental step in any skincare routine, it’s even more worth mentioning when it comes to keeping the skin clear and even-toned. You can prevent and minimize uneven and dull complexion by keeping your skin properly cleansed every morning and night.
Cleansing helps to lift off any dirt, oil, germs, makeup, and other pollutants that pile up in the pores during the day. Skipping this step can pave the way to uneven skin tone. It’s important to choose a cleansing face wash or cleanser that works with your skin type and issues.
Exfoliate the Skin Regularly - Another important step in keeping the skin even toned and bright is exfoliation. Exfoliating the skin regularly is imperative for sloughing off dead skin cells from the outer surface of the skin, which gives it an uneven and rough appearance.² Exfoliation also draws out excess sebum, dirt, and other impurities from the pores. It aids in accelerating cell turnover, helping to repair and restore damaged skin and reveal smoother, brighter, and even-toned skin underneath. If you have acne-prone skin, dry or sensitive skin, it’s advised to avoid using harsh scrubs on the skin. Instead, opt for chemical-based exfoliating products containing AHAs and BHAs. Chemical exfoliators are safer and gentler on the skin.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized - An amply hydrated and moisturized complexion is crucial for preventing and reducing discoloration and preserving even skin tone in the long run. Skipping this step can make the skin susceptible to dryness, scaling, dehydration, and inflammation, which can ultimately lead to uneven and discolored skin. Hence, even if you have a very greasy and oily complexion, applying a moisturizer is critical for the health and look of your skin. The key to finding the right moisturizing product for your skin is to look for ingredients known to be suitable for each skin type, along with the consistency of the product. Use gel or water-based moisturizer for oily skin, lotion-based moisturizer for normal skin, and thick cream-based formula for dry and sensitive skin.
Use a Hydrating and Brightening Toner - Toners are formulated to penetrate the skin and remove any leftover impurities, such as oil, grime, and makeup, from the pores. You can achieve additional skin benefits from your toner if you manage to choose the right formula. So, look for a hydrating toner with skin-restoring and brightening compounds, including hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, glycolic acid, and vitamin C. Also, avoid buying a toner with alcohol, fragrances, and other drying ingredients.
Protect Your Skin from Oxidative Stress - You’ve probably lost count of times you’ve been told to slather on sunscreen before heading out. Well, there is a reason this skincare step is mentioned repeatedly. Oxidative damage is probably the leading cause of the dull and uneven appearance of the skin. It’s also the main factor that puts the skin at risk of other issues, including wrinkles, acne breakouts, inflammation, and dryness. You can try avoiding these by simply using broad-spectrum sunscreen religiously. It’s recommended to wear sunscreen every day and reapply it every 3 to 4 hours to shield against damaging oxidative stressors, such as UV rays and free radicals.
Use Brightening Skincare Ingredients - Sometimes applying specific skincare ingredients is the best way to get rid of discoloration and restore even skin tone. There is an array of skincare products on the market that contain powerful and effective skin-brightening and revitalizing active compounds.
The right kind of products with these ingredients can make uneven and dull skin a thing of the past. Some of the best ingredients to help you get an even skin tone are vitamin C, retinoids, alpha arbutin, and kojic acid.
Sundree’s RYSE+SHYNE facial serum is packed with must-have ingredients hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerin, and of course, vitamin C for brighter and even-toned skin. This lightweight serum works overtime to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while leaving the skin feeling hydrated and supple.
Treat Yourself with a Facial - Facials are an incredible way of reducing and treating discoloration and dullness in a short period of time. You can opt for a facial by a professional or do it at home to add an instant boost of glow and plumpness to the skin. Professional-grade facials include using a variety of skin brightening, repairing, and nourishing compounds.
For instance, a chemical facial comprises of exfoliating acids and enzymes that work by removing the outer, dull, and uneven layer of the skin. You can also find potent skincare products for performing an at-home facial or prepare a DIY facial using natural ingredients available at home.³ Papaya, aloe vera, green tea, honey, rose water, and oatmeal are some of the ingredients to use for your at-home facial.
Hydrate Your Skin from Within - If you are struggling with lifeless, dull, and uneven skin tone, one of the easiest yet most effective things you can do is hydrated your skin inside out. While hydrating the skin with topical products is also important, drinking plenty of water can take your skin’s hydration to the next level. Hydrating your body and skin from within can do wonders for your skin and change the way your skin appears on the outside. Therefore, carry your water bottle with you and keep on sipping water at regular intervals throughout the day. Additionally, ditch your favorite sodas, coffee, and other sugar-rich drinks, which can trigger hyperpigmentation in the skin.
Eat a Clean and Balanced Diet - Take your skin brightening and restoring treatment up a notch by adding nutrient-filled foods to your daily diet. The skin needs vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants to function and appear at its best. Consuming fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, grains, seafood, and poultry can provide your skin with countless benefits.
To treat and prevent uneven and discolored skin tone, incorporate green tea, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, carrots, grapes, watermelon, salmon, and other foods with high amounts of essential compounds that help to repair and heal the skin.
Final Thoughts
When we talk about a skincare routine and goals, even-toned, bright, and smooth skin is on top of the list. While many of you might be blessed with a spotless and blemish-free complexion, others may need to put in extra effort to achieve the even and radiant skin they desire.
Furthermore, there are various internal and external agents or factors that can cause your skin to appear dull, uneven, and blemished. No matter the cause behind your uneven and dull skin, there are simple and effective ways of attaining an even skin tone.
Citations:
- S. Brooklyn. (2021). ‘How to Get Rid of Dark Spots’, Sundree, Accessed June 8, 2023. Available at: https://sundree.com/blogs/news/a-complete-guide-to-treating-dark-spots-or-hyperpigmentation
- Reimel, Erin. (2019). ‘Reasons Why You Might Have Rough and Bumpy Skin In the Winter’, Shape, Accessed June 8, 2023. Available at: https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/reasons-for-rough-and-bumpy-skin
- Dancer, Rebecca. (2020). ‘How to Give Yourself a Spa-Level Facial at Home, According to Experts’, Allure, Accessed June 9, 2023. Available at: https://www.allure.com/story/how-to-give-yourself-facial
