A Celeb Esthetician Says This Is the Best Skincare Regimen to Treat Dull Skin

It's officially fall, and we don't know about you, but our complexions are experiencing some serious aftershocks post-summer and not in a bronzed, glowing, and hydrated kind of way—more in a half-poached, dull, and clogged kind of way. Welp. 

We're currently in the process of curating our fall and winter wardrobes to perfection (give us all the boots, sweaters, and denim, please), and we're equally keen on whipping our downtrodden complexions into tip-top shape. Stubborn and radiance-hampering dullness is currently Undesirable No.1 as far as our skin issues go (come fall, Harry Potter references are quite necessary), so we reached out to esthetician and founder of StackedSkincare Kerry Benjamin to lend a helping hand. Below, she's answering all of our burning dull-skin questions in addition to prescribing the ultimate daily skincare regimen to kick skin drabness to the curb in favor of a clear and radiant result. Keep scrolling! Clogged pores everywhere need this content. 

What Causes Dullness?

According to Benjamin, lack of exfoliation is the number one cause of dullness thanks to the buildup of dead skin, which also makes it harder for our products to absorb and penetrate effectively. And, you guessed it, that just makes dullness woes that much worse. 

"My favorite ways to exfoliate are by dermaplaning, using regular at-home peels, and I also love using Versed Photos, Please Brightening Tightening Mask ($10) a few times a week. On Sundays, I like to power-exfoliate my skin! I dermaplane, apply the Versed mask, and then leave it on for about 15 minutes."

To finish, Benjamin rinses the mask off thoroughly before applying a layer of the StackedSkincare TCA Multi-Acid Face Peel ($150). By using a few different exfoliation methods that are still super gentle, the skin is left brighter and far more glowing.

Does Age Play a Role?

Sorry, but yes. As Benjamin explains, as we get older, the speed and efficiency of our cell renewal process decrease significantly, so the need for more regular exfoliation (plus hydration!) is paramount to beat and prevent a dull complexion. 

"Since we are producing less oil and our collagen production is decreasing, more exfoliation and hydration is super important," Benjamin tells us. "Maintaining plump, radiant skin requires a good hyaluronic acid serum and a great moisturizer with an occlusive to seal in hydration. Versed has a really nice Hyaluronic Serum, called Hydration Station ($20), which I use under the brand's Skin Soak Rich Moisture Cream ($18), cocktailed with their Found the Light Powder With Vitamin C ($20)."

What Types of Products Should You Prioritize (and Skip) for Dull Skin?

"It's important to include products with ingredients that will speed up your cell turnover including acids, vitamin A, and growth factors, which will all help with dullness," confirms Benjamin.

She recommends vitamin C as your best bet for easy brightening. She loves combining Versed Found the Light Powder With Vitamin C ($20) with a daily moisturizer, as noted above, and will also sleep with the brand's Look Alive Hydrating Plumping Mask ($10) one to two nights per week to attain maximum glow. 

So what can you skip? According to Benjamin, toners are less important where dullness is concerned—as long as you're choosing a high-quality cleanser that keeps your complexion's pH balanced, a toner is just an extra step that's only draining your wallet. 

Keep scrolling for the exact morning and evening skincare regimens Benjamin prescribes to treat dull skin.

Your Morning Product Prescription

Step 1: Cleanse

Step 2: Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Step 3: Vitamin C + Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

For Dry Skin

For Oily or Acne-Proned Skin

Step 4: Sun Protection

Your Evening Product Prescription

Step 1: Cleanse

Step 2: Exfoliation

Step 3: Hyaluronic Acid

Step 4: Peptide Serum

Step 5: Micro-Needling

Step 6: Moisturizer