​Dull skin is skin that looks lacklustre, flat, or even grey, and may even feel rough or bumpy to the touch. What causes dull skin? It’s the result of dead skin cell build-up on the surface of your skin, and it can happen at any age and in any weather. 

Dull skin may be accompanied by the following signs and symptoms:

• Uneven skin tone
• Roughness in the skin
• Lack of skin elasticity
• Fine lines
• Discoloration
• Sagginess or wrinkling
• Lentigines and age spots
• Dryness
• Itchiness
• Dark undereyes

Dry skin
Think about how a dried, shriveled up apple looks compared to a fresh one full of moisture—the same idea is what happens to your skin when it’s dehydrated.  Without moisture, the skin becomes dry and dehydrated, which can in turn leave it looking dull.  Dry skin also makes fine lines and wrinkles look even more harsh.

Not enough moisturizer, dry climates, long hot showers, and indoor air can all contribute to drying out your skin.

Excess Dead Skin Cells

The skin naturally sheds away dead skin cells but as you age that rate at which that happens slows down. When these dead skin cells start to build up it blocks the fresh, new skin underneath from shining through.

Aging
As we age, the amount of moisturizer our skin naturally produces decreases along with collagen production (aka what makes babies faces so plump), while melanin production increases, leading to more dark spots for an uneven skin tone.

Environmental Damage
Sun exposure and environmental pollution produce free radicals in the skin that harm cells and can also lead to excess pigment, loss of collagen, and skin damage.

Stress
Chronic stress leads to increased cortisol in the body and skin, which contributes to increased inflammation of the skin.

Cortisol increase in these cases can also worsen inflammatory skin conditions, like rosacea and acne, but can also contribute to an uneven, dull complexion.