How To Brighten Your Skin: 7 Helpful Tips

If there’s one beauty goal we’d argue everyone shares, it’s bright, radiant-looking skin. But figuring out how to brighten your skin can feel challenging, especially if you’re unsure why your skin is dull to begin with. While you work to figure out what’s dulling your glow, we’re sharing some of our top tips for brightening skin, ahead. Keep reading for the details, plus discover some of our favorite products for a bright, healthy-looking complexion.

Skin Brightening Tip #1: Look for Products With Glycolic Acid

When you want to brighten skin, adding alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to your routine should be your first order of business. Products with glycolic acid are an especially great choice, as they can gently exfoliate and revitalize your skin to promote a radiant appearance. For a brightening boost, try swapping your go-to facial cleanser for an option with glycolic acid, or try an exfoliating toner in place of your usual facial toner. 

Skin Brightening Tip #2: Target Dark Spots

Dark spots are a common concern that can make your complexion look dull and lackluster rather than bright and radiant. Though they can take some time to fade, adding a targeted dark spot treatment to your routine can help speed up the process. To help brighten your skin, we suggest incorporating the L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum into your daily and nightly routine. It’s made with niacinamide, ferulic acid, and amino sulfonic acid and provides gentle exfoliation to help minimize the appearance of dark spots and other skin discolorations in as little as one week. 

If you’re looking for more rapid visible results, consider trying an at-home peel. The L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliant Peel is packed with a potent combination of alpha-, beta-, and polyhydroxy acids. It visibly brightens and smooths the skin in just one use, while continued applications reveal dramatically brighter-looking skin. Keep in mind that this isn’t a daily-use product: We suggest applying it four times per week (at night) for the best results. 

Skin Brightening Tip #3: Try a Brightening Face Mask

Masking isn’t just a great way to unwind—the right face mask can also help target your specific skin concerns to help promote a healthier-looking complexion. If you’re wondering how to brighten your face overnight, the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Overnight Mask may be the product your routine has been missing. The non-greasy formula is packed with vitamin C, pro-retinol, and hyaluronic acid and delivers all-night hydration while helping to firm, smooth, and brighten aging skin. Plus, it absorbs quickly and won’t clog your pores, making it an excellent option for those with blemish-prone skin. Simply smooth the creamy formula onto your face after cleansing and applying your toner, then hit the sheets. By morning, you’ll be greeted with a noticeably more luminous complexion. 

Skin Brightening Tip #4: Use a Vitamin C Serum

Ask any dermatologist worth their salt what to use to brighten your skin, and they’ll likely recommend vitamin C. Products with this ingredient can help boost your skin’s radiance and minimize the appearance of wrinkles, giving way to a brighter, smoother complexion. There are plenty of skincare products formulated with vitamin C, but we’re partial to concentrated vitamin C serums. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum gets our vote—the non-comedogenic formula instantly boosts radiance and helps correct three key signs of skin aging (uneven skin tone, visible pores, and fine lines) with continued use. We recommend using it daily to promote a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion. 

Skin Brightening Tip #5: Pay Attention to Dark Circles 

Whether you haven’t been getting enough sleep or simply seem cursed with the appearance of dark circles, these under-eye shadows can take a real toll on how your complexion looks. Thankfully, even if getting more sleep hasn’t helped, you can tackle dark circles with a brightening eye serum. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid + Caffeine Eye Serum is among our favorites, as the hydrating formula depuffs, smooths, and visibly brightens the eye area. Use it alone or layer it under a richer eye cream, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Skin Care Midnight Eye Opener for added moisture. 

Skin Brightening Tip #6: Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Dryness and dehydration can make the skin appear dull—which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to figure out how to make your skin brighter. To be sure you’re starting off on the right foot, make moisturizing a priority day and night. To help combat dehydration, we recommend the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream. The ultra-light formula delivers deep, long-lasting hydration, helping to plump the skin and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you want to use something a bit richer at night, try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Skin Care Cell Renewal Midnight Cream. It’s designed to help repair your skin at night when it’s most receptive to recovery.

Skin Brightening Tip #7: Always Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Sun protection is essential, especially if you’re on the quest for brighter skin. Sun exposure can contribute to dark spots and discolorations, which can make your complexion appear dull (not to mention all of the other visible signs of aging that UV rays can lead to). To protect your skin from those harmful rays, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Triple Power Moisturizer with SPF 30. It contains vitamin C, pro-retinol, and hyaluronic acid and provides up to 48 hours of hydration while helping to shield your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Keep in mind that even if you’re using an SPF moisturizer, you’ll need to apply a standard sunscreen if you plan to be in the sun for more than a few minutes. The L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion is an excellent choice, as it provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays and helps visibly brighten the skin over time. 

What To Use To Brighten Skin

If you’re revamping your skincare routine, here are some brightening ingredients you may want to consider adding to your lineup”

• Vitamin C: According to the Cleveland Clinic, products with vitamin C can help minimize discolorations, which can help promote brighter, more even-looking skin.
• Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs): AHAs like glycolic and lactic acid gently exfoliate dead, dull skin cells, helping to reveal smoother, brighter skin with continued use.
• Niacinamide: Skincare products containing niacinamide, per the Cleveland Clinic, can be used to help improve the appearance of dark spots and discolorations, as well as redness, dullness, and sallowness. 
• Retinol: Products with retinol help exfoliate the skin, which can help to reveal a fresher, brighter complexion over time

How To Brighten Your Face Quickly

If you came here hoping to learn how to brighten your skin immediately, the truth is, you can’t—skincare takes time to work. However, there are a few things that you can do to help make your skin appear brighter in the meantime. 

• Color-correct as needed: If your skin appears dull and sallow, adding a color-correcting primer to your makeup routine can make a huge difference in how bright your complexion appears. 

• Use highlighter: To give your skin a natural-looking radiance, highlight the high points of your face with a luminous cream highlighter. We love the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Sticks, which come in six versatile shades—three glassy, three glowy. Use one of the former for a glass skin effect or one of the latter for a more luminous finish. 
• Mist your face: Misting your face with a hydrating spray throughout the day can help keep your skin fresh and luminous. Just be sure to opt for a formula that won’t disrupt your makeup (if you’re wearing any). 

Next Up: How To Get (and Maintain) Bouncy, Plump Skin

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris