Skin Tone Blues: How to Fix a Faded or Uneven Skin Tone

Most skin problems are easy to spot and identify. It doesn’t take a board-certified dermatologist to pick out a pimple or a wrinkle. Then there are issues that you can’t quite put your finger on. You know, the times when you say, “My skin just looks so ugh but I don’t know why.”

Chances are that what you’re seeing is a faded or uneven skin tone. Most of us have at least some degree of inconsistency in our skin tones, but who wants to rely on daily foundation to make sure we always look the same shade?

Stop settling – let’s get to the root of the problem instead. What causes a faded or uneven skin tone and what can you do about it?

What Causes a Faded or Uneven Skin Tone?

An uneven or dull skin tone can take many forms, so there are several potential causes. Chances are that you have a combination of a few.

The first is sun damage. When you’re exposed to the sun, your body produces extra pigment to shield the deeper layers of your skin from the sun’s radiation. If this keeps happening, though, not all of that pigment retreats the way it should, and this leads to darkened spots or blotches on your skin. This, ladies and gents, is the age spot in a nutshell.

The second culprit is dehydration. It can leave your skin looking and feeling rough, which gives it an overall dully appearance. A lack of moisture can also lead to discoloration.

Hormonal changes are the third possible cause of your persistent skin frustrations. Hormones can do a serious number on your skin, contributing to its hydration or dryness and even directly causing shifts in pigmentation.

Fourth, we have good old inflammation. It’s more than a buzzword in the health and wellness world; it can make for an upsettingly uneven skin tone. When you have active inflammation from things such as harsh skin care products or other aggravating factors on your sensitive skin, you might see a blotchy and uneven redness. After that fades, you could still be left with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): an age spot-like darkening in areas of the skin.

In a way, too much of your own skin is the fifth potential cause of a dull or uneven complexion. Your body is constantly making new skin cells as the old ones die and shed off. Except they don’t always shed off the way they’re supposed to. Sometimes a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface gives your complexion a dull and drab look.

Finally, culprit #6 is nicotine. Whether you’re smoking, vaping, chewing, or whatever, nicotine inhibits the blood flow to your skin. That means your skin gets fewer nutrients and less oxygen, leaving it looking dull and faded.

How Do Brightening Products Help My Complexion?

How do you know that an uneven or faded complexion is a common issue? There’s an entire category of skincare products dedicated to fixing it, that’s how. You’ve probably seen products that claim to brighten your skin, and this is exactly what they do.

There are different ways varying products work. One common ingredient you’ll see is vitamin C, which is known to brighten and liven up a dull complexion. Many of these products also have ingredients designed to reduce dark spots and even out your hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone is the most well-known ingredient for that job, but there are plenty of others too.

As you just learned, hydration is also a major component of your complexion. That’s why you’ll see so many brightening products that hydrate and nourish your skin along the way.

Top Products to Try for a Faded or Uneven Skin Tone

Taking care of an uneven or faded skin tone once and for all might be easier than you think. It starts with some simple routine changes, like exfoliating weekly to get rid of dead skin cells and using a moisturizer consistently. Drinking water, avoiding nicotine, and eating a healthy diet that keeps your hormones in check will help too.

But for a more direct solution, try these popular products specifically designed for a faded and uneven skin tone.

Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum

Murad’s Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum is pretty straightforward about what it does: it reduces dark spots quickly. This powerful serum doesn’t just fight back against excess pigment, but it encourages cell turnover to get rid of dead skin cells that leave a dull surface on your skin. It even infuses your skin with antioxidants to minimize future sun damage so that when your skin is even and bright, it will stay that way.

iS Clinical Brightening Complex

If you want to tackle several causes of a faded or uneven skin tone in one, the iS Clinical Brightening Complex could be your answer. This absolute powerhouse provides deep, rich hydration at the same time that it’s breaking down unwanted pigment and evening out your skin tone. It’s largely made from botanicals too, so it’s an especially natural solution.

Babor Men Energizing Face & Eye Gel

This one’s for the gents! Many skincare products are made with women in mind but the Babor Men Energizing Face & Eye Gel is specifically formulated to brighten and even out men’s skin. If your skin’s looking dull and listless, this gel is designed to enhance hydration, even out blotchiness and discoloration, and even combat the signs of aging.

Waking Up Your Skin

You work hard to look and feel energized each day, tackling whatever lies ahead with a smile on your face. It’s time that your skin started pulling its weight too by not looking dull, faded, or blotchy. Check out any of the products above and watch the sun come up on your skin.