Why your skin looks dull (and a gentle twice-a-week fix)

What makes skin look dull

Make-up, sunscreen and city grime don't always come off with a quick splash. Leftover residue and dead skin cells can make skin look flat.

Dry air from heating or air-conditioning, hot showers, lack of sleep and stress all show on your face too.

Fix the routine first

Cleanse properly at night, especially if you wear sunscreen or make-up. A double cleanse works well: an oil or balm first, then your usual cleanser.

Use lukewarm water, not hot. Apply moisturiser to slightly damp skin, and wear sunscreen every morning.

How often and how hard to use a cleansing brush

Twice a week is plenty for most people. Daily use is too much for most skin and can cause redness.

If your skin is sensitive, start with the softest head, once a week, on the lowest setting, for about a minute. Normal skin can work up to around three minutes.

Use gentle circles with no pressure, keep away from the eye area, and use a gel or cream cleanser, never a grainy scrub on top. Replace heads about every three months.

Facials vs. a brush at home: the value framing

A professional facial gives you expert advice and treatments a brush can't. It's worth it for a specific skin concern.

For regular cleansing, a $87.50 brush with four heads used twice a week works out, as an illustrative example, to under 85 cents a session over a year. It also helps your existing skincare go further on clean skin.

Who should skip it

Don't use a brush on active acne breakouts, broken skin, sunburn, eczema, rosacea flares or cold sores. Skip it if you use strong retinoid or acid treatments unless your dermatologist agrees.

Stop if your skin stings, peels or stays red. See a doctor or dermatologist about new, changing or painful spots.