5 Tips for a Brighter Complexion

Humans are naturally drawn to brightness and illumination, as opposed to shadows and dullness. It’s how we can easily spot a shiny penny amongst a gravel road, or how we’re able to find car keys at the bottom of a dark purse – at night! Both our attention and awareness are more drawn to brightness as opposed to dullness – and it’s no different with our complexion.

Bright skin is a marker of health, youthfulness, and vitality. It’s why we want to bottle up that pregnancy or post-spa-facial glow, and why brightening skincare products are some of the shiniest, golden tickets out there. If your complexion is looking a tad dull these days, don’t despair! Start with a color corrector and end with skin that shines brighter than a penny – a diamond!

Let’s delve into the top tips for boosting mega skin brightness, the best products to get you there without delay – plus a divine DIY mask for glass-like, glowing skin. That wishing well has nothing on your new glow-up!

In that a night sky can’t illuminate an ocean without a sky full of stars or fountain waters won’t reflect light without shiny coins in the well – skin won’t shine bright without the right kind and amount of skincare ingredients. And just like stars and coins, the more brightening ingredients you have or add, the better your complexion to shine even brighter. Let’s build our ultimate glow-up complexion!

Tip #1: Color Correct Dullness

Color-correcting concealers are a multitasking makeup bag essential. Use a color corrector to brighten, reduce redness, and banish imperfections while bringing out your best features. If you’re struggling with dull skin, look on the bright side – there’s a perfect color corrector for you! To tip you off, choose a peach concealer to combat overall dullness.

Solution: Let’s give them something to peach about. So, we created our 2nd Skin Color Corrector in Peach. Made with real fruit pigments like peach and apricot, this concealer quite literally wears like a second skin. Lightweight and seamless, this olive-squalene based concealer blends easily, offers medium to full coverage, and enhances brightness in your complexion.

How to Use: Applying a color corrector can be intimidating, but don’t worry – the basics are easy to grasp. Before foundation, apply your color corrector to dark spots, areas of dullness, and imperfections. Draw directly under the eyes in an upside triangle, to conceal any darkness and brighten your under-eye area. Gently blend into skin with a cruelty-free kabuki brush or clean fingers. Now that’s just peachy!

Tip #2: Brighten the Eye Area

If the eyes are windows to the soul, then we’re going to do anything to keep them looking their best. After all, our eyes are one of the first things people notice about us – and can even be our claim to fame! Take Audrey Hepburn’s notoriety from her deep-set doe eyes, which would never be caught looking dull, puffy, or tired. But there are easy ways to make eyes look bigger and brighter – even when you’re tired or didn’t inherit the dreamy doe eyes!

Solution: Before you begin with a color corrector, get an eye mask on board to prep that delicate eye area. Treat tired peepers to our Bright Eyes Mask, for a daily pick me up to boost brightness and minimize dark circles. Enriched with hyaluronic acid for mega moisture, these masks also contain refreshing cucumber and stimulating green tea for toned, tightened skin.

How to Use: Place masks on freshly cleaned face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Gently remove the mask and lightly massage any remaining moisture into your skin. Do not rinse. Follow with a natural eye cream to lock in moisture and pep up the eyes.

Our fan-favorite Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream will surely put pep in your peepers! The energizing benefits of green tea and coffee with this concentrated formula deliver mega eye brightening and depuffing benefits. Vitamins C and E make star appearances in the formula: they’re both powerful antioxidants that protect skin from pollutants, and help reverse and prevent signs of premature aging like fine lines.

Tip #3: Shine and Outline – or Disguise!

Although the techniques are about as old as makeup, contouring and highlighting became popularized by a certain reality TV female clad. The corrective makeup trends exploded from there – and show no signs of slowing. Contouring is using makeup to define or reshape your facial structure and features. On the other hand, highlighting is where you lighten your face to emphasize features, such as your eyes or cheekbones.

Solution: To create a sculpted, defined look, try the user-friendly Cocoa Pigmented Bronzers. These little gems will warm any complexion with vitamin-rich fruit and cocoa pigments, and are laced with luminescent minerals for a sun-kissed glow. To bring out your best and brightest features, you can also try the 2nd Skin Concealers, which come in a variety of ultra-blendable shades.

How to Use: For a sun-kissed glow, apply bronzer to areas where the sun would naturally hit your face. This includes the upper forehead, hairline, cheekbones, and bridge of the nose. You can also blend bronzer under your jawline to contour. You’ll want to choose a color that is one or two shades darker than your skin, to create a slimming shadow effect. On the other hand, using a concealer to bring light to the high points of your face will illuminate the features you’d like to accentuate.

Need help? We get it – color correcting, contouring, and highlighting don’t come naturally to everyone. If you’d like help, check out our contour and highlight post where we teach you how to contour your face, apply highlighter, and contour and highlight for your face shape.

Tip #4: Use a Serum (or Two)

The best ways to brighten your complexion and enhance radiance start in your skincare routine. Incorporating brightening, exfoliating, and gently resurfacing skin products can safely give you a more natural, lit-from-within glow. If you’re not already using them, start by adding both a day and night serum to your skin care routine.

Solution: A glow-worthy daily serum will replenish lost moisture, while enhancing skin vibrancy. Our Fermented Rice Water Serum is designed to brighten, soften, and hydrate your skin. This formula pairs enzymes and amino acids from fermented rice water (sake) with concentrations of natural fruit acids and citrus. These ingredients lessen the appearance of dark spots and dullness for a balanced, more radiant complexion.

A lot of game-changing results can happen overnight with the right skincare, so adding a nighttime serum is a must. We recommend the lightweight 100% PURE™ Vitamin C Serum, made in a base of hydrating and soothing aloe gel. This serum helps to firm and brighten skin tone, while also promoting collagen production for a supple, dewy glow.

How to Use: After cleansing and toning, gently pat a quarter-sized amount of serum onto your face and neck. Follow up with a natural moisturizer during the day and a nighttime treatment moisturizer to repair and nourish your skin while you sleep – and wake up to brighter skin!

The 100% PURE Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Riché PM Treatment does just the trick, with a powerhouse of vitamin C and retinol to brighten and even skin while you sleep. This nightly dose of nutrients is designed to combat daily damage of the skin, soften and moisturize, and restore youthful suppleness and glow.

Tip #5: Try a DIY Face Mask

Glowing skin is always in – and a thorough skincare routine will keep things looking luminous. You don’t need to visit a spa to find the best cruelty-free or vegan face treatments – you can prepare them at home with food right out of your kitchen!

Solution: This DIY Ultimate Avocado Mask has the best of all worlds. It will brighten, soften, and hydrate your skin – and it’s edible! For this quick, easy recipe you’ll need:

1 ripe organic avocado
1 ripe organic banana
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil or jojoba oil
1 tsp of orange juice or lemon juice

How to Use: Combine all ingredients and mash everything in a food processor or by hand. Apply to clean, dry skin, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off and pat skin dry. Proceed with your daily serum or moisturizer. We highlighted great options for these products earlier. Be sure to also use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day – even if it’s cloudy outside.

Few created a dynamic skin duo of brightening and sun-protecting powers in our Green Tea SPF 30 sunscreen. This dual-purpose green tea sunscreen lotion shields skin from the sun's harmful UV rays with SPF 30 protection, while nourishing and rehydrating thirsty skin. Made with natural mineral zinc oxide and infused with the protective and anti-aging properties of green tea, plus powerful antioxidant benefits of vitamin E to soften and moisturize for comfortable all-day wear.

How often should I use a brightening serum?

Brightening serums can typically be used once or twice daily, depending on the specific product and your skin's needs. However, always refer to the product’s label for recommended usage. Some potent formulas might be designed for nightly use only, while others can be gentle enough for morning and evening application.

How long does it take to see the effects of a brightening serum?

The time it takes to see the effects of a brightening serum can vary based on the specific product and your skin type. Typically, with consistent use, initial results might be noticeable in as little as 2-4 weeks. However, for more prominent results, especially with deep pigmentation or dark spots, it might take several months. Patience and consistency are key. Always ensure you're using sunscreen daily, as sun exposure can counteract the benefits of brightening serums and worsen pigmentation.

What are key factors that can make your complexion less bright?

If your skin is suffering from a build-up of dead skin cells, pore buildup, and dehydration, your complexion will look less bright as these factors dull skin. To get your shine back, establish a consistent, natural skincare routine and use a gentle exfoliant to keep dulling factors at bay. Brightening skincare products will definitely give you brighter, smoother, and more luminous skin.

What is an important skincare product to brighten skin?

As we mentioned in the beginning, it takes a small ‘village’ of products to build on to create a bright horizon for your complexion. Each skin-brightening product, from a natural cleanser to mask, all work together for best skin results. We do know, however, that applying a moisturizer daily truly helps with skin brightening. It allows your skin to glow from within by locking in essential moisture, which will help it stay hydrated, plump, and shiny.

What lifestyle habits can increase skin’s brightness?

Destress; try to relax with meditation and self-care to reduce stress and pamper yourself. Stay hydrated; drink plenty of water throughout the day to ensure you are well-hydrated. Consider reducing your coffee and alcohol intake. Both are diuretic, so they can dehydrate your skin. Get enough sleep; your body and skin also recover while you sleep. Eat a healthy, balanced diet; antioxidant-rich foods like fruit with vitamin C and vegetables, like kale and spinach, are known to help the health and brightness of your skin.

In the quest for a brighter complexion, color-correcting makeup, skincare, and techniques have emerged as the top runners for the keys to brighter, healthier skin. And while color correcting and techniques to mask or enhance facial features are crucial, adapting a natural skincare routine with complexion-brightening ingredients is key to revealing skin that's luminous, even-toned, and a reflection of your skin's best self.

So, save your shiny coins for that wishing well and let our tips and a curated regimen for brighter skin illuminate your skincare journey to skin that shines brighter than a diamond.