How to Brighten Sallow Skin

If your facial skin has yellow undertones (sallow or olive) and looks a bit dull, there are long-term methods to boost its radiance, and a couple of tricks that work wonders instantly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• At-home alpha-beta hydroxy acid peel
• Skin care products with Vitamin C
• Lavender primer or corrector
• Neutral blush or bronzer
• Bright-toned sheer blush

Long-Term Results

1. Start weekly use of a good at-home alpha-beta hydroxy acid peel to remove dullness caused by layers of dead skin.
2. Use a moisturizer or anti-oxidant serum with at least 10 percent vitamin C. Or buy booster tubes of Vitamin C powder to add to your moisturizer. Vitamin C is a good brightener for sallow skin.
3. Massage your face gently each day with a washcloth or your fingers to encourage blood flow and a naturally bright color.

For Instant Gratification

4. Mix a lavender-based liquid concealer/primer, like the one offered by Smashbox, in the palm of your hand with your usual liquid or cream foundation. Apply foundation as usual.
5. Brush on a lavender mineral powder corrector all over as a first step if you wear mineral powder foundation. Several online mineral make-up companies offer this product.
6. Apply a natural-tone blush or a bit of bronzer under your cheekbones and up toward your hairline.
7. Layer a livelier color, like a sheer red, on the apples of your cheeks only to brighten your whole face.

Tips & Warnings

• You can jump-start the process with a series of professional peels and use at-home peels to maintain and improve on results.
• Alpha-hydroxy peels may contain glycolic or lactic acid. An alpha-beta peel will also have salicylic acid—the beta hydroxy acid. Alpha hydroxy acids are water soluble only, while beta hydroxy acid is oil soluble, which allows it to penetrate into pores. If you have no pore issues—blackheads, whiteheads, clogs--you can use an alpha-only peel.
• Look for peels or creams with alpha hydroxy acids listed in the top 3 ingredients to get the proper concentration. Beta hydroxy acid can be listed in the middle or even toward the bottom of the list and still have an effective concentration.
• Most people can use an at-home strength peel weekly, but if your skin is sensitive you might have to cut back on frequency or try a gentler product. Lactic acid is the gentler of the alpha-hydroxy acids. And salicylic acid tends to be less irritating than alpha hydroxy acids because it’s derived from aspirin and retains some anti-inflammatory properties.
• Acid peels make your skin more sun-sensitive. Use sun block with these products.
• Lavender is opposite to yellow on the color wheel and can give sallow complexions a healthy glow and brighten up dull olive tones.
• Warming liquid primer in your hand for a moment makes it easier to mix.
• In addition to normalizing sallow skin, lavender correctors/concealers can help hide yellow bruises, seriously dark under-eye circles and dark spots on bronze skin.
• You can apply a liquid primer to your entire face first and then apply liquid foundation over it, but it’s tough to pat the foundation on gently enough not to disturb the concealer.