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Skin guide / Sensitive skin

Dullness and uneven tone on sensitive skin

Skip the acids at first and brighten with hydration and niacinamide; a well-watered surface reflects light. If an exfoliant is wanted, a polyhydroxy acid (gluconolactone) is the mildest of the family.

What dullness and uneven tone is

Dullness is light scattering off a rough surface of dead cells, often with uneven pigment underneath: post-breakout marks, sun spots, melasma. Exfoliants (acids or enzymes) smooth the surface; vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid and licorice root are the cosmetic brighteners; sunscreen keeps new pigment from forming. Hydroquinone is prescription-only in the US since 2020 and is not sold here.

What sensitive skin wants

Fragrance-free creams with short ingredient lists; soothing agents such as colloidal oatmeal, panthenol, allantoin and centella. Patch-test everything behind the ear for three days.

Cleanser: a fragrance-free cream or micellar cleanser. Go easy on: Fragrance and essential oils, high-strength acids and retinoids started without a ramp, physical scrubs, and alcohol denat. high on the list.

Look for on the label

Vitamin Can antioxidant; L-ascorbic acid is the studied form, derivatives are gentlerNiacinamidea vitamin B3 form used for toneGlycolic acidthe smallest alpha hydroxy acid; an exfoliantLactic acida milder alpha hydroxy acid that also hydratesAzelaic acida dicarboxylic acid used for tone and textureTranexamic acidan amino-acid derivative used in cosmetics for dark spots

Go easy on, for dullness and uneven tone: Using an acid, a retinoid and vitamin C all in one evening; skipping sunscreen (every brightener is undone by a bare-faced noon); physical scrubs with crushed shells.

Morning

  1. Gentle cleanser
  2. Vitamin C serum
  3. Moisturizer
  4. Sunscreen SPF 30+, reapplied if outdoors

Evening

  1. Cleanser
  2. Exfoliating acid 2 to 3 nights a week, or a retinoid on the others
  3. Moisturizer

Thinnest to thickest, water-based before oil-based, sunscreen last in the morning and first off at night. Add one new product at a time and give it two weeks. The routine tool orders whatever you own.

On the site for dullness and uneven tone

All →

Tagged from the maker's own description; serums and oils, masks and exfoliants, toners and mists, moisturizers first. Read each label against the list above.

Duo Skin Serum Set for Balanced CareMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Duo Skin Serum Set for Balanced Care
Two all-natural serums for targeted skin concerns
$64
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Plant-Based Skin Serum for Daily RoutinesMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Plant-Based Skin Serum for Daily Routines
Natural serum targeting specific skin concerns
$39
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Vegan Handcrafted Face Bar and Hair SerumMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Vegan Handcrafted Face Bar and Hair Serum
Gentle handcrafted face bar with natural ingredients
$43
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Eyelash Serum With Peptides and PanthenolMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Eyelash Serum With Peptides and Panthenol
Peptide serum for longer-looking, conditioned lashes
$70
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Calming and Clearing Vitamin C Facial SerumMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Calming and Clearing Vitamin C Facial Serum
Vitamin C serum for aging, acne, and redness
$50
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Non-Surgical Facelift Cream With Gold SyringeMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Non-Surgical Facelift Cream With Gold Syringe
Syringe-applied cream for the look of smoother skin
$74
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Recharging Night Cream With Gold, Retinol and Hyaluronic AcidMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Recharging Night Cream With Gold, Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid
Night cream with gold, retinol and hyaluronic acid
$59
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7
Vitamin C Ferulic Serum for Face and EyesMade in the USA
Face and hair · Serums and oils
Vitamin C Ferulic Serum for Face and Eyes
Vitamin C serum for tone, texture and firmness
$87
Ships in 2 days · arrives in 3–7

Other concerns, sensitive skin

DrynessBreakoutsRednessFine linesSun

Dullness and uneven tone on other skin types

DryOilyCombinationNormal

Dew & Balm describes ingredients and label categories from the public record (FDA OTC monographs, the EU CosIng database, PubMed) and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. A concern that persists, hurts, bleeds or spreads is for a dermatologist, and anything on prescription is between you and yours.