Have you noticed a change in your skin texture? Rough patches appearing on your face? Areas of particularly dry or flaky skin? Or maybe your face is sporting a few new lumps and bumps? If this sounds like you, you might be dealing with uneven skin texture. 

It’s totally normal for skin to not be 100% uniform — unevenness can happen for a variety of reasons. More importantly, there are many ways you can improve skin texture easily and quickly at home.

Guide to Uneven Skin Texture

1. What is uneven skin texture?
2. Why is your skin texture uneven?
3. Skincare to treat uneven skin texture
4. Professional treatments for uneven skin texture
5. Best makeup for uneven skin texture

So, what is uneven skin texture exactly?

Skin texture refers to both the way your skin feels, as well as the overall smoothness of your complexion. What people mean when they say they have textured or uneven skin texture can vary quite a lot from person to person. It can mean anything from rough or dry patches to bumps, lumps and blemishes, and areas showing early fine lines and wrinkles.

These areas of uneven skin can appear anywhere on the face, from textured skin around the nose (often in the form of dryness, flakiness and pore irregularities) to textured skin between eyebrows (which may appear as small bumps under the skin or acne).

While many people prefer their skin to be smooth, supple and soft, and want to know how to ‘fix’ textured skin, it’s important to remember that our body’s largest organ often isn’t completely even or untextured all the time, and that’s not ‘bad’ or a ‘problem’. Skin texture can change with the seasons, our stress levels, age, and so many more factors, and no matter what’s going on with your face, you are beautiful as you are. 

With that said, if you do want to know how to get rid of textured skin, read on…

What causes uneven skin texture?

There are a lot of potential causes of textured skin, the most common being a build-up of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. As the cells sit on the skin, these areas begin to feel rough or dry and can make your complexion appear dull and lifeless. Skin texture changes with age, too – our cell turnover naturally slows as we get older, allowing those dead skin cells to build up and appear as blotchy, dry patches.

The sun also has a lot to answer for when it comes to uneven skin texture. Have you ever seen people who’ve spent many years out in the sunshine sans protection? Their skin often becomes dry, leathery and – yup, you guessed it – textured and uneven. That’s because the sun’s UVA and UVB rays break down collagen and elastin, which keep skin looking supple, soft and smooth.

Other factors that can contribute to a textured complexion can be smoking, having dry, dehydrated skin and certain skin conditions like eczema. 

What’s the best skincare for uneven skin texture? 

If you want to know how to improve skin texture, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of very simple ways to improve your skin texture, and, while there are certainly in-chair therapies that can work wonders, there’s a world of at-home options – packed with essential skincare ingredients for textured skin – that have been shown to deliver real results.

Be sure to exfoliate 

The best cleanser for textured skin is one that also gives your face a good exfoliate. Why? Because an exfoliator will slough away those dead skill cells that cause a textured complexion, leaving smoother, brighter, more radiant skin to shine.

To improve skin texture, exfoliate at least once a week and up to three times per week max. You can use a physical exfoliant to manually breaks down dead skin cells or a chemical version, which can be gentler on the skin. If you choose a physical exfoliant, only use it once per week and be sure to opt for something gentle, as abrasive exfoliants (or using any physical exfoliants too often) can cause micro-tears, which increase skin’s oil production, worsening texture dramas.

A less harsh and often more effective option? Chemical exfoliants, i.e. acids that break down the dead skin cells. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), like glycolic and lactic acid, and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), like salicylic acid, are some of the best ingredients for skin texture. 

You can also add a toner into the mix after cleansing and exfoliating to super-power the texture-nixing action – the best toner for skin texture is one that contains hydroxy acids and antioxidants.

Get stuck into serums

Speaking of antioxidants, these are also a winner in the fight for smoother skin. The best serums for skin texture are jam-packed with antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E – vitamin C, in particular, is one of, if not the best ingredient for skin texture. Along with providing protection from environmental free radicals that worsen textured skin, vitamin C reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and brightens the complexion. Triple threat! 

Vitamin A or Retinol is another ingredient to keep an eye out for when searching for the best serums for skin texture, as it stimulates collagen production and cell turnover.

Keep your complexion hydrated

Say it with us now: moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! Keeping your skin hydrated with a nourishing moisturiser is another key part of revealing smooth, even skin texture. Look for deeply nurturing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to replenish lost moisture – and if your skin is extremely dry or flaky, choose a thicker cream formula.

Oh, and don’t forget to ramp up the moisture content from the inside, too. Yes, drinking plenty of water can help battle uneven skin texture! While dehydrated skin can appear dull, lifeless and uneven, staying hydrated can help your complexion feel smooth and supple.

If you’re battling roughness or dry skin in the delicate eye area, add an eye cream into the mix. 

Slather on SPF

We mentioned that sun damage is a major potential contributor to uneven skin texture – so it makes sense that keeping your complexion protected from those damaging rays is one of the top ways to stop it from getting worse and prevent future damage. Use SPF daily, whether that’s a straight-up sunscreen, or a moisturiser or foundation containing SPF. Look for the ‘broad spectrum’ label, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and choose products containing at least SPF 30.

In-chair treatments 

If you want to really step up your skin-smoothing game, make an appointment to visit your dermatologist. There are many treatments that can help even out the texture of your complexion, from chemical peels (a more powerful form of chemical exfoliation administered by a professional) to microdermabrasion (which sloughs off and gently vacuums away dead skin cells), laser resurfacing and micro-needling (which both damage the skin in a controlled way to stimulate collagen production).

What about makeup for textured skin?

Uneven skin texture can make makeup application tricky, but that’s no reason to chuck in the towel on your beauty routine while you’re waiting for all those skincare ingredients for textured skin to kick in. With the right makeup regimen, you can create a smooth, flawless finish. 

After you’ve cleansed, toned, moisturised and SPF-ed, kick things off with a primer. This will create a smooth, even base to help your foundation glide on effortlessly. Choose a silicone-based primer to even out irregular texture or opt for a super-hydrating pick for particularly dry textured skin, then move along to step two: foundation. 

The best foundation for textured skin will depend on your specific area of concern, but generally speaking, foundation for textured dry skin needs to quench that thirsty complexion, particularly if you’re dealing with flaky patches. Avoid matte-finish formulas and powder or liquid-to-powder foundations, as these tend to settle into lines and cake on the skin. Instead, opt for moisturising foundations with a dewy finish. It’s also essential to get the shade spot-on – you may even want to add a few shades to your kit to accommodate seasonal skin colour changes.

Choose creamy concealers (again, you don’t want to accentuate dryness with a powdery formula) to nix the appearance of any problem areas – green-based cover-up to neutralise redness, orange or peach to brighten and lift dark shadows under the eyes.

Once you’ve aced your base, finish your look as usual, keeping in mind that cream blush, bronzer and highlighter will all be more subtle and blendable, and less likely to cake and highlight those textured areas.

Wrap it all up and give your makeup extra staying power with a spritz of moisturising finishing or setting spray.

Ready to give textured skin the flick? Check out Innoxa’s range of dermatologically tested skincare and makeup for uneven skin texture.