Changes to your skin can creep up on you slowly. One minute your face looks plump, youthful and bright, and the next it’s dry and uncomfortable, and you’re wondering why your moisturiser is no longer…well, moisturising. Plus the makeup that you’ve happily worn for years (even decades!), just isn’t sitting ‘right’ or working for you anymore.
As we hit perimenopause & menopause, oestrogen and progesterone levels drop, resulting in the reduction of collagen, which in turn leads to thinner, sagging skin and the appearance of more wrinkles. Not to mention the decrease in your skin’s own oil production as well as hyaluronic acid, which means skin becomes much drier – and often itchy. Then there’s the increased sensitivity to the sun, which can cause hyperpigmentation and sun spots, and finally shifting hormones, that lead many of us to experience spots or acne, the likes of which we mightn’t have seen since our teens! Yep, that’s a lot of skin changes to get your head – and face – around.
Specific Skin Changes:
1. DRYNESS & DEHYDRATION
Given that estrogen helps your skin hold onto moisture, when it drops, you might notice dryness, tightness, or even flakiness.
This is why we’ve packed plenty of hyaluronic acid into our products. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin and has the ability to draw in and retain water (a single molecule can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water). Therefore, introducing it to your skincare will result in plumped up, hydrated skin with less signs of dehydration or fine lines.
We also added ceramides to our Soothe Me Sleep Cream. These are lipids that hold skin cells together, forming the skin’s protective barrier and helping to lock moisture into the skin. They’re an important ingredient in helping your skin look and feel its best, whilst also defending it against pollution and UV rays.
2. SAGGING SKIN & LOSS OF ELASTICITY
Collagen production takes a major nosedive during menopause — dropping by about 30% in the first five years. This can lead to crepey sagging skin, especially around the jawline, cheeks, and neck.
Our Plump Up Firming Serum boasts peptides – small fragments of proteins – to stimulate collagen and elastin production and promote firmer, smoother looking skin. We’ve also added resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, for its impressive anti-ageing properties. It’s known to support healthy collagen, protect the skin’s barrier and also calm the skin and minimise redness. Plump Up is sure to become your new BBF (Best Beauty Friend).
3. HYPERPIGMENTATION & DULLNESS
Sun damage + hormonal changes = an inevitable combination of dark spots and uneven skin tone. It’s the lower estrogen levels that can lead to increased, uneven melanin production, which results in dark patches – especially if you were something of a sun-worshipper in the ’80s! Additionally, thinning skin loses its glow, and given that the natural skin renewal process slows down with age and hormonal changes, a duller, less vibrant complexion usually follows.
Which is why we created our Brighten Up Radiance Serum. We’ve added azelaic acid to this must-have product, thanks to its many skin benefits. Its mild exfoliating action helps to refine the skin’s surface, and it also works to even out skin tone by fading any discoloration. It’s something of an antioxidant powerhouse that promotes brighter, healthier looking skin.
4. INCREASED SENSITIVITY
It’s not uncommon during menopause to suddenly find that your favourite skincare products don’t ‘agree’ with you anymore – perhaps they sting, make your face feel tight or cause redness. That’s because your skin barrier weakens during menopause (again thanks to decreasing estrogen levels) and the skin’s pH is also altered, which can lead to irritation and inflammation.
Our Brighten Up Radiance Serum and Hydrate Me Day Moisturiser both contain niacinamide to soothe and strengthen the skin. This powerful multi-tasker is a vitamin that works hard to improve skin barrier function, reduce inflammation, and even out skin tone. It can also help to minimise the appearance of pores and fine lines, and boost the overall texture of the skin. As skincare ingredients go, this is one of our favourites!
Here’s to happy, healthy & glowing menopausal skin!
