Hair and Beauty

Skincare Through Perimenopause and Beyond

3 min read
Skincare Through Perimenopause and Beyond

By Samara Searle, Registered Nurse

Wrinkles aren’t the only skin change women may notice as they move through perimenopause and menopause.

As oestrogen levels decline, changes to collagen production, hydration and the skin barrier can leave skin feeling drier, thinner, more sensitive and less elastic. Some women may also notice slower wound healing, increased facial hair or the return of adult acne as hormone levels shift.

The good news is there are ways to adapt your skincare routine and treatments to support your skin through these changes – and it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Start with the foundations

For women approaching or going through menopause, healthy skin should come before chasing individual lines, pigmentation or other concerns.

My background in intensive care and plastic surgery nursing has shaped the way I approach treatment planning. Rather than jumping straight to intensive treatments, I start by looking at overall skin health and how the skin is functioning day to day.

For many women, that means rebuilding hydration and supporting the skin barrier before introducing treatments designed to improve thickness, texture or elasticity.

Choose ingredients that work harder

You don’t need a bathroom cabinet overflowing with products. Instead, look for ingredients that address the changes happening within the skin.

  • Retinoids: Among the most well-evidenced topical ingredients for supporting collagen production and cell turnover. They can be irritating, however, so should be introduced gradually and appropriately for your skin.

  • Peptides: A gentler option that can help support skin firmness and may suit more reactive skin.

  • Niacinamide: Helps support the skin barrier while improving tone and texture.

  • Hyaluronic acid: Helps attract and retain moisture, making it particularly useful as skin becomes drier.

  • Vitamin C and other antioxidants: Help protect against oxidative stress and can support collagen production.

  • Ceramides: Look for ceramide-rich moisturisers to help strengthen a skin barrier that may become drier and more vulnerable.

  • SPF: This remains non-negotiable. UV exposure accelerates collagen breakdown and pigmentation, making daily sun protection particularly important.

Be careful not to over-treat

More isn’t necessarily better.

Menopausal skin can become more reactive, so continually adding strong active ingredients, peels or intensive treatments can sometimes do more harm than good.

A philosophy I live by is that if something doesn’t genuinely support skin health or barrier function, I won’t recommend it, regardless of how well it is marketed.

If you are considering in-clinic treatments, options such as micro-needling can be used for collagen remodelling, while laser treatments may help address texture and pigmentation. The right treatment, however, will depend on your individual skin, concerns and medical history.

Don’t forget what happens outside the bathroom

Skincare products are only one part of the picture.

Adequate protein intake supports the body’s normal tissue repair processes, while resistance exercise is important for maintaining muscle and bone health as we age. Sleep matters too, with chronic stress and poor sleep potentially affecting skin health and recovery.

In other words, the lifestyle side of ageing well deserves just as much attention as what you apply to your face.

Think long-term

The aim shouldn’t be to wage war on every sign of ageing. Instead, think about building resilient, healthy skin that functions well for the years ahead.

And you don’t need to wait until significant changes appear. A simple, tailored routine that supports hydration, the skin barrier and sun protection can be established well before visible hormonal changes begin.

The key is to build the right foundations, introduce active ingredients thoughtfully and adjust your routine as your skin changes.

After all, good skincare through perimenopause, menopause and beyond isn’t about trying to turn back the clock – it’s about giving your skin what it needs at every stage

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