Menopause brings a number of changes, and while much of the conversation focuses on familiar symptoms such as hot flushes and changes in sleep, its effects on the skin are also worth understanding.
During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly oestrogen, can influence the skin's hydration, firmness and overall condition. You may notice that your complexion feels drier, looks less radiant or becomes more sensitive than it once was. Your usual skincare routine may no longer feel quite as effective, and your skin may benefit from a different approach.
Understanding these changes can help you make informed skincare choices. By prioritising gentle cleansing, effective hydration and skin barrier support, you can help maintain a comfortable, healthy-looking complexion through every stage of life.
How Does Menopause Affect the Skin?
Oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining skin health. It contributes to collagen production, skin hydration and elasticity, helping skin maintain its structure, resilience and suppleness.
As oestrogen levels fluctuate and decline during perimenopause and menopause, changes in the skin can become more noticeable. These may include:
- Increased dryness: Skin may feel tighter or less comfortable as its ability to retain moisture changes.
- Greater sensitivity: Your complexion may become more reactive, with certain skincare products or environmental factors causing irritation where they previously did not.
- Changes in skin texture: Skin may feel rougher or appear less smooth and supple.
- Reduced radiance: Changes in hydration and skin condition can leave the complexion looking dull or tired.
- Changes in the skin barrier: Skin may become more susceptible to moisture loss and external environmental stressors.
Everyone experiences menopause differently, and the changes to your skin will vary from person to person. Understanding what your complexion needs can help you adapt your routine accordingly.
Why Skin Barrier Support Matters During Menopause
The skin barrier plays an essential role in maintaining healthy-looking skin. It helps retain moisture while providing a protective defence against external irritants and environmental stressors.
When the skin barrier is weakened or compromised, moisture can be lost more easily, leaving skin feeling dry, uncomfortable and more sensitive.
As skin changes during perimenopause and menopause, maintaining a healthy skin barrier becomes an important consideration. A routine focused on gentle cleansing, replenishing hydration and maintaining moisture can help improve skin comfort and support a healthier-looking complexion.
Building a Skincare Routine for Changing Skin
When considering how to care for dry or sensitive skin during menopause, a consistent routine can make all the difference. Rather than introducing multiple new products at once, focus on four essential steps: prepare, treat, moisturise and boost.
1. Prepare: Gentle Cleansing
Cleansing is the first step in any effective skincare routine. Choose a gentle cleanser that removes daily impurities without leaving skin feeling stripped or tight.
Look for formulations that cleanse effectively while helping maintain skin comfort and hydration. If your complexion has become more sensitive, avoid unnecessarily harsh cleansing products that may leave it feeling uncomfortable.
2. Treat: Targeted Serums
Serums offer targeted skincare benefits and can help address specific concerns within your routine.
Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid help attract and retain moisture, supporting a more hydrated and plump-looking complexion. Other carefully selected active ingredients can help improve the appearance of skin texture and radiance.
If your skin has become more sensitive, introduce active ingredients gradually and choose formulations suited to your skin's needs.
3. Moisturise: Replenish Hydration
Moisturising is particularly important when skin feels drier or less comfortable.
Choose formulations that help replenish hydration and support the skin barrier, leaving your complexion feeling softer, smoother and more comfortable. Consistent moisturisation can also help maintain the skin's moisture levels throughout the day.
4. Boost: Additional Skin Support
Complement your daily routine with targeted products such as eye creams, hydrating treatments and facial masks.
These additional steps can provide a more intensive approach to hydration and help address specific skincare concerns, giving your complexion extra support when it needs it.
Remember that daily sun protection remains essential. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF every morning to help protect against UV damage, which contributes to visible signs of skin ageing.
Discover NEOSTRATA Restore
When skin feels dry, sensitive or in need of additional support, choosing skincare that prioritises hydration and skin comfort can make an important difference.
The NEOSTRATA Restore Collection features gentle yet effective PHA-powered skincare, developed for dry and sensitive skin. The collection helps replenish hydration, support the skin barrier and promote a smoother, healthier-looking complexion.
Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) offer gentle exfoliating benefits while also helping to attract and retain moisture. This makes them a valuable addition to skincare routines where maintaining hydration and skin comfort is a priority.
From gentle cleansing and exfoliation to daily moisturisation and targeted treatments, the Restore Collection provides a comprehensive approach to caring for skin that needs additional hydration and barrier support.
Your Skin, Restored
Your skin's needs can change throughout life, and perimenopause and menopause can be an opportunity to reassess what your complexion needs from its daily skincare routine.
By prioritising gentle cleansing, effective hydration and skin barrier support, you can help maintain skin comfort and promote a smoother, more hydrated and healthier-looking complexion.
Discover the NEOSTRATA Restore Collection and explore a skincare routine designed to support dry and sensitive skin.