What Your Skin Needs Now
Gentle guidance for a new season of care
Once you start noticing the signs like dryness where there was oil, sensitivity you never had before, breakouts in new places, it’s natural to feel frustrated or even a little betrayed by your skin.
Your skin isn’t failing. It’s adapting. Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause change the way your skin holds moisture, repairs itself, and reacts to ingredients. This is the perfect time to re-examine what you use, what you really need, and how you want to care for yourself going forward.
Less fighting. More supporting.
This isn’t the moment for harsh solutions or ten-step routines that promise to "fix" you. Your skin is already working hard to adapt to changing estrogen levels, slower cell turnover, and reduced oil production. Overloading it can make things worse.
Instead, think of your skincare like a conversation. What’s your skin telling you? And how can you respond kindly?
Focus on Moisture + Barrier Support
As estrogen drops, your skin naturally loses some of its ability to hold onto water and maintain a strong barrier. That’s why dryness, tightness, and sensitivity show up so often.
What helps:
Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to draw water in
Emollients like plant oils to soften and fill in tiny cracks
Occlusives (if your skin likes them) to seal moisture in
Barrier-loving ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and aloe to calm and strengthen
Gentle Cleansing and Exfoliation
Your skin may not tolerate strong cleansers or scrubs like it used to. Foaming or harsh cleansers can strip away too much oil, leaving you drier and more reactive.
What helps:
Cream or oil cleansers that remove impurities without stripping
Low-foam, non-stripping formulas
Gentle exfoliation with enzymes or mild acids. It’s time to skip the rough scrubs
Educate and Be Picky About Actives
You don’t have to give up effective ingredients, but you may need to use them differently.
What helps:
Ease in slowly with retinoids or acids if you want them
Buffer with moisturizer if needed
Prioritize calm over aggressive “results”
Simplify Your Routine
Perimenopausal skin often does better with fewer products, especially when it’s feeling sensitive. It’s okay to pare back and get to know your skin again.
What helps:
Cleanse gently
Hydrate deeply
Seal it in with moisturizer or oil
Treat thoughtfully, not forcefully
Trust Your Intuition
If something doesn’t feel right, like burning, persistent redness, rashes, changes in moles, see your dermatologist. Your skin deserves professional attention when it needs it.
This Is Just the Beginning
Your skin will keep changing, and so will your needs. It’s not about perfect routines or eternal youth. Let’s learn to respond with care, curiosity, and a little grace.
Remember - Moisturize. Breathe. Be kind to your beautiful, evolving skin.
