Nourishing your skin during perimenopause and menopause
Menopause is usually described medically as being the twelve months after a woman’s last period and the years leading up to that point, when women may exhibit a number of different symptoms and side effects of this hormonal change are known as perimenopause.
Menopause occurs differently for every woman and can happen at different points in their life and there is no normal time or way to go through menopause, however the most common time for this to occur is between the ages of 45 and 55. The process usually lasts about seven years but can last up to 14 years for some people. This duration is dependent upon factors such as lifestyle, race, and ethnicity.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Menopause and perimenopause can come with difficult symptoms. During menopause the ovaries stop producing eggs and hormone levels change dramatically. The body begins to change the way it uses energy, women gain weight more easily and can have issues with bone and heart health. You may deal with anything from hot flushes and night sweats to forgetfulness, headaches, tiredness, insomnia, irritability, and depression.
How does menopause affect my skin?
It also changes the way your body produces collagen and skin can become less elastic, causing an increase in fine lines and wrinkles. You can lose fat from underneath the skin, cause it to droop around the neck, jawline, and cheeks.
The upside of Menopause
All in all, it sounds like a terrible time, but have no fear, there are plenty of upsides to menopause as well. It can see the end of hormonal issues like PMS, migraines, fibroids, menstrual pain, and endometriosis. And it usually comes with a rush of energy, both physical and psychological that is often called menopausal zest. It marks a new time with less responsibilities and more energy. And if you know how to take care of yourself during the process, it can be less painful and difficult than the worst-case scenarios might sound. Doctors are well equipped to guide you through hormonal change and help you protect your bones and heart.
How to take care of my skin during menopause and perimenopause?
When it comes to skincare that protects and heals menopausal skin, we’ve done the research and the work for you. From the age of about 45 onwards, skincare becomes about giving back to your skin. Your skin is likely to be dryer as it loses some of its ability to hold water and it will have less collagen and elastin to help it bounce back. The lack of skin firmness can lead to visible pores and occasionally the change in hormones may lead to acne breakouts as well. It will be important to spend time working with your skin to see what it needs and creating a skincare routine that will support and nourish your skin as it changes and ages.
Skincare tips for perimenopausal and menopausal skin
Using powerful, enriching oils within your skincare routine is valuable for older skin that needs extra protection from the elements. Look for nourishing, protective ingredients like Sea-buckthorn oil, the richest known natural source of carotenoids, beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A), vitamin E, vitamin K1, and beta-sitosterol. This oil is not only good for cleansing and gently exfoliating the skin, it also aids in healing.
Another powerful oil is Pumpkin Seed oil which is rich in vitamin E, zinc, omega 3-and 6- fatty acids, as well as antioxidants so the benefits for your skin are almost endless. It helps to retain moisture, fight free radicals and this in turn keeps skin young and able to regenerate and protect itself.
You may even like to add in an intensive moisture treatment every now and then, something with shea or cocoa butter and some natural waxes like beeswax to deeply nourish and protect.
Vanessa Gray Lyndon (Founder and Formulator of Vanessa Megan) has curated a list of our products that contain these incredible ingredients and products she recommends for menopausal and perimenopausal skin.
Cleanse:
Our Petitgrain Ph Balancing Cream Cleanser gently cleanses without stripping the skin. It contains nourishing shea butter to soothe and organic May Chang to tone and clarify the pores. It is gentle enough for dry skin but also perfect for skin suffering from breakouts.
Exfoliate:
The way you will exfoliate will depend on the way your skin is changing. If it is rough and needs a deep exfoliation to remove dead skin cells or is prone to breakouts you may want to use our AHA & Willow Bark Clarifying Serum a couple of times a week to help remove oil plugs, dirt, pollution and dead skin cells.
If your skin is drier you will want something more emollient like our Rosemary & Jojoba Exfoliating Cream which balances and tones while encouraging cell turnover.
Moisturise:
During the day, protect your skin with our Vitamin A+B+C Daily Face Cream SPF 15+ as the sun is still the number one cause of skin aging and you need to protect yourself even more when your skin has less natural resilience.
At night, opt for something rich and restorative like our Aeon Azure Regenerative Crème which submerges the skin in moisture, protecting the surface layers from pollutants, helping soothe dryness and assisting in repairing the skin’s external barrier using peptides from nature and the anti-aging hero ingredient bakuchiol, nature’s alternative to retinol.
Mask:
Once a week (or more if you need it), we recommend a deep healing mask like our Gold and Lime Caviar Sheet Mask, which contains colloidal gold to prevent and heal microdamage, increase elasticity, slow collagen depletion and stimulate cells to firm the skin.
For a skin recharge try our Cryo Facelift Ice Cube Treatment, which uses polar temperatures to shock your skin into improved circulation, immediate functional recovery, reduced inflammation and boosted glow.
Twice a week, use an LED mask like our Butterfly Effect Medical Grade Silicone LED Mask, which will stimulate cellular activity including the fibroblasts that produce collagen.
Everyday:
Our Intensive Dermal Repair is a deeply restorative balm designed to repair and protect and can be used daily over or under creams and kept in your bag for touch ups whenever your skin is thirsty or needs calming.
