As women go through the perimenopausal and menopausal stage, their skin and body goes through changes that can affect their skincare and makeup routines.
Less Oestrogen
During perimenopause, which can begin as early as a woman’s 30s or 40s, the body gradually produces less oestrogen. In addition to the well-known symptoms of hot flushes, night sweats, itchy skin, irregular periods, mood changes, sleep problems, weight gain, low libido and brain fog (to name but a few!), this hormonal change can lead to a decrease in collagen and elastin, which can cause dryness, thinning, and sagging of the skin.
Additionally, hormonal fluctuations can cause acne flareups, dark circles and puffiness. I turned 40 this summer and have definitely found some of these things creeping in over the last couple of years. To combat these changes, women need to adjust their skincare routine.
What worked in your 20s and early 30s won’t give you the same results during perimenopause or menopause. A gentle cleanser, toner and moisturiser are essential, as well as a daily SPF to prevent additional damage from the sun. Products with retinoids will help boost collagen production and elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Hydrating Serum
To combat dryness, women experiencing dry skin also benefit from using a hydrating serum such as hyaluronic acid or massaging in a facial oil at bedtime. It’s really important to start taking care of your skin at this stage in life if you’ve not really paid it much attention up until now, so ditch the soap and baby wipes and invest in a good set of products.
When it comes to makeup, simpler is often better during perimenopause and menopause. Heavy liquid foundations and powders can settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more noticeable. Instead, a tinted moisturiser, tinted SPF or BB cream can provide light coverage while also hydrating the skin. Cream blushes and highlighters can add a youthful glow to the skin, avoiding powdery finishes that accentuate dryness.
If you are a huge fan of matte makeup and don’t want to ditch the powder, switch to mineral foundation powders instead. These have microsphere pigments and are designed not to cake or sit in fine lines. Women must listen to their bodies and adjust their skincare and makeup routines through perimenopause and menopause.
Women can feel confident and beautiful at any age with a few simple changes. This is an area I am particularly passionate about and I specialise in one-to-one skincare and makeup advice to help peri/menopausal women find their perfect routine to look good and feel great.
Visit Caroline’s website here, or for more information on finding your menopausal makeup mojo, message Caroline on Facebook here. Finally, for more beauty related articles, click here.
