Menopause and the skin

The menopause is a natural part of ageing as women’s estrogen levels start to decrease. Due to an imbalance in hormones, most women will experience menopausal symptoms which can include hot flushes, night sweats, low mood and difficulty sleeping - all of which can have an impact on the skin.

Collagen production significantly reduces during the menopause, leading to a loss of elasticity in the skin. This can result in cheeks appearing a little sunken and your jawline becoming less defined. Declining oil production can also leave your skin dry, looking dull and feeling tight. There’s a lot to contend with when dealing with menopausal skin!

Menopausal skin tips

Here at Terre Verdi, we are passionate about skin and skincare. We have put together some skincare tips to help you deal with menopausal skin.

Hydrate

As hormones fluctuate and oestrogen levels start to drop, the skin’s ability to hold on to moisture starts to decrease, which can lead to dry, dull skin. To combat this effect, keeping skin hydrated is vital. It will help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, improve elasticity, and leave it looking smoother and feeling softer.

Starting with cleansing, it is important to choose a cleanser that is rich in hydrating properties such as soothing Jojoba oil, Argan oil and nourishing Vitamin E. At Terre Verdi, we like to use an oil or balm cleanser massaged onto the skin and removed with a warm damp cloth (this process also works as a mild exfoliator). Our GoodOils Cleansing Oil and ArganShea Multitasking Cream are both cleansers suitable for dry skin.

It is vital to use a serum or moisturiser (or both!) to keep skin hydrated. If your skin is particularly dry, we would advise layering a serum under your moisturiser. Serums are likely to contain more active ingredients than your moisturiser which penetrate deeper into the skin. Choose one specifically designed for dry or maturing skin such as our FranChouliPom Nourishing Facial Serum and look for ingredients such as Argan oil, packed with omega fatty acids and Vitamin E to deeply hydrate. A moisturiser works on the outer layer of the skin. It can help to protect the skin as well as soothe irritation and eliminate dry patches. NeroliPom Moisturiser contains anti-oxidising and hydrating Pomegranate oil and soothing Aloe Vera.

If you feel your skin is still in need of an extra hydration boost, then look for a treatment mask designed for dry or mature skin. We like to use an overnight mask to allow the ingredients to really get to work! Our ArganShea Multitasking Cream is great for this.

Brighten

During menopause, you may find that your skin appears to have lost its glow. This can be due to the combination of a reduction in oil being produced, alongside a decrease in cell turnover, resulting in a build-up of dead skin cells.

Using a gentle exfoliator, a couple of times a week, can help remove dead skin cells and brighten the skin. Our CocoaBamboo Exfoliating Treatment ClayMask for Face and Body combines Cocoa fruit powder with its high levels of antioxidants to help protect and repair the skin, and Bamboo powder known to help increase collagen production.

Look for a treatment mask that includes brightening ingredients such as natural AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) found in fruit and vegetables that work as natural exfoliants to gently remove dead skin cells helping your skin to look brighter and feel smoother.

Balance

Skin can experience an imbalance during menopause that leads to breakouts. This can be caused by stress, hot flushes or changes in hormonal levels.

Keep your skincare routine simple when dealing with breakouts. Look for ingredients that will help calm the skin such as Jojoba oil (don’t be afraid to use oils on problem skin), antioxidant-rich White Tea oil and Calendula extract with its anti-inflammatory properties. Choose products designed to balance the skin. Our Herbs&Trees Balancing Serum helps rebalance sebum production and relieve inflammation to deal with problem skin. AcquaDiRosa Balancing Mist helps restore the skin’s PH balance and has skin calming, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. A spritz of a floral toner when you experience a hot flush can also provide some welcome relief!

Protect

We can’t talk about skincare and not mention sunscreen! I think we all know by now the importance of protecting our skin from the damaging effects of UV rays. The drop in oestrogen levels leaves the skin even more vulnerable to sun damage, such as dark spots and fine lines. Make SPF the last step in your skincare routine for best results.

Conclusion

We can take full control of the menopausal effects on our skin by following four simple tips:

1) keeping the skin hydrated during the day is foremost important;

2) exfoliating regularly will get rid of dead cells and help brighten the skin;

3) rebalancing the skin will help keep it more even and healthy;

4) protecting it from the sun will avoid unwanted fine lines and dark spots.

Ageing does not have to have a negative effect on our natural glow!