Dry Skin During Perimenopause? Here’s What Helps

Let’s be real—no one warned us that our skin would suddenly stop cooperating after 45. One day you’re glowing, the next you’re staring at flaky patches, fine lines that weren’t there yesterday, and skin that soaks up moisturizer like a sponge and still feels tight. Spoiler alert: it’s not your products. It’s your hormones.

If your skin is drier than ever, you’re not doing anything wrong—you’re simply entering a new chapter. Perimenopause kicks off a series of hormonal changes that directly impact how your skin behaves. The good news? You can absolutely support your skin through this shift with a few smart changes.

Why Your Skin Is Suddenly Dry

As estrogen drops during perimenopause, your skin produces less oil, loses elasticity, and becomes thinner and more fragile. This hormonal shift also reduces your skin’s ability to hold onto water, leading to dehydration and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL)—which is just a fancy way of saying your skin is losing moisture faster than it can keep up.

But that’s not the only problem.

Lower estrogen also slows down cell turnover, so dead skin cells build up on the surface. This creates a barrier that blocks your serums and moisturizers from doing their job—leaving you stuck in a frustrating cycle of dryness no matter how many layers you apply.

What Actually Helps

Let’s break it down. Here’s how to bring your skin back to life—without overwhelming it.

1. Exfoliate to Penetrate

If you’re not exfoliating regularly, you’re essentially applying your expensive serums on top of a wall of dead skin. That’s why it’s crucial to exfoliate to hydrate—because your actives can’t get through without a clear path.

• Use the Multi Acid TCA Face Peel 4–5 times per week to speed up cell turnover and resurface the skin.
• Dermaplaning once a week removes dead skin and peach fuzz, allowing deeper product penetration and a smoother glow.
• This combination is the cornerstone of my “stacked” method—it forces renewal and unlocks visible results.

2. Layer Hydration Strategically

Dry skin isn’t solved by just slathering on a thick cream. You need a layering approach that mirrors what your skin is missing.

• Start with EGF Activating Serum to trigger collagen production and cellular renewal.
• Follow with HA Hydrating Serum to pull water into the skin like a magnet.
• Lock it all in with the Microbiome Rescue Moisturizer (loaded with ceramides) and a few drops of Shiunko Blush Facial Oil to seal and protect.

This triple approach addresses all the layers of your skin barrier and helps prevent TEWL—so hydration actually stays put.

3. Stimulate Skin Repair

When cell turnover slows, you need to give your skin a reason to regenerate.

• Microneedling 3–5x per week boosts collagen, reduces fine lines, and helps your serums absorb more effectively.
• EGF plays a key role here—this peptide mimics the skin’s natural healing signals and speeds up repair.
• Add the Ice Roller to calm inflammation and cool skin down from hot flashes—it’s my go-to for morning de-puffing and mid-day resets.

A Few More Things...

Stress, poor sleep, and hot flashes (thanks again, progesterone) also impact skin hydration. When I started taking progesterone to help with sleep, the change was instant. No more waking up at 3:30am—and better sleep gave my skin the chance to heal overnight. Estrogen cream? Total game-changer for skin texture, hydration, and even hair growth.

If you’re curious about going deeper, talk to a hormone specialist about HRT. It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth exploring if you want more than just topical results.

You’re Not Alone in This

Perimenopause isn’t just about powering through—it’s about pivoting. Your skin is changing, but that doesn’t mean giving up on it. With the right method and a little consistency, you can restore your glow and take back control—on your terms.

Want to know what your skin really needs? Take the quiz to get personalized product recommendations based on your concerns and goals.