How to Manage Skin Changes During Menopause

Because your skincare needs evolve, just like you do.

If you’ve looked in the mirror lately and thought, “What is happening to my skin?” — you’re not alone. Menopause isn’t just hot flashes and mood swings. It hits your skin, too — and hard.

Suddenly, your face feels tight and dry, no matter how much moisturizer you slather on. You might see more sagging, thinner skin, or even unexpected breakouts. The products that used to work stop delivering, and your glow seems to disappear overnight.

This isn’t bad luck or bad products — it’s your hormones. And once you understand what’s changing, you can adjust your skincare in ways that actually support your skin.

What’s Actually Happening to Your Skin During Menopause

Once estrogen levels start to drop, so does your skin’s ability to stay plump, hydrated, and resilient. Estrogen plays a major role in:

• Collagen production (hello, firmness)
• Oil production (which naturally keeps skin supple)
• Cell turnover (the process that keeps skin smooth and radiant)

Without it, everything slows down. Your skin becomes thinner, more fragile, and loses its bounce. Wrinkles become more pronounced, and hydration? Basically gone unless you actively rebuild it. You may also be dealing with progesterone and testosterone fluctuations, which can contribute to breakouts, inflammation, and oil imbalance.

Dry, Dull Skin? It Starts with Exfoliation

One of the biggest mistakes women make during menopause is slathering on hydrating products without exfoliating first. But here’s the reality:

“Without exfoliation, you’re applying moisturizer on a brick wall of dead skin.”

As cell turnover slows, dead cells pile up on the surface. That barrier makes it impossible for your hydrating products to penetrate—so they just sit there, doing nothing.

What helps:

• Dermaplaning Tool (1x/week) to manually sweep away buildup
• Multi Acid TCA Face Peel (4–5x/week) to chemically exfoliate and dissolve dead skin

Only after that can you layer in hydration that actually gets where it needs to go.

Your menopausal hydration routine should look like this:

• HA Hydrating Serum (humectant) to draw water into the skin
• Microbiome Rescue Moisturizer (ceramides) to strengthen the barrier
• Shiunko Face Oil (occlusive) to lock it all in and prevent moisture loss

“You must exfoliate to hydrate your skin.”

This is how you rebuild glow, softness, and elasticity from the ground up.

Thinning Skin, Sagging, and Crepey Texture

Menopause doesn’t just affect your face. Many women start noticing looser, thinner skin above the knees, under the arms, around the neck — and yes, across the jawline.

This is due to the rapid loss of collagen and a slowdown in skin regeneration. It’s frustrating, but there are ways to stimulate improvement.

What helps:

• Consistent use of peptides (EGF Serum, Firming Eye Complex)
• Gentle microneedling 5x/week to promote collagen production
• Staying hydrated internally and externally (water, sleep, and topical support)

Consistency is everything — results don’t happen overnight, but they build over time.

Increased Sensitivity and Redness

Menopausal skin often becomes more reactive. Products you’ve used for years might suddenly sting or cause irritation.

That’s because your skin’s barrier is weaker, and once it’s compromised, inflammation flares up more easily.

What helps:

• Ice Roller to soothe and depuff, especially in the morning or after exfoliating
• Skipping actives on “off” days and leaning into recovery
• Prioritizing barrier repair with moisturizer + oil daily

Think of this as building skin resilience, not just calming redness after it shows up.

Bonus: Still Breaking Out? That’s Hormonal Too.

If you’re seeing jawline breakouts or clogged pores post-45, you’re not alone. Menopausal acne is real — and tricky. Skin can be dry and break out, which means you need to treat it gently.

What helps:

• Keep pores clear with TCA Face Peel (no scrubs!)
• Calm inflammation and kill bacteria with the High Frequency Wand
• Don’t skip moisture — hydrated skin heals faster and reacts less

This Is a Phase — But You Don’t Have to Just Accept It

You’re not imagining it. You’re not overreacting. And you’re definitely not alone.

Menopause changes your skin — but it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with dull, dry, or inflamed skin forever. With the right knowledge and tools, you can support your skin through this transition and beyond.

Considering HRT? Here’s What I’ve Experienced

Skincare helps — but sometimes, hormones need deeper support. If you’re considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT), talk to a specialist. It can make a big difference.

For me, progesterone changed everything. No more waking up at 3:30 a.m., and my skin looked more rested almost immediately. Estrogen helped restore moisture and improved my hair growth.

There are also peptides like Thymosin Beta 4 (for inflammation) and Sermorelin (for sleep support) that are worth exploring with your doctor.

You’re not chasing youth — you’re supporting the skin you’re in. And that’s powerful.

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