Don’t Let These Menopausal Skin Changes Slow You Down
If you’re here, chances are you’re at the beginning, middle or end of menopause. Good news is, you’ve made it to the right place and we can confirm those pesky changes to your skin are completely normal — even the American Academy of Dermatology Association says so.
Before we get into how you can help your skin during these changes, let’s start with why these changes are happening in the first place.
What Is Menopause & How Does It Affect Your Skin?
Put most simply, menopause is the phase in women’s lives in which they no longer menstruate and their bodies go through numerous changes. Menopause typically happens in three phases, beginning around your mid to late forties.
PHASE 1: Perimenopause
Age: Begins around 45 to 50 years old
Duration: About 2 to 8 years
Changes: The telltale sign that you’re in perimenopause is you’ll notice more sporadic menstrual cycles. This is a result of drastic hormonal shifts within the body as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels begin to decline. Coupled with the rapid decline of naturally occurring collagen, elastin, glutathione, hyaluronic acid and sebum, and it’s no wonder that achieving hydrated, bouncy, youthful-looking skin can feel like an impossible feat. Without these key players, skin can begin to feel especially parched and sensitive with a visible increase in wrinkles, creases, breakouts and more.
PHASE 2: Menopause
Age: Begins, on average, between 50 to 52 years old
Duration: 1 full year, starting after last period
Changes: Once your body has moved into the menopause phase, your ovaries have officially retired. They no longer work to produce an egg monthly and, therefore, periods stop. In addition to the aforementioned skin changes, many women report noticing hot flashes or redness, dryness, itching, age spots, sagging and even facial hair.
PHASE 3: Post-Menopause
Age: Begins, on average, around 55 years old
Duration: Remainder of your life after menopause ends
Changes: After 12 consecutive months of skin changes and no period, you’ll officially move on to this final phase of menopause that will last for the remainder of your life. Thankfully, this phase is a bit steadier as you’ve made it past the climax. Though your body will naturally continue to lose collagen and elastin as you age, leading to visible skin aging, it won’t happen as rapidly as during the prior phases.
How to Manage Menopausal Skin
To help slow these visible signs of aging, our Director of Education, Rosalba Martone, recommends the following regimen to replenish and protect this fragile skin. Featuring potent formulas from our Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione and Cold Plasma Plus+ franchises, they’re power packed with our signature sciences to create the perfect menopause skincare routine for a healthy, youthful-looking complexion.
STEP 1: CLEANSER
Our Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Chia Cleansing Balm is ideal for dry skin during menopause because it replenishes and nourishes as it cleanses. It’s powered by Perricone MD’s signature Vitamin F Blend of omega-rich chia, macadamia and flaxseed oils to intensely moisturize and supports the skin’s moisture barrier for increased suppleness and an overall healthy glow.
STEP 2: ESSENCE
Martone suggests skipping the toner, which could further disrupt a menopausal skin barrier. Instead, focus on balancing skin with essential hydration as your next step with our Cold Plasma Plus+ The Essence. This lightweight treatment features fermented rice water, which is rich in minerals and antioxidants to promote youthful radiance and a supple complexion while simultaneously nourishing skin to support a compromised moisture barrier.
STEP 3: SERUM
Glutathione exists naturally in the human body and depletes over time. Unfortunately for women, this depletion is especially dramatic during menopause, leading to deep creases, crepey skin texture, dryness and discoloration. As a result, topical application of glutathione in your skincare regimen can help for an intensely replenished and smoothed complexion. Our Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Deep Crease Serum contains the highest concentration of glutathione to deliver increased suppleness, firmness and volume while diminishing any existing crepiness and wrinkles.
STEP 4 & 5: MOISTURIZERS
Both rich in Acyl-Glutathione, Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Rejuvenating Moisturizer and Chia Oil will provide a perfect combination of moisture to restore skin’s suppleness and radiance. Between the omega fatty acid content and lipid-rich chia oil, this powerfully replenishing duo will provide maximum nourishment to strengthen and protect your skin’s moisture barrier as you age.
STEP 6: EYE TREATMENT
Since the delicate skin around your eyes is one of the first areas to reveal signs of aging, giving them extra attention through menopause is essential. Treat them to optimal nourishment with our balm-like Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Smoothing & Brightening Under-Eye Cream. It melts into skin to nourish and condition under-eyes, softening the look of dark circles, lines and wrinkles.
STEP 7: BODY TREATMENTS
Naturally, the skin all over your body will also change as you age, so if you hadn’t already pre-menopause, it’s important to begin treating the skin below your chin. Martone recommends Cold Plasma Plus+ Fragile Skin Therapy and Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Chia Body Oil. It’s a nutrient-packed combination that’ll nourish, condition and replenish even the driest skin, leaving it visibly smoother, firmer and healthier-looking.
Now that you have recommendations for all the best skincare for menopause, you can rest assured that your future will be smooth and radiant.
