The Perfect Menopause-Proof Skincare Routine

Everyone’s talking about menopause. Finally! While hot flashes or trouble sleeping still are some of the most discussed symptoms, there are many more effects or changes in your skin —and hair—caused by the hormonal changes that happen in this phase of life that might surprise you.

We asked our skin expert and Revoderm founder Ildiko Juhasz what are the menopause-related skin concerns she sees the most among her clients, and how to tackle them, and she had a lot to say.

Keep reading to know exactly which products and habits you need to add and eliminate from your skincare routine if you’re going through this stage in life. 

First of all, what is menopause and who does it affect? Menopause occurs when a woman’s menstrual period stops permanently (it’s considered permanent after a year of no bleeding, including spotting) and they can’t get pregnant. There’s also perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, and it begins along the 40’s for most women. Menopause usually happens between 45 and 55 years old.

What happens to your skin at this age? “During menopause, your estrogen levels decline and skin issues like redness and sensitivity, skin thinning, brown spots, veins, and even rosacea, start to show up because of the hormonal changes that go on during this stage,” Ildiko explains. “And a lot of women are shocked and confused about why it all starts showing suddenly.”

Blame it on the hormones! During this stage, the primary hormonal change is that decline in the production of estrogen and progesterone, and fluctuations in male sex hormones like androgens. All of these changes directly impact your skin and, yes, your hair too!

“Another concern I see very often is adult acne,” Ildiko explains. “Hormonal acne usually starts on the jawline. And it’s also common to have more and thicker facial hair, also on the jawline and neck. But when it comes to hair health, the most common symptoms are hair thinning and hair loss, which are a huge concern for women.”

When it comes to misconceptions around menopause, our skin expert believes the main misconception is not being aware that all these issues are related to menopause, thinking that they are isolated. But, guess what? Everything is connected. 

Luckily for us, menopause is less and less a taboo. There is a whole new wave of aging-positive brands and products aimed specifically to help women navigate the changes —physical and emotional—they experience through this stage of life. But if you’re aware of the connection between hormonal changes and skin health, and you take a holistic and proactive approach, you don’t not need menopause-specific products, you just need to know how to adjust your skincare to this new stage. And it doesn't have to cost a fortune!

“When it comes to skincare, more is not always better. I’m all about minimizing the steps!” Ildiko says. “Go for products that pack a lot of active ingredients in just one step. If the product is good you will start to see changes in your skin immediately.”

Hydration. Hydration. Hydration. According to our expert, the number one goal of your menopause skincare routine should be making sure your skin is properly moisturized, and here’s why. “Your skin loses about 30 percent of its collagen during the first five years of menopause,” Ildiko explains. “After that, women lose around 2% of their collagen every year, so you want to make sure you have a proper Hyaluronic Acid in your routine for plumping and hydrating your skin.”

For Ildiko, Hyaluronic Acid is an absolutely necessary ingredient to moisturize your skin and lock in the hydration. “The best way to tell a good hyaluronic acid from a bad one is to see if it flakes off after you apply it,” Ildiko recommends. If it easily rubs off your face after applying it, it will just sit on top of your skin (and your pillow! Yikes) and not do what it’s supposed to do: plump and nurture your skin.

“If you’re using a good Hyaluronic Acid you should see results in just three weeks. Your skin will be smoother, the texture will be significantly softer and smoother.”

You might be surprised to know that no, you don’t need a super thick heavy moisturizer just because your skin feels drier and flakier than it used to.

Our skincare expert is tired of seeing clients buy really heavy moisturizing creams and ending up with white bumps, shiny skin, open pores, etc. “Your moisturizer should penetrate into the skin and it should be matte and nice to the skin.” 

When menopause starts, the PH Level in your skin also changes. It increases. What that means for your skin is that it becomes more alkaline and that leads to more sensitivity, dryness, and irritation. Knowing that, it is very important to pay attention to not just how you moisturize your skin but also how you clean it .

“It’s very important to not use soap,” Ildiko says. “Instead, use a really gentle cleanser that exfoliates (gently) and is not harsh on your skin. Fragrance free products are also ideal to prevent irritation.”

To add a cherry on top of this menopause-proof skincare routine, use a cleanser that includes moisturizing and repairing active ingredients such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E, like the ones you can find in our Detox Facial Cleanser. 

According to our skin wizard, no skincare routine could be complete -and especially during and after menopause- without daily sunscreen. Yes, we said daily. Yes, in the wintertime too. “I see more burning at the clinic in winter than in the summer,” Ildiko warns. “People think ‘oh, because I’m at the office I don’t need it,’ and they do.”

Another reason why you can’t forget your daily sunscreen around this time is because one of the main menopause symptoms is the skin becoming more sensitive and there’s nothing more aggressive on your skin than sun exposure, so you want to give your skin a hand here and keep it protected from the UV rays, also during the cold months.

To make things easier, we created our ground-breaking mineral sunscreen that also repairs your skin from past sun damage at a cellular level and has anti-oxidant anti-inflammatory properties while also preventing future damage. And it has a touch of color! Did anyone say multitasking?

Menopause is a time to take care of your skin, your bones, your muscles and your health and of course embrace the beauty in the changes with a proactive attitude.

“Remain confident, accept the natural process of aging and instead of being upset about it, there’s so much you can do to feel good in your skin and nourish it from inside out,” Ildiko recommends. 

On top of tailoring your skincare routine with the products and tips Ildiko shared (moisturizing with the right ingredients, protecting from sun damage, and washing your face with a gentle cleanser) it's important to take a holistic approach to this stage in life. Because, remember, everything is connected. "Do physical activities, manage your stress (another skin and health enemy!), practice meditation, go for nice long relaxing walks, practice deep breathing, anything that makes you reduce stress," Idiko recommends.  

Menopause, and aging, ultimately is a testament to your life experience. So, embrace the changes and show your confidence from inside out!