Managing Menopausal Skin: Tips & Product Recommendations
Last week, we attended the National Menopause Summit in Dublin - and it’s safe to say we left feeling inspired and educated. The event saw 2 full days of informative guest speakers with accompanying breakout sessions covering a variety of topics. We also exhibited at the event, which meant we had the pleasure of speaking directly to our customers, who always give us such kind and helpful feedback.
Leveraging our insights from the event, we have put together a guide to managing menopausal skin and the common issues which may arise. Read on for product recommendations and how-tos.
What is Menopause & What are Common Menopausal Skin Concerns?
Menopause, which officially begins one year after your last period, can bring with it some noticeable changes to the skin. However, with the right care, you can lessen these effects.
Some key skin issues that may arise with menopause are dry skin, age spots, jowls, slack skin & wrinkles, pimples, acne and rashes/irritation.
Managing Dry skin
In menopause, skin loses some ability to hold water, so it can get quite dry. This can be especially noticeable when the air is dry. The following can help combat dry skin:
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Wash your face with a mild cleanser. Our absolute cleansing oil is a gentle, oil-based formula with natural ingredients so it aims to cleanse and balance rather than strip the skin.
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Apply moisturizer after cleansing and throughout the day when your skin feels dry. A moisturizer with hyaluronic acid can be especially helpful - our Active Rosehip Day Cream has key ingredients of Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E. You can add an extra layer of hydration by using our 24HR Rosehip Face Serum too.
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Gently exfoliate. This will help avoid dry skin patches and dead skin cells to build up - try our Elemental Exfoliating Powder for a non-abrasive powder-based formula with Niacinimide and Vitamin C.
Managing Age spots and other signs of sun-damaged skin
If you’ve spent ample time in the sun without sun protection, you’ll likely see the effects now. Age spots and larger areas of darker skin can appear on your face, hands, neck, arms, or chest. Skin cancer and pre-cancerous skin growths also become more common.
To protect your skin, you want to:
1)Apply sunscreen every day before going outdoors. To give your skin the protection it needs, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Apply it to all skin that clothing won’t cover. This can help fade age spots, prevent new spots from forming, and reduce your risk of getting skin cancer.
2)Make an appointment to see a dermatologist for a skin cancer screening. Your risk of getting skin cancer increases with age. As your risk rises, skin cancer screenings become so important. The earlier you find skin cancer and pre-cancerous growths, the more treatable they are.
3)Start skin self-exams. During your dermatology appointment, ask your dermatologist how often you should examine your own skin.
Managing Jowls, slack skin and wrinkles
In menopause, skin quickly loses collagen. Studies show that women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. After that, the decline is more gradual. Women lose about 2% of their collagen every year for the next 20 years.
As collagen diminishes, our skin loses its firmness and begins to sag. Jowls appear. Permanent lines run from the tip of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Wrinkles that used to appear only with a smile or frown become visible all the time.
Later, the tip of the nose dips. You may see pouches under your eyes.Large pores also are due to lack of skin firmness.
If sagging skin or wrinkles bother you:
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Protect your skin from the sun. This can reduce visible wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles.
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Consider using our Hyaluronic Youth Boost. When using this product, the plumping action of Hyaluronic Acid combined with the superfood properties of Turmeric help to soften fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid also helps improve collagen production and hydrates to help reduce dehydration lines and wrinkles.
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Consider using our Precious Facial Oil. This product provides all the benefits of retinol but without the side effects - its firming, anti-aging and calming, helping to even skin tone and complexion. It leaves the skin soft and velvety and it is an excellent emollient. It is also a natural antioxidant with antibacterial properties.
Managing Pimples and other types of acne as well as Rashes & Irritated Skin
As levels of female hormones drop before and during menopause, some women develop teenage-like acne. Because a woman’s skin is thinner and drier, treatments for teenage acne are often too harsh. You can consider:
1)Avoiding acne products that dry your skin. Drying your skin can worsen acne.
2)Ensure you are cleansing your skin. Again our absolute cleansing oil is a good place to start as it is suitable for all skin types,
3)Try our 24HR Rosehip Face Serum. It is excellent for dry, irritated or hormonal skin and cooling redness. It is also hydrating and leaves the skin glowing, helping skin elasticity.
Around 50, the pH level of our skin changes. With this change, skin becomes more sensitive, and women are more likely to develop rashes and easily irritated skin.If you have an existing skin condition, such as eczema or rosacea, this could worsen. You can consider:
1)Be mindful of fragrance in skincare. In the Kinvara Range, we use skin-safe essential oils to give our skincare a gorgeous smell without any harsh preservatives or parabens.
2)Ensure you are patch testing new products before usage on the face.
