Your body goes through a number of changes during perimenopause, including changes in your skin. The earlier you adopt a good skin care routine the better, and there are certain ingredients you should undoubtedly add into your routine in your 40s. Your 40s are known to bring fine lines and wrinkles, texture changes, and a duller complexion. Here’s what you need to know about perimenopause skincare, plus the tips and products to use for youthful skin.
Perimenopause Skincare 101
Perimenopause is the transition phase before you fully hit menopause. It typically happens in your 40s and is marked by changes in your menstrual flow and in the length of your cycle. During perimenopause, levels of estrogen start to decrease and you may start having menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes or mood changes. You may also notice changes in your skin.
Estrogen is highly involved in the normal function of the skin. It directly affects the function of key cells in the skin, including fibroblasts (produce collagen and elastin), keratinocytes (involved in skin protection), and melanocytes (involved in evenness of skin colour, etc.). It also helps regular hair follicle function and sebaceous gland activity.
Aggressors from the environment and sun exposure in your younger years also become increasingly visible. Lines around the eyes, between the eyebrows, on the forehead, and around the mouth are all more prevalent, brown spots start to appear around your mid-40s, and you may notice a loss of volume and tone in the skin. The face can start to form jowls, which is sagging skin in the chin, neck, and jawline area. You also may notice an increase in facial hair (peach fuzz), especially on the cheeks and upper lip.
You’ll notice in your 40s your skin doesn’t bounce back as quickly as it once did. You’ll start to see major changes in the firmness and texture of your skin. You’ll likely notice more puffiness and signs of a late, booze-filled night are harder to cover up. You’ll need to make skin care and lifestyle adjustments to ensure your skin is as healthy as possible.
6 Best Perimenopause Skincare Tips
1. Get Plenty of Sleep
They call it beauty sleep for a reason. Your skin repairs itself when you sleep, so be sure to get plenty of shuteye. Collagen production is accelerated when you sleep, and during your deepest stage of rest, growth hormones peak and stimulate cell and tissue repair. Sleep is also essential for stress management, and since stress can wreak havoc on your skin, sleep benefits your complexion in so many ways.
2. Up Your Collagen
Collagen is a protein naturally found in the skin, and it starts to decrease in your late 20s. Without collagen, skin loses its plumpness and elasticity, leading to sagging skin and fine lines. Factors such as UV exposure and free radical damage from pollution can accelerate the loss of collagen. To encourage the production of new collagen, you can add powdered collagen to your morning coffee, and increase your use of skincare ingredients like retinol and peptides.
3. Incorporate Retinol
Retinol is a super star skin care ingredient that’s known for its anti-aging effects. Although prevention is key, it’s never too late to introduce an ingredient like retinol, but the sooner you do it the better. Use retinol at night as it works to preventatively fight wrinkles and boost collagen production. It also helps remove dead-skin build up and inflammation, leading to a clearer complexion. Since it takes time for your skin to build up a tolerance to retinol, use it every few days to start, then every other day, and eventually everyday.
4. Banish Puffiness
Puffiness is not as easy to hide as some other skin blemishes, and can become super apparent after a night of drinking alcohol or eating salt-filled foods. During perimenopause, it’s important to cut down on these puffiness culprits as much as possible, and when you do indulge, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to help counteract the effects. You can also try other tips such as sleeping on your back with your head elevated, using an ice roller in the morning, and prioritizing regular exercise to get rid of excess sodium in your body.
5. Mix In-Office Treatments with Skincare
You’ll see great results by mixing in-office treatments for anti-aging with skin care. Filler helps replace lost volume, and chemical peels can target melasma, sun damage, and uneven tone and texture. Laser treatments can get underneath the surface of the skin to actively work against signs of aging. Since topical skin care works to maintain your skin’s health and appearance, combining the two is key to success!
6. Up Your Antioxidants
Antioxidants are one of the most important skin care ingredients. They fight free radical damage, contribute to glowing skin, and prevent inflammation. An ingredient like vitamin C helps prevent dark spots before they happen and supports collagen before you lose it. It’s an amazing skin brightener with firming benefits, and has antioxidant and UV protection benefits as well.
5 Best Perimenopause Skincare Products
1. Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Everyday Face Cleanser
You can use this cleanser day and night to wash away dirt and impurities without over-drying your skin. The hydrating formula protects and calms the skin with chamomile and calendula extracts.
2. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peel
Maturing skin thickens, making it a bit more dull, and our dead skin cells don’t shed as fast, so exfoliation is important. These daily exfoliating pads are a must-have for perimenopausal skin. The first step is a pad packed with AHAs and BHAs for removing dead skin from the surface, and the second pad soothes and moisturizes the skin.
3. LuminaSkin CE Ferulic Acid Serum
This serum is packed with antioxidants (vitamin C, E and ferulic acid) that are amazing for anti-aging. It will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while improving and brightening your complexion.
4. Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
As we age, skin can get drier, flakier, and duller, so a good moisturizer is key. This lightweight day cream is rich in antioxidants to firm the skin, plus it contains SPF 30 to ward off sun damage.
5. No 7 Pure Retinol Night Cream with Collagen Peptides
This anti-aging night cream works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a youthful glow. With retinol, hyaluronic acid, and collagen peptides, it penetrates deeply, rejuvenating your skin overnight.
If you’ve started to notice changes in your skin over 40, it’s time to adopt these perimenopausal skin care tips and products!
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