Your wisdom and confidence grows as you age. However, not everything gets better with age. Menopause is the period of time which every woman seems to dread.

While there are a couple of changes which you will have to deal with during menopause, one of the most observable changes is in the appearance of your skin.

One of the main causes of this change is because the onset of menopause will bring about an imbalance in the level of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and male hormones (androgens such as testosterone) in the body.

So how will the skin be affected when the body’s hormones are thrown out of balance during menopause? Let’s dive right in to find out.

Effects on skin during menopause

• Possibility of dark hair growth on the face: as the male hormones decline less drastically than the female hormones during menopause, there is proportionately more male hormones than female hormones in the body and so the male hormones will have a greater impact on the body. Hence, some women may experience varying amounts of hair growth on the face, particularly around the chin or above the lips.
• Loss of skin elasticity and increased dryness: during menopause, the skin stops making as much collagen. There will be an increase in dryness of the skin caused by the hormonal changes. All these will also accelerate the sagging of skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the neck, jawline, cheeks and around the eyes.

How to care for your skin during menopause

While there are no miracle skincare products that can eliminate all the skin issues experienced during menopause, you can take better care of your skin according to your skin type by being more diligent in your skincare routine.

1. Remember the sunscreen

Hands up those of you who skip sunscreen application before heading out during the day. Chances are that there will be quite a number of hands.

Protecting your skin with sunscreen is one of the most neglected steps in a skincare routine. However, application of sunscreen is also one of the most important steps!

Why do so many people avoid regularly applying sunscreen then?

Based on our survey findings, most people stay away from sunscreens because they feel thick, sticky and greasy. Especially in a hot and humid climate like Singapore, it’s easy to feel uncomfortable with sunscreen on your face.

However, the trick is in choosing the right sunscreen for your skin!

Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30

One of the most popular sunscreens amongst our customers, this broad-spectrum sunscreen is rated SPF 30 and moisturizes as it protects. The unique formula helps to protect your skin and slow down premature ageing due to sun exposure.

With its lightly tinted mineral-based formula, this sunscreen lets you enjoy a soft, matte finish. It also boasts anti-ageing and moisturizing properties, making it an important beauty ally for menopausal skin.

Paula’s Choice Resist Cellular Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 25

This SPF 25 sunscreen not only protects your skin from sun exposure, it also has a host of other skin-nourishing benefits that dry and lacklustre skin during menopause will love. It has potent antioxidants that protect your skin from pollution and other environmental stressors.

Moreover, its gentle formula makes it mild enough to be used all over the face, including the delicate eye areas. No more having to deal with thick, greasy sunscreens!

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

The airy-light texture of this sunscreen lets you fall in love with it quickly without having thick, sticky sunscreen clogging your pores. The active sun-protecting ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are also mild enough to be used on the face to protect the skin from sun exposure.

2. Don’t forget to exfoliate

Exfoliation is another step which many people tend to skip. Why is it crucial to exfoliate, especially for skin during menopause?

You see, if the old skin doesn’t get removed by exfoliation, the new skin can’t move to the surface. When old skin accumulates on the skin’s surface, moisturizers, serums or boosters cannot get past the barrier.

So it becomes rather pointless to be using expensive serums on skin that hasn’t been exfoliated. And your skin during menopause definitely needs all the moisturizing and collagen boosting effects it can get.

The choice of exfoliants is important too.

Avoid harsh scrubs that contain drying ingredients such as peppermint oil. Skin during menopause already tends to be dry. So you will want to avoid drying it further by using harsh scrubs or exfoliating brushes.

AHA (glycolic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid) are effective, yet gentle exfoliants to use. They gently lift old skin cells to let new ones rise to the surface to reveal its radiance.

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid

Absolutely non-abrasive, this leave-on liquid exfoliant lifts away built-up layers of dead skin to reveal the radiant skin underneath. It also minimizes the appearance of pigmentation, unclogs pores and smoothens fine lines.

To use the 2% BHA Liquid, simply saturate a cotton ball and wipe it over the whole face, avoiding the eyes. Do not rinse. During the day, put on a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated at least SPF30 after that.

RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA

Although this is also a leave-on exfoliant, AHA exfoliants work differently from BHA exfoliants. The Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA lifts dead skin to reveal soft, radiant skin. If you think your skin needs a little more exfoliation during menopause, this could be suitable for you.

However, it’s best to introduce an exfoliant with a stronger concentration of AHA slowly. Instead of using the Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA daily, it could be a good idea to use it only a few times a week at the beginning to ensure your skin is taking to it well. After that, you may have more confidence to use it daily.

3. Choose skincare products with retinol

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that promotes collagen production, the building blocks of skin. This is great for skin during menopause as it’s during this time that the skin produces less collagen and is prone to sagging and wrinkles. Choosing a skincare product enriched with retinol not only enhances collagen production to slow down the sagging of the skin, the retinol will also take care of a wide range of menopause-related issues such as rough skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles.

Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol

This moisturizer is enriched with retinol which supports collagen production. It also offers other skincare benefits such as improving hydration, evening out skin texture and minimizing signs of ageing. It does everything that the skin during menopause will love. So remember to use this moisturizer as the last step in your night-time skincare routine.

Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol

This serum boasts a combination of skin-renewing antioxidants and retinol to manage common conditions which the skin during menopause will have, such as fine lines and uneven skin texture. You will be delighted by how this lightweight serum is quickly absorbed into your skin!

4. Hyaluronic acid is your skin’s ally

Hyaluronic acid boasts impressive moisture retention and balancing capabilities. It’s said that 1g of hyaluronic acid can hold up to 6L of water, making it a vital ingredient in anti-ageing skincare products.

Moisture retention is important for youthfulness to return to dry, dull skin which you may experience during menopause. That’s because as we age, the skin’s ability to retain moisture decreases, thus conditions like fine lines and wrinkles start to rear their heads. Hence, having enough moisture in the skin is crucial to keeping the skin during menopause radiant supple.

Research has also shown that hyaluronic acid offers antioxidant protection against environmental stressors, making it one of the best multi-tasking anti-ageing warriors for your skin during menopause.

Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster

A lightweight and pure skin booster, this delivers outstanding anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle effects for your skin during menopause. It also keeps skin supple and wonderfully moisturized to give you that radiant look daily. Even on oily or combination skin, your skin doesn’t feel burdened. Hyaluronic acid could be one of the best things you discover for your skin during menopause.

While skincare during menopause sounds like skincare we should be doing at any age, being diligent and consistent in using the right skincare products could make a lot of difference. Suncscreen, exfoliants, skin boosters and antioxidants containing retinol and hyaluronic acid could supplement what nature takes away during menopause and let your skin stay gorgeous and supple.