Are you experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain and even irritability? These are but some of the common symptoms you may experience as you approach menopause as your body goes through a change in hormones.

For many women, the early 50s is when menopause kicks in. This is when they go through a year without menstruating. But it’s not only during this period when the change happens. There’s a period before menopause known as perimenopause and can start when a woman approaches her late 30s and early 40s and she will notice her menstrual cycles and ovulation becoming more irregular.

During the perimenopausal phase, progesterone and estrogen levels will fluctuate and these shifts will no doubt affect the skin. Estrogen helps with sebum production, which keeps the skin lubricated and encourages collagen production, which we all know is responsible for supple, youthful skin. As estrogen levels fall, you will notice sagging and volume loss in the skin.

On top of this, decreasing testosterone levels reduce activity of oil glands in your skin and the effect of these together will create dryness and wrinkles becoming more prominent. Overall you’ll notice changes in your facial structure such as thinner lips, deeper set wrinkles and a sagging jawline.

With this in mind, you will have to make changes to your skincare routine to help your skin maintain optimal skin health.

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Hydration 1st

Now with dry skin becoming your main concern, you’ll need to switch to skincare products that are going to moisturise your skin. Look for products with ingredients that help to lock in moisture, such as ceramides.

Another ingredient that we are all familiar with and should use more of pre and during menopause is hyaluronic acid which helps to draw water from the environment and improve hydration.

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Make Retinol your BFF

A must-have ingredient to have in your skincare regime is retinol, even more so when you are reaching menopause. Retinol is derived from Vitamin A and can be easily found in many of the skincare products you see today.

Retinol is an excellent ingredient for promoting skin cell turnover and also increase skin thickness, the very two things you want more of as your skin becomes thinner with age.

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Sun protection is still key

Did you know that estrogen also helps to protect the skin from sun damage caused by UV rays? With decreasing levels of estrogen, you will notice that your skin is now more prone to skin discoloration. More than ever, sunscreen is vital for your skincare routine. Choose one with at least SPF 30 and make sure that it’s broad spectrum.

Adding antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, to your skincare routine can also help to stave off new pigmentation from forming and reduce the appearance of existing ones.