Ask a Beauty Editor: What Happens to Your Skin During Menopause—and the Best Products for It

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Reader question: What would be a good skincare regime for perimenopausal/menopausal women? —@lorlina

Most women have experienced "the talk"—you know, the one where your parent (or doctor) sits you down and explains why you bleed once a month, and how to deal with the raging hormonal acne that comes along with it. Unfortunately, most of us don't get the same discussion about what happens later in life, when we no longer have a period.

In addition to some pretty irksome symptoms (like hot flashes, brain fog, anxiety, and trouble sleeping, just to name a few), menopause also comes with large-scale skin changes—and TBH, they're…not great.

"Menopausal women struggle with collagen production the most," says Mindy Pelz, author of The Menopause Reset. "As estrogen declines and a woman moves into post-menopause, she may notice that she has more wrinkles due to this loss of collagen. In the first five years of menopause, a woman will lose 30 percent of her collagen, often causing her to notice how many wrinkles seem to have appeared overnight."

And alas, the acne is back. "Hormonal acne tends to occur cyclically, worse with menopause due to higher relative levels of androgen over estrogen," says Claire Chang, MD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "Hormonal fluctuations typically trigger acne along the chin and jawline, and tend to be deep, cystic acne bumps (though they can present as pink bumps and whiteheads as well)."

In other words, it's puberty all over again, with thinner skin and a side of wrinkles to boot. But not to worry—that just means it's time to start applying specific ingredients that will help take care of your skin as you move forward.

First and foremost, of course, is wearing sunscreen and wearing protective clothing whenever possible. You should also be washing your face and applying a thick moisturizer with plenty of humectants and emollients twice a day to stave off skin dehydration (Pelz says your skin produces less oil at this age). If you haven't already, it might be a good time to invest in a silk pillowcase and bedside humidifier.

Beyond that, there are certain ingredients to look for in your skincare. "The goal should be to boost the normal activities of your skin that become lazy with age," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "The best way to do that is by strengthening the collagen and elastic fibers in the skin." He recommends looking for ingredients like retinol or AHAs/BHAs in your skincare, which will help increase skin cell turnover and stimulate collagen production (read: plumper, thicker-looking skin). He's also a huge proponent of hyaluronic acid, which will help strengthen your skin barrier and retain all that moisture it's lacking.

The good news is that there are beauty brands that already have menopausal skincare concerns in mind—not only do they contain all of the above, they also market them as such so you can easily identify them without having to deep dive into the ingredient lists. (That being said, it's not necessary to use a product marketed specifically for menopausal women—it just makes the search easier.)

Best Skincare for Menopausal Skin

For wrinkles and thin skin: Korres White Pine Meno-Reverse Restorative Overnight Facial

Give your skin some overnight TLC with this intensive facial that works while your skin is in repair mode. The formula not only targets post-menopausal dryness, it also contains a natural retinol alternative that improves the appearance of wrinkles. And the star of the show? White pine extract, which contains powerful polyphenols that boost your collagen and elastin levels to restore loss in volume.

For adult acne: Pause Well Aging Detox Serum

One of the best anti-aging brands on the market, Pause Well Aging has a stellar line of skincare products to serve all your menopausal and perinopausal needs. This serum is for those who are struggling with acne. Instead of drying out your skin with harsh ingredients (not ideal since your skin is already lacking hydration), it uses willow bark (a natural form of salicylic acid) and aloe leaf extracts to soothe breakouts. Meanwhile, a blend of fruit enzymes gently exfoliate to target uneven skin texture.

For hot flashes: Pause Well Aging Cooling Mist

One of the most common symptoms of menopause is hot flashes, which is where this cooling spray comes into play. It relieves discomfort from night sweats and overheating, but also works to reduce redness and calm irritated skin—thanks to a proprietary blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and peptides.

For dry skin: Emepelle Night Cream

Shea butter, grape seed oil, and hyaluronic acid are all power players in this super moisturizing formula. But let's not beat around the bush: This formula targets the root cause of estrogen-deficient skin non-hormonally with an exclusive MEP technology to leave skin feeling more hydrated and elastic.

For body: Womaness The Works Smoothing All-Over Body Cream

Your facial skin isn't the only skin that gets affected by menopause—this cream is designed to moisturize menopausal bodies. Founders Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs built the brand around their sunny concept of "menopositivity"—and they use some of the best ingredients for it, including shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, a trio that will collectively strengthen your skin barrier and smooth rough texture.