Perimenopause Skincare: Combatting Dryness, Sagging, and Dark Spots

What Happens to Your Skin During Perimenopause?

Perimenopause typically begins in your late 30s to early 50s and can last several years before menopause officially sets in. During this phase, fluctuating hormones—significantly declining estrogen—profoundly affect your skin’s health.

Collagen and Elasticity Decline: As Thornton (2013) states, collagen production naturally declines by about 1% per year, and within the first five years of menopause, women can lose up to 30% of their skin’s collagen (p. 265).
Increased Dryness and Sensitivity: Estrogen helps skin retain moisture. As levels drop, the skin barrier weakens, leading to increased dryness, irritation, and reduced ability to repair itself.
Thinner Skin: Slower cell renewal causes skin to become fragile and more prone to irritation.
Delayed Wound Healing: Slower cell repair prolongs the healing of blemishes and minor wounds.
Weakened Skin Barrier: A compromised lipid barrier increases sensitivity and moisture loss.
Hyperpigmentation and Uneven Tone: Estrogen also plays a role in regulating melanin production. Fluctuating levels can lead to age spots, melasma, or uneven skin tone.

While age is the primary factor in estrogen decline, genetics, lifestyle choices (such as smoking, excessive sun exposure, and poor diet), stress, and environmental factors can contribute to premature skin ageing and exacerbate the effects of declining estrogen.

Why is Estrogen Essential for Skin Health?

Often referred to as the “beauty hormone”, estrogen plays a vital role in maintaining skin thickness, elasticity, and hydration to help preserve a youthful complexion. It influences several key processes that keep skin looking radiant:

Collagen Production: Stimulates collagen and elastin, maintaining skin firmness and elasticity, and reducing wrinkles.
Hydration: Helps retain moisture by maintaining hyaluronic acid levels, keeping skin plump and smooth.
Skin Thickness: Promotes cell renewal, ensuring skin remains strong and resilient.
Wound Healing & Barrier Function: Strengthens the skin's protective barrier, improving its ability to heal and resist irritation.

While estrogen has the most significant impact, other hormones also affect skin health. For instance, progesterone influences oil production, and testosterone plays a role in skin texture and firmness. Additionally, hormones like cortisol, thyroid hormones, and growth hormones contribute to overall skin function, though their effects are not as well-defined as estrogen's role in maintaining hydration and elasticity.

When estrogen levels decline, skin becomes more fragile, drier, and less elastic. This is why skincare during perimenopause should focus on replenishing hydration, boosting collagen, and reinforcing the skin barrier.

How to Support Your Skin During Perimenopause

As your skin’s needs evolve, the skincare products you once relied on may no longer be as effective. Many women struggle to find the right balance—moisturisers may feel too heavy or fail to provide enough hydration, while makeup can settle into fine lines or appear patchy on drier skin. Increased sensitivity also makes finding products that support the skin barrier without irritating challenging. Adapting your routine to these changes is key to maintaining healthy, resilient skin.

Navigating these changes can feel overwhelming, but a well-rounded skincare routine can help you regain balance and confidence. Here's what to focus on:

Boost Collagen Naturally – Incorporate retinol, peptides, and vitamin C to maintain skin elasticity and firmness.
Hydrate Deeply – Look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to replenish moisture and prevent dryness.
Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – Antioxidants like niacinamide and vitamin E help repair and protect against environmental stressors.
Prioritise Sun Protection – A daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ shields against collagen breakdown and hyperpigmentation.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle – A nutrient-rich diet, proper hydration, stress management, and quality sleep all contribute to a glowing complexion.

Meditrina Ageless Herbal Cream: Inside-Out Perimenopause Skincare

Perimenopause can bring unwelcome changes to your skin, from increased dryness to sagging—especially on the arms, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs. Meditrina Ageless Herbal Cream is a targeted body cream to support women’s skin during perimenopause. This advanced anti-ageing solution works from the inside out, helping to restore firmness, deeply hydrate, and promote overall skin health by addressing the root causes of perimenopausal skin concerns.

Key Benefits:

Supports Hormonal Balance: Its unique TriActiv™ phytocomplex features Chasteberry extract, fenugreek, and wild yam to promote hormonal harmony and improved vitality.
Boosts Collagen Production: With advanced Transdermal Delivery System technology, it ensures faster absorption and precise delivery of natural active ingredients, such as Grape Seed Extract—a potent antioxidant that combats oxidative damage and supports collagen stabilisation—penetrating deeply into the skin to promote firmer, more elastic skin.
Firms and Contours: Effectively tones areas prone to sagging, such as the neck, arms, chest, abdomen, and thighs.
Intense Hydration: Delivers deep, lasting moisture to combat dryness and replenish the skin barrier.

Targeted Face Care

While Meditrina Ageless Herbal Cream works to firm and restore the body, your face deserves equally tailored care. Incorporating targeted facial skincare can enhance your routine, ensuring your skin stays radiant and resilient at every stage of perimenopause.

Need deep hydration and firming? Try IOMA Revitalizing Anti-Ageing Mask—an overnight sleeping mask enriched with hyaluronic acid, retinoids, and peptides to replenish moisture. It nourishes and smooths the skin, visibly reducing wrinkles, sagging, and dehydration. Wake up to a plumper, firmer and rejuvenated complexion.
Struggling with wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, or sagging skin? Try the IOMA Intensive Resurfacing Serum, powered by [RETINOL]5 complex—a blend of five advanced retinol-like actives that smooth fine lines, refine skin texture, reduce pigmentation, and firm the skin, all while remaining gentle for regular use.
Want a brighter, more even complexion? Try IOMA Bright Pearl Essence Illumine—a moisturising and brightening serum with encapsulated pearl technology. Powered by antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Niacinamide, it fades dark spots, strengthens the skin barrier, and boosts radiance for a luminous, even-toned glow.

Holistic Wellness for Radiant Skin

Skincare isn't just about products—your lifestyle plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion. Consider these wellness tips:

Hydration: Drink plenty of water and use hydrating skincare products to maintain moisture balance.
Balanced Diet: Making the right dietary choices during perimenopause can help maintain hormonal balance and overall well-being. For example, incorporating antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, salmon (omega-3s), and almonds (vitamin E). Learn more about the best dietary choices for perimenopause here.
Mindfulness & Stress Management: Practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can reduce stress-related skin issues and improve overall skin health.
Quality Sleep: A consistent sleep routine helps the skin repair and regenerate overnight. Poor sleep can accelerate ageing, leading to dullness, fine lines, and dehydration. Aim for 7–9 hours of restful sleep to support skin renewal.

Empower Your Skin, Embrace the Change

Understanding your skin's evolving needs during perimenopause empowers you to navigate this life stage confidently. Combining targeted skincare solutions with holistic wellness practices can nurture your skin’s health and restore its natural radiance.

Discover how Meditrina Ageless Herbal Cream and IOMA’s targeted solutions can help you maintain firm, hydrated, and glowing skin throughout perimenopause and beyond. Start your journey today and embrace healthy, resilient skin.