How To Care For Menopausal Skin
Author: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
Published: 16th October 2026
For years, maybe decades, your skin has behaved in a way you could, most of the time, predict. Then quickly that all seems to change. These shifts can happen years before menopause has begun to set in, so it doesn’t necessarily feel like the logical cause.
But when one day your usual skincare routine works, and the next, your skin seems to respond completely differently to your favourite moisturiser or serum. On online forums the sentiment is identical: "how fast everything changed", with lots of evidence pointing towards menopause. If all that resonates, you are far from alone.
It’s important to state that skincare cannot reverse your body’s hormonal changes; however, expertly formulated products can actively support your skin barrier, support collagen production, and effectively manage the visible symptoms of the changes you’re experiencing. It's important to understand why your skin is shifting so that you can find the best way to support its strength, comfort, and natural glow.
Key Takeaways
✓ Falling oestrogen drives changes to the skin during menopause, affecting the moisture and natural oil levels, as well as the production of collagen leaving skin feeling weak, dry, thin or sensitive.
✓ Changes start before menopause. Perimenopause can begin in the late 30s or early 40s, and because hormones fluctuate unpredictably rather than declining steadily, it affects the skin differently to chronological ageing.
✓ Skincare can’t replace oestrogen, but it will help with visible results. A routine overhaul isn't required, focused tweaks to existing regimes work just as well.
✓ Adjust for specific concerns. Menopause isn’t a one-approach-suits-all, so look for ingredients to target individual needs.
How Menopause Changes Your Skin
Menopause skin changes are mainly driven by falling oestrogen, which affects skin barrier health and collagen levels. Oestrogen is a key hormone in your body which increases as you go through puberty and then fluctuates as part of your menstrual cycle.
Usually our oestrogen levels peak in our mid-late 20s, dropping slightly in our 30s and more significantly in our 40s as we approach menopause.[1]
As oestrogen levels start to decline during perimenopause and menopause itself, your skin undergoes a series of natural overlapping changes: skin may feel dry, tight and more sensitive, look thinner, yet also be breaking out. This sudden contradiction is why navigating skin changes during this transition can feel so confusing.
Collagen loss and thinning skin:
During this time, the amount of healthy collagen and elastin decreases, leading to a loss of firmness and volume. It’s reported that collagen levels decrease by up to 30% in the first 5 years that follow menopause.[1] This loss in collagen can leave your skin looking and feeling thinner, drier and, in some cases, more wrinkled.
Dryness and weakened barrier:
A key concern associated with menopausal skin is dryness, because declining oestrogen levels reduce production of hyaluronic acid and ceramides in the skin, the essential molecules which help to retain water and keep your skin's barrier strong. A survey of 3,875 postmenopausal women over 40 showed that 36.2% suffered from dry skin.[2]
Breakouts and congestion:
Please note if you are experiencing significant menopausal breakouts, a doctor or dermatologist should be consulted.
It sounds like a contradiction, but one of the most common experiences of menopausal skin is feeling dry and tight while also breaking out. As oestrogen levels decline during menopause, the natural shift in your hormone balance can trigger your skin’s oil glands to produce too much oil. This can sometimes lead to new breakouts,[3] even if you have never experienced spots or blemishes before.
Sensitivity, redness, and flushing:
Oestrogen helps maintain the skin barrier, supporting its lipid structure to help keep moisture in and irritants out. As levels of oestrogen fall, the barrier weakens, leaving the skin more sensitive, dry and easily irritated, which is why products you have used for years may suddenly sting, tingle or feel uncomfortable.
Flushing has a different cause. Oestrogen influences the hypothalamus; the part of the brain that controls body temperature. And as oestrogen levels fall or fluctuate, it becomes more sensitive to small changes in body temperature. This can prompt blood vessels near the skin's surface to widen rapidly, sending heat and visible redness to the face and neck.
If redness is persistent, painful or worsening, or flushing is affecting your daily life, speak to your GP, pharmacist or a dermatologist for personalised advice.
Perimenopause Skin Problems: What Changes First
If your skin suddenly feels like it is behaving completely differently and you can’t distinguish between whether you are seeing typical ageing or the first signs of perimenopause skin problems, the answer usually comes down to timing and unpredictability.
Perimenopause can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s, lasting anywhere from a few years to a decade before menopause itself, meaning these changes in your skin can arrive much earlier than you expect.
Unlike the gradual, predictable process of standard skin ageing, perimenopause is driven by more sudden and unpredictable fluctuations in hormone levels. This can leave your skin oily one month and dry the next.
The earliest signals of change rarely start with deep wrinkles. Instead, you will typically notice:
✓ Dullness and texture changes as cellular turnover slows down.
✓ Hormonal breakouts, particularly clustered along the jawline and chin.
✓ Skin dryness, caused by changes to your skin barrier.
✓ A loss of "bounce" and plumping, as your collagen and elastin begin to decline.
Recognising these early fluctuations gives you a distinct advantage, as you can adapt your skin routine to focus on support and prevention. For example, strengthening your skin barrier and boosting collagen before significant loss occurs is far easier than trying to correct deeper structural changes later.
The Best Skincare Routine for Menopausal Skin
Whilst there isn’t a universal regime for those going through the menopause, our CSA Philosophy® is clinically proven to address 90% of anti-ageing skincare needs, including those amplified during the menopause[4]. This targeted skincare approach takes just 3 simple steps: vitamin C and sunscreen in the morning, followed by vitamin A at night.
Step 1: Cleanse Gently
Falling oestrogen levels reduce the skin’s production of sebum and lipids, so skin gets thinner, drier and less able to retain water. This means the cleanser you may have been using for 20+ years, that always felt fine, now leaves skin feeling tighter after cleansing.
We suggest switching to a gentle formula designed to cleanse the skin whilst leaving the barrier intact. Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil can be used on its own morning and night, but is also the perfect first cleanse if you prefer a double cleanse on days you’ve worn heavier makeup or skin has been exposed to more pollution.
Follow with Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel, it contains Moisture Magnets™ that immediately rehydrate and help to improve skin barrier function.
Step 2: Targeted Serum
Think of your serum as the powerhouse step in your menopause skincare routine. It delivers active ingredients that visibly make a difference to the appearance of your skin. Much needed during menopause, as falling oestrogen means collagen and elasticity decline, skin texture changes, and pigmentation becomes more obvious. The actives that address these visible effects can be found in different morning and evening serums, each with a distinct job.
Morning, vitamin C:
Vitamin C provides a daily dose of antioxidant protection to help support collagen production and visibly brighten dullness. Our recommendation: C-Tetra Advanced. Engineered for high-performance visible brightening, skin smoothing, and daily antioxidant defence. C-Tetra Advanced is clinically proven to brighten skin and visibly improve wrinkles in 7 days.[5]
Evening, vitamin A:
While you might be worried that adding a powerful active will be too harsh for newly delicate skin, vitamin A remains the best-evidenced option for supporting collagen and refining both texture and pigment. It supports your skin’s natural renewal cycle to help restore visible firmness and smoothness.
Our recommendation: Crystal Retinal. The No.1 retinal serum worldwide.[6] Containing retinal; a next-generation vitamin A which acts 11x faster than standard retinol.[7] Crystal Retinal is clinically proven to visibly smooth stubborn wrinkles, brighten dark spots, decongest and firm your skin.[8]
Step 3: Moisturise and Support the Barrier
If you have an oily or combination skin type, or have always felt well hydrated, moisturiser may have seemed like an optional extra, particularly after a serum. But moisturising is an essential step in any routine, particularly during menopause.
Less oestrogen often leads to lower levels of sebum, ceramides and lipids that hold the skin barrier together and keep water in. This can lead to increased redness, sensitivity and dryness. A compromised barrier can be less tolerant of the actives in your serum step, so protecting it is crucial to allow the rest of your routine to work more efficiently.
Choose a moisturiser that not only replenishes lipids but allows hyaluronic acid and glycerin to draw water into the skin and help it stay there. Apply it morning and evening. You may also feel more comfortable switching to a richer cream texture.
Our recommendation: Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream™ has a lightweight texture but is intensely hydrating. The formula combines a blend of multi-weight hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the upper layers of the skin and a barrier-supporting prebiotic peptide to replenish and boost the skin barrier. It also contains ceramides and lipids to nourish and visibly restore the complexion.
Step 4: Protect with SPF Every Day
Thinner skin with less collagen and a weaker barrier is more vulnerable to UV damage. SPF is the prevention step for the main menopause skin concerns: pigmentation, fine lines and loss of firmness.
Choose a broad-spectrum formula and SPF 30 protection as a minimum. But just as important is to choose a texture you like and enjoy wearing, as the best SPF protection is the one you apply every morning as the last step in your menopause skincare routine.
Our recommendation: Advanced Day Ultimate Protect. It works to protect your skin from UV rays and other environmental stressors, whilst also preventing the formation of wrinkles, dark spots, dullness and uneven skin texture.
Can Skincare Actually Do Anything During Menopause?
The honest answer is that it cannot replace oestrogen, but it can make a visible difference. Menopausal skin needs to be supported in specific ways, particularly protecting the barrier, supporting collagen and preventing further damage. While the goalposts may have moved in terms of what your skin now responds to, the good news is this doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your existing skincare regime. It is about making focused adjustments to what you already use, rather than starting a new routine from scratch.
Menopause and Skincare: Ingredients to Look For
✓ Hyaluronic acid and glycerin: draw water into the skin and help it stay there, helping to combat dryness.
✓ Ceramides and barrier lipids: replenish what the skin now makes less of, restoring comfort and resilience to the skin barrier
✓ Peptides and vitamin A: support collagen and the skin’s natural renewal cycle for firmer, smoother-looking skin.
✓ Niacinamide: calms sensitivity and helps to even tone.
✓ Antioxidants: defend against UV and pollution that the skin is now particularly vulnerable.
There are also a few ingredient watchouts. High-strength exfoliating acids can aggravate a barrier that is already weakened, so use them sparingly. Certain foaming cleansers can be stripping and leave skin feeling tight.
Targeted Care for Specific Menopause Skin Changes
When one menopause skin concern overrides the others and the “usual” approach isn’t proving effective enough, these targeted solutions can offer additional support when added into your routine.
Fine Lines and Loss of Firmness
Using vitamin A at night is the best proven approach to tackling fine lines and lack of firmness, but if you feel you want to expand your routine, combining your retinal with peptides is a good choice.
Liquid Peptides Advanced MP helps to kickstart collagen production. Our breakthrough Dual MiniProteins™ targets the formation of wrinkles at their foundation. Expression Line MiniProtein™ helps relax dynamic lines for visibly reduced depth, while GF MiniProtein™ supports key components like collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid for smoother, firmer-looking skin in every drop. It layers seamlessly under vitamin C serum during the day and vitamin A serum at night and has been proven to visibly reduce deep-set wrinkles in 8 weeks.[10]
Dryness and Dehydration
If your daily moisturiser doesn’t feel hydrating enough anymore, it may be time to upgrade to a richer cream that replenishes the lipids that are lacking. You may also need to stop, or pause, using high-strength exfoliating acids, as they also disrupt the lipid balance in the skin.
Ultimate Recovery is an intensely nourishing and comforting cream for very dry and compromised skin and works alongside the skin's natural reparative process to leave the complexion visibly restored.
Hormonal Breakouts
Breakouts during menopause are not the same as the blemishes of your teenage years.
Skin can also be drier and thinner, so the instinct to strip and dry blemishes out is the very thing making it worse.
Choose a dedicated blemish product that’s gentle and barrier-friendly. Press & Clear is just that. A daily tonic that clarifies & balances congested skin. It is clinically proven to visibly reduce surface imperfections, pores and the appearance of post-imperfection dark spots by up to 35%,[11] without compromising the skin’s barrier.[12]
Sensitivity and Redness
You may never have had sensitive skin or skin that reddens before, but during menopause, less oestrogen means there are fewer ceramides and lipids to keep the barrier intact. Meaning irritants may penetrate more easily, and skin reacts more readily. Choose gentler actives, such as niacinamide, and prioritise barrier support with a ceramide-rich cream. While skin is reactive, pause high-strength exfoliating acids and use vitamin A less frequently, returning gradually once calm.
Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ combines a pioneering form of vegan (certified by The Vegan Society to be formulated without animal-derived ingredients or by-products) PDRN to support skin recovery and help soothe visible irritation alongside a triple exosome complex designed to strengthen the skin barrier and promote a healthier, more radiant-looking complexion.
Pigmentation and Age Spots
Age spots and pigmentation that appear during menopause are not new. They are cumulative sun damage, built up over decades, but that can become more visible now that skin is thinner.
Our CSA Philosophy® is your targeted menopause skincare solution as the vitamin C will brighten existing pigmentation, daily SPF prevents future damage, and vitamin A refines skin tone.
Thinning Skin
As oestrogen declines, the renewal process slows down and collagen and elastin levels begin to rapidly decline. As a result, skin loses firmness, thickness and elasticity. Gentle retinoids, such as retinal, encourage renewal and support collagen levels, while peptides and vitamin C further support collagen and elastin in the skin. Pair these with a barrier-repairing moisturiser to protect skin that is more fragile than it used to be.
Medik8’s Best Menopause Skincare Products
Wrinkle reduction serum with 30% multi-peptide complex - proven to deliver results in as little as 10 minutes.¹
30ml / £82.00
Youthful Vitality Serum with Prismatic PDRN & Triple Exosome Complex
30ml / £79.00
Make-Up Dissolving Oil-to-Milk
Purifying Moringa & Omega-6
140ml / £35.00
Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel
Barrier-Boosting Gel-to-Foam with Moisture MagnetsTM & Prebiotics
145ml / £29.00
Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream™
AM/PM Multi-Layered Moisturisation with H.E.O.® & Prebiotic Peptides
50ml / £50.00
Advanced Day Ultimate Protect™
Age-Defying Moisturiser with Photolyase SPF 50+ | PA++++
50ml / £59.00
Embracing Your Skin’s New Chapter
This stage of your skin is simply its next evolution. By understanding skin changes and implementing targeted menopause skin care strategies with science-led formulas, advanced actives and intelligent routines, you can help your skin feel as strong, smooth and radiant as ever.
And Medik8’s range of advanced formulas are designed to support skin through every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age does menopause start?
In the UK, the average age for menopause is 51, though it typically occurs between 45 and 55[13]. Menopause is officially defined as reaching 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
How does menopause affect the skin?
As oestrogen levels fall during menopause, collagen drops significantly, with research suggesting up to 30% lost in the first five years[1]. This can mean reduced elasticity, increased dryness, a weaker barrier, more sensitivity, flushing, and a loss of volume and firmness.
What are the most important skincare ingredients for menopausal skin?
Targeted ingredients are key. Retinoids (such as retinal) stimulate cellular turnover and collagen. Hydrating humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin restore moisture, while ceramides, niacinamide, and essential lipids support a compromised skin barrier. Antioxidants like vitamin C protect against environmental oxidative stress.
What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause is the phase before menopause, characterised by fluctuating oestrogen levels and unpredictable symptoms. It can last several years. Menopause is diagnosed retrospectively once you have experienced 12 continuous months without a period.
Should I stop using retinol during menopause?
No, you should not have to stop using retinol or retinal. There is a common myth that retinoids thin the skin, but the clinical reality is exactly the reverse. It is the menopausal drop in oestrogen that causes rapid skin thinning; vitamin A is actually one of the few topical ingredients proven to help rebuild lost collagen density and restore thickness.
However, as menopausal skin becomes more delicate and prone to barrier dysfunction, you should adapt how you use it, for example:
- Switching to gentler, highly stable forms of vitamin A like retinal over retinol.
- Step down your strength or start at a lower percentage than you normally would to let your skin adjust gently.
- Implement a buffering application with a rich moisturiser to help prevent irritation.
Is menopausal skin the same as ageing skin?
They overlap, but their underlying mechanisms differ. Biological ageing causes a slow and steady decline in cellular activity over decades. Menopausal skin changes are sudden and hormone-driven, triggered by rapid oestrogen depletion.
Can skincare reverse menopausal skin changes?
No, but expertly formulated skincare products can help support the visible effects.
Does menopause cause acne?
Hormonal changes can trigger breakouts. As oestrogen levels fall and hormones become imbalanced, the skin’s oil production can increase. This makes pores more likely to clog.Cell renewal also slows down, meaning dead cells linger on the surface. Together, this makes congestion more likely, particularly around the jawline, chin and lower face.
SOURCES:
[1] https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.1934
[2] L. Dunn et al, Does estrogen prevent skin aging? Results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I), Arch Dermatol, 1997, 133(3), pp 339-42, DOI: 10.1001/archderm.133.3.339.
[3] N. Khunger et al, Menopausal Acne – Challenges And Solutions, Int Journal of Women’s Health, 2019, 11, pp 555-567, DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S174292.
[4] The '90% of anti-ageing skincare needs' CSA benefit refers to the primary biological and environmental factors of skin ageing - such as UV protection, collagen support, and antioxidant defence.
[5] Proven via independent clinical study conducted over 4 weeks on 32 participants.
[6] Source: independent market research by Kline & Company analysing manufacturer-level retinal serum sales for 2025. To verify, visit: https://www.medik8.com/pages/claims
[7] G. Siegenthaler et al., Retinol and retinal metabolism, Biochemical Journal, 1990, 268, pp 371-378.
[8] Proven via independent clinical study on Crystal Retinal 6. Tested on 33 participants over 12 weeks.
[9] Proven via ex vivo collagen study using Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream
[10] Proven via independent clinical study on Liquid Peptides Advanced MP tested on 34 participants at 10 minutes & 8 weeks.
[11] Proven via independent clinical study conducted over 8 weeks on 29 participants with sensitive, congested skins
[12] 100% showed a clinical improvement in barrier function (Proven via independent clinical study conducted over 8 weeks on 29 participants with sensitive, congested skins)
[13] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/