• Address hormonal skin changes by transitioning to skincare products designed for both mature skin and your individual skin conditions.
  
  
• Layering too many active ingredients on menopausal skin or in the wrong order can burn out your skin barrier.
  
  
• Even if your skincare layers are gentle, most of us don’t have time for 10 steps every morning and evening.
  
  
• Learn a gentle 5-step skincare protocol to reset your skin in response to your fluctuating hormones.
  

Many women take the “more is better” approach to skincare as their hormones begin to fluctuate in perimenopause. While you need to adjust your products in response to declining estrogen levels, more product layers isn’t the answer. Layering 10 steps every morning and evening can lead to barrier burnout and personal burnout. I suggest transitioning to a simple skincare routine that restores your skin barrier and addresses your unique skin conditions.

COMMON SKIN CHANGES DURING MENOPAUSE

• Parched Skin: Fluctuating estrogen levels leave skin parched. So, even if you rarely struggle with moisture loss, your skin is likely to feel dry and tight.
  
  
• Uneven Skin Tone: Cellular turnover slows down, leaving skin looking dull and uneven and feeling rough. Sunspots and pigmentation increase.
  
  
• Sensitized Skin: Thin and parched skin is fragile and sensitive to existing skincare products. It’s also highly reactive to harsh products and treatments.
  
  
• Thinning Skin: With age, epidermal skin cells grow thinner. Thinning skin darkens undereye circles and makes blood vessels more apparent.
  
  
• Sunken Skin: Natural fat pad loss causes your skin to deflate, leading to hollowed-out areas, crepey and lax skin, and intensified wrinkles.
  
  
• Deep Wrinkles: Parched skin, combined with fat pad loss, causes skin to sink in, turning fine lines into deeper wrinkles and wrinkles into valleys.

MORE PRODUCT LAYERS DOESN’T ENSURE IMPROVED SKIN QUALITY

It’s a common misconception that menopausal skin needs more layers and thicker creams to address moisture loss. Layering the wrong actives together, or the right actives in the wrong order, can lead to skin pilling, barrier burnout, and personal burnout. As a Master Esthetician of 25 years, this is something I see all the time. Selecting the right products for your skin’s current needs is more important than layering more products.

• Skin Pilling: Skin pilling is tiny white or beige balls or flakes that sit on top of your skin. Often mistaken for dry skin, these balls or flakes are skincare product buildup. Pilling is caused by  layering too many products, not allowing your layers to dry before the next layer, or layering products in the wrong order.
  
  
• Barrier Burnout: Skin barrier burnout (aka. barrier overload) occurs when you layer too many harsh actives at the same time. For example, layering 2 different types of chemical exfoliators at the same time. Or layering vitamin C under or over retinol. Instead of improving skin quality, this strips your barrier and sensitizes your skin.
  
  
• Personal Burnout: Committing to a 10-step skincare routine every morning and evening isn’t realistic for most. Especially with the overwhelm that comes during menopause. Even I don’t do 10 steps every day! Focus instead on multi-tasking products that equal 2 or more layers per product.

LAYERING SKINCARE PRODUCTS WITH PURPOSE

Layering advanced skincare ingredients isn’t enough. You must layer the ingredients your skin needs right now, and in the right order. It’s unlikely that your current skincare products will meet your skin’s needs as your hormones begin to fluctuate. So, you’ll need to transition to skincare products designed for mature skin. 

Most of my clients begin to see and feel changes to their skin 5 to 10 years before their last menstrual cycle. This prompts many of my clients to begin exploring harsh treatments and topicals. Instead of beating your skin into submission, I suggest gentle, science-backed treatments and topicals. Prioritize topicals formulated to restore hydration, repair and support the skin barrier, and boost skin resilience.

PRIORITIZE SKIN RESILIENCE

Prioritizing skin resilience prioritizes barrier health, moisture retention, collagen banking, and cellular repair. It’s never one product or device that rejuvenates your skin, it’s a series of restorative topicals and treatments. When you select advanced skincare formulas with concentrated and high-performing ingredients, your skincare routine can be simple.

Select topicals and treatments that:

• Take a Barrier-First Approach: Your skin barrier naturally weakens as estrogen levels decline. This reduces moisture retention and increases skin sensitivity.
  
  
• Gently Exfoliate: Your skin’s ability to shed dead skin buildup slows down as you mature. Scrubbing harder with mechanical exfoliators only makes matters worse.
  
  
• Hydrate and Moisturize: Transepidermal moisture loss and decreased oil production increase with age. With the right layers, you can restore hydration and rebuild your moisturizing lipid layer.
  
  
• Prompt Collagen Production: Collagen and elastin production slows with age. You’ll lose about 30% of collagen within 5 years of menopause. Select products and devices that boost, preserve, and bank collagen.
  
  
• Repair and Correct: What this means is unique to your skin and continually evolves. Select layers that achieve your objectives for brightening, lifting, firming, smoothing, and restoring your skin and barrier.
  
  
• Seal and Protect: In addition to sealing your skin with an occlusive moisturizer, apply UV protection every morning.

5-STEP SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR MENOPAUSAL SKIN

The streamlined skincare regimen below addresses the top concerns of mature skin. It contains gentle ingredients that heal and repair your skin barrier, while taking a proactive approach to further aging. With only 5 steps, it won’t burn you or your skin out. As your skin quality improves, consider adding another layer or two with strong ingredients, such as PLLA, PM retinol, or AM Vitamin C serum.

STEP 1: CLEANSE

Single or double Cleanse with  CBE Botanicals Just Say Ahh Revitalizing Cleanser. This cleanser doubles as your daily toner. The Orchid Extract and Japanese Green Tea Extract soothe, protect, and refresh your skin, while Ginseng Extract stimulates your skin, preparing your skin for the remaining steps.

STEP 2: EXFOLIATE

Gently exfoliate your skin 3 nights a week with  CBE Botanicals In The Clear Exfoliating Pads. These pre-moistened pads contain a trio of gentle chemical exfoliators: Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Salicylic Acid. The pads are textured for gentle mechanical exfoliation. Glide lightly over your face and neck.

STEP 3: CONDITION-SPECIFIC SERUM

This step is where you hydrate, nourish, and treat your skin. Select your serum by your current or seasonal skincare needs. Feel free to layer 2 serums, lightest to thickest, waiting 2 to 5 minutes between layers. In addition to layering serums, I suggest rotating your
 AM and PM serums, and rotating ampoules every 3 or 4 months. This addresses seasonal skincare needs and alternates active ingredients, while keeping your skincare routine simple. Alternating actives addresses aging from multiple factors that age mature skin.

• NeoGenesis Recovery Serum is a versatile solution that covers all the bases. It’s infused with NeoGenesis’s patented S²RM® stem cell technology (aka. topical exosomes). It’s so powerful at restoring damaged skin that it’s oncology-approved for surgical wounds and radiation burns.
  
  
• CBE Botanicals 4D Quench contains multiple molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid to rehydrate your skin, plump out skin, and provide a radiant glow. It also contains ultra-gentle Botanical Brighteners and Soothing Extracts.
  
  
• Dr. Esthé Ampoules Ampoules are ultra-concentrated super serums designed to treat your specific skincare needs. They hydrate and seal your skin, creating a radiant glow. If you only double layer your serums once per day, do so in the evenings to optimize your skin’s natural nighttime reparative process.

STEP 4: MOISTURIZE

Now it’s time to moisturize and seal your skin with reparative ceramides, lipids, and antioxidants. Feel free to apply a lighter-weight moisturizer during the day, and a slightly thicker cream in the evenings.

• Dr. Esthé Dual Barrier Cream is ideal if your skin barrier is damaged or you have dry or flakey skin. It’s formulated with Ceramides, Dual Hyaluronic Acid, and DMC Technology to draw moisture in and create a hydrating seal over your skin. It’s lightweight enough for summer heat and humidity. 
  
  
• Dr. Esthé Aqua Infusion Water Drop Cream is an ultra-lightweight and silky-smooth humectant moisturizer that’s ideal for heat and humidity, or for year-round sensitive and reactive skin. It’s formulated with Blue Weed Seed Oil and Balloon Vine Flower extract to soothe red and inflamed skin.
  
  
• CBE Botanicals Renew + Hydrate Multi-Action Moisturizer is a versatile option that addresses mature skincare needs for all skin types. It’s formulated with a Bioengineered Anti-Aging Complex that’s clinically proven to boost skin firmness in 12 weeks. It contains Vegan Swiss Apple Stem Cell Extract, Squalene, and a Duo of Peptides to turn back the clock.

STEP 5: DAYTIME SPF PROTECTION

Few things damage your skin more than the sun’s UV rays. You must also protect your skin from the blue light of electronic devices and indoor lighting. Korean skincare scientists have mastered the art of sun protection. The formulations below are broad-spectrum 50, non-comedogenic, white caste-free, and infused with reparative skincare ingredients. Both formulas create a smooth base for your makeup. Don’t forget to reapply every 4 hours.

• Dr. Esthé Sun Protection Ultra Repair is a lotion-like formulation that’s infused with 6 Regenerative Peptides to reduce wrinkles, firm skin, and lock in moisture. It doubles as a second skin barrier.
  
  

• Dr. Esthé Sun Protection Mild is ideal for summer months, or year-round for oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin. It’s formulated to control oil without irritation, while providing SPF protection. It also creates a moisturizing seal over your skin.
  
  
• Klavuu Blue Pearlsation Cushion is an SPF 50 BB cream. It provides light coverage, intense hydration, and a radiant glow. Layer over serum on days you’ll be out in the sun all day.

LET’S TAILOR YOUR SIMPLE SKINCARE ROUTINE

If you want to learn more about how to layer your skincare products as your skin matures, or which home care devices are right for you, consider joining the CBE Rewards Club. As a member, you’ll receive $10 in cash rewards each month, 10% off CBE Botanicals products, and exclusive BOGO events, flash sales, contests, and prizes. Membership includes access to the Rewards Club Lounge, where you can ask me your most pressing skincare questions!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I stop using exfoliants if my skin is thin or dry from menopause?

Don’t stop exfoliating your skin if it’s thin or dry from menopause. Give your skin at least a week to heal, then transition from a granular or mechanical exfoliator to a gentle chemical exfoliator. I suggest  CBE Botanicals In The Clear Exfoliating Pads.

Why is layering too many products worse for menopausal skin?

Fluctuating hormone levels cause skin to become thinner, drier, and less resistant to moisture loss. Over-layering skincare ingredients burns out or overloads your already fragile skin barrier. This may result in inflammation, product reactivity, increased moisture loss, and barrier damage.

How can I hydrate menopausal skin without clogging my pores?

Restore hydration with lightweight serums containing hyaluronic acid or hydrating ampoules. Ampoules are super serums that provide deep hydration and are designed to provide the benefits of 3 to 4 serums in 1.

Do I need a thicker "menopause moisturizer," or just a good barrier cream?

Lock in hydration and seal your skin with an occlusive barrier cream. This doesn’t necessarily need to be a thick cream. Prioritize products formulated to repair, support, and double as a protective barrier.  Dr. Esthé Dual Barrier Cream is one of my top picks.