Perimenopause & Your Skin

Written By Nicolette Gabriel
“An aging female skin, is menopausal skin”
— Chiza Westcarr

Short version (for busy brains):

Falling oestrogen in peri/menopause changes how skin behaves. It can feel suddenly drier, thinner and more reactive, while collagen, firmness and glow dip. The fix isn’t to “go harder” on the skin — it’s to rebuild the barrier, calm inflammation and stimulate gently-but-consistently with the right skincare and treatment spacing. At Ultimate Cosmetics we can guide you with a personalised, low-and-slow plan that respects what your skin can do right now.

 

Perimenopause & Your Skin

What is peri/menopause — in plain English?

  • Perimenopause = the lead-up years (often mid-40s but can start earlier) when hormones fluctuate. Periods may change, and skin does too.

  • Menopause = 12 months with no period (in Australia the average is ~51).

  • Post-menopause = every year after that.

  • Some women experience early or surgical menopause — changes simply start sooner.

Why skin changes: the oestrogen link Oestrogen is a big skin supporter. It helps:

  • Tell fibroblasts to make collagen (firmness, bounce)

  • Make ceramides (your barrier’s “mortar”, keeps water in)

  • Support micro-circulation (glow and nutrient delivery)

  • Buffer inflammation/oxidative stress (less redness and irritation)

As oestrogen declines, you may notice:

  • Dryness/tightness, dullness, sensitivity

  • Faster moisture loss, rough texture, slower healing

  • Fine lines, laxity/jowling, crepiness

  • Pigmentation (age spots/melasma-like patches)

  • Flushing/rosacea-like redness, or acne flares despite drier skin

In the first few years after menopause, collagen can drop dramatically — which is why changes can feel “overnight.”

 

How to Support Your Skin During Peri & Menopause

1. Strengthen Your Barrier

Swap foaming cleansers for gentle cream or balm cleansers.

Look for:

  • - Ceramides + niacinamide to rebuild the barrier

  • - Hyaluronic acid for hydration

  • - Antioxidants to defend against oxidative stress

  • - SPF 50 + daily to protect collagen

2. Choose Actives That Respect Sensitivity

Menopausal skin benefits from stimulation — but softly.

  • - Peptides → collagen communication

  • - Vitamin C → brightening and antioxidant protection

  • - Niacinamide → barrier support and redness reduction

  • - Low-strength retinoids → renewal without irritation

  • - Azelaic acid → calm, clear complexion

3. Add Emepelle — Specifically for Oestrogen-Deficient Skin

When oestrogen levels fall, the “messages” that tell your skin to stay firm and hydrated fade too.

Emepelle is the first skincare line formulated to restore those signals without hormones.

Powered by MEP Technology™, it helps re-activate the pathways oestrogen once influenced — boosting collagen, hydration and luminosity while improving skin resilience. (cont.)

How we use Emepelle at Ultimate Cosmetics:

  • AM: Emepelle Serum before moisturiser and SPF — antioxidant + hydration support.

  • PM: Emepelle Night Cream — richer texture for deep overnight repair.

  • Begin 2–3 nights per week, then as tolerated.

  • - Always partner with barrier-supportive skincare and daily sunscreen.

Why we love Emepelle: it’s non-hormonal, scientifically backed, and designed for perimenopausal and menopausal skin — making it a cornerstone in our restorative skin protocols.

4. Choose Gentle, Collagen-Smart Treatments

As healing slows, less is more.

We focus on treatments that support regeneration without trauma, such as:

  • - LED Light Therapy – calms, heals and re-energises cells

  • - Microneedling (spaced appropriately) – supports natural collagen

  • - Controlled resurfacing or enzyme treatments such as PRX Plus – smooths and brightens without stripping

Each plan is personalised to your skin’s tolerance, healing rate and lifestyle.

5. Support From the Inside Out

  • - Prioritise protein with each meal for collagen support

  • - Stay hydrated

  • - Manage stress and sleep — high cortisol worsens redness and barrier weakness

  • - Include resistance exercise for bone and skin structure

For targeted clinical nutrition support we recommend Tanya from Optimum Testing. Tanya has completed a Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in Nutritional & Dietetic Medicine

https://optimumtesting.com.au/

 

A gentle reminder

This article is general information only and not medical advice. For prescription treatments or menopause management, please speak with a suitably trained doctor (see AMS and local recommendations above). In Australia we follow AHPRA/TGA rules — we won’t advertise prescription-only treatments, but we’re happy to discuss options privately and coordinate with your GP.

Ready to feel at home in your skin again?

Book a Skin Consult with Ultimate Cosmetics and let’s create a calm, collagen-kind plan that meets your skin exactly where it is today.

How we can help at Ultimate Cosmetics:

We offer tailored Skin Consultations that explore:

  • Your current skin function and barrier health

  • Hormonal life stage and sensitivity level

  • The right balance of Emepelle, medical-grade actives, and in-clinic treatments

  • Step-by-step home routines that rebuild rather than overload

Our approach: Restore first, stimulate second, maintain always.

When to Seek Medical Support:

For medical advice or to explore hormone therapy, speak with a GP trained in menopause care.

We recommend:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my usual skin treatment not “work” like before?

Healing slows and inflammation rises with hormone decline. The trick isn’t “stronger”; it’s smarter: protect the barrier, then stimulate gently and give more time between sessions.

Can I still use retinol?

Usually yes - just start low, go slow, buffer with moisturiser, and don’t change three things at once.

What about sudden breakouts even though I’m drier?

Hormonal swings can do that. We’ll calm the barrier first, then use non-drying acne-safe actives (azelaic, niacinamide) and consider light in-clinic support.

How long until I see results?

Most people notice comfort and glow within weeks; firmness and pigment are steady gains across months. Consistency + spacing win.

 

Your 6 Month Menopause Skin Reset (example)

A gentle, personalised pathway to rebuild your barrier, restore radiance and re-train your skin to respond optimally again.

Month 0: Menopause-Aware Skin Consultation

  • Review hormonal and skin history, medications, HRT or supplements

  • Assess barrier health, hydration, pigment risk, and skin tolerance

  • Capture baseline skin images for tracking

Month 1 — “Barrier Base” Phase

Focus: Calm, nourish and rebuild.

  • Switch to a creamy, non-foaming cleanser (PCA Creamy Cleanser)

  • Apply a ceramide-rich moisturiser (SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore)

  • Introduce gentle hydration support in the morning (SkinCeuticals HA Glycan Serum)

  • Daily SPF 50+ (Outside Beauty & Skincare Face Crème)

This month is about re-establishing moisture and lipid balance before any active stimulation.

Month 2 — “Cell Communication” Phase

Focus: Begin gentle renewal.

  • Introduce Emepelle Serum (AM) 2–3 mornings per week at first, then increase as tolerated

  • → provides antioxidant protection and hydration while reactivating oestrogen-dependent skin pathways non-hormonally.

  • Continue Triple Lipid Restore moisturiser for barrier support.

  • Keep SPF 50+ daily.

Month 3 — “Night Renewal” Phase

Focus: Stimulate repair while maintaining calm.

  • Introduce a low-strength retinoid such as:

  • → Emepelle Night Cream (start 2–3 nights/week) or Encapsulated Retinol Cosmedix Elite Serum 24

  • Continue Emepelle Serum in AM on alternate days.

  • If mild dryness appears, pause for a few nights and focus on barrier recovery.

Month 4 — Collagen Activation I

Focus: Encourage healthy regeneration.

  • Microneedling Session 1 (if suitable) → collagen induction with extended post-care focus.

  • Continue barrier-loving homecare; keep retinoids paused for 5–7 days pre and post-needling.

  • Resume Emepelle Serum once skin feels comfortable (typically after 3–5 days).

Month 5 — “Brighten & Balance” Phase

Focus: Even tone and reinforce firmness.

  • Introduce PRX-Plus (optional, depending on skin readiness, ~ 4 weeks post needling).

  • Maintain daily Emepelle Serum + alternate-night Emepelle Night Cream or retinol.

  • Continue HA Glycan serum AM for hydration and plumpness.

Month 6 — “Maintenance & Review” Phase

Focus: Reassess, refine, and consolidate results.

  • Microneedling Session 2 (8 weeks after the first) for cumulative collagen support.

  • Track progress with photos; reassess barrier strength, pigmentation and sensitivity.

  • Adjust active frequency or strength based on how the skin has responded.

  • Map out your next 6–8 week maintenance schedule for ongoing collagen support and barrier stability.

 

References

  1. Brincat M, Muscat Baron Y, Galea R. Estrogens and the skin. Climacteric. 2005;8(2):110-123. bellissimomedical.com

  2. Thornton MJ. Estrogen and skin: The effects of estrogen, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on skin ageing. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2004;51(4):555-568. JAAD

  3. Sator PG, et al. Revisiting the effects of menopause on the skin: functional changes and therapeutic options. Maturitas. 2019;131:57-63. ScienceDirect

  4. Mapelli A, et al. Dermatological Changes during Menopause and HRT: what to expect? Cosmetics. 2023;11(1):9. MDPI

  5. Takeda A, et al. Menopause induces changes to the stratum corneum ceramide profile in human skin. Sci Rep. 2022;12:26095. Nature

  6. Duarte G, Trigo A, de Oliveira M. BC10: The impact of menopause on the skin and ageing process. Br J Dermatol. 2016;187(Suppl 1):87. OUP Academic

  7. How Menopause Changes Your Skin. Rochester Regional Health. Accessed 2024. Rochester Regional Health

  8. Menopause, skin and common dermatoses. Part 2: skin disorders. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2023;47(12):2117-2124. OUP Academic

Nicolette Gabriel