Many women believe that the more skincare products they use, the better their skin will be, but it isn’t the case, especially when it comes to caring for perimenopausal and menopausal skin.
A streamlined approach to skincare is the best way to get noticeable results - less is definitely more when it comes to the menopause.
Multi-step regimes and layering lots of products can be counter-productive and a recipe for inflammation, breakouts and increased dryness. The last thing you need when you are battling menopausal symptoms. So, what is a streamlined regime, how can it help and what does a great routine for menopausal skin look like?
Our Skin in Menopause
The menopause can mean big changes for our skin. As our hormones start to fluctuate and decline, collagen production slows down rapidly. Skin becomes drier and thinner with a weakened skin barrier. Cell turnover decreases, and skin starts to lose its ability to hold onto moisture, appearing less plump and radiant. As the skin barrier weakens, skin become more sensitised and prone to irritation, inflammation, and breakouts. You need to adopt a fresh approach to get great skin in menopause. The products and routines you have used before likely won’t get results as your skin starts to change or, worse still, could start to cause irritation.
What Is Streamlining and Why is It Good for Menopausal Skin?
Streamlining basically means stripping back your skincare regime to a few hard-working, super-effective products. The reason is that using too many products with differing strengths of active ingredients at once can overload and overwhelm skin. Your skin can’t handle all the ingredients at once and this can cause inflammation. As a result, skin can become even drier and more irritated and prone to sensitivity. Excessive layering can also be a big trigger for breakouts. Your skin barrier is already weakening in menopause and any additional sensitivity will make the situation even worse exposing the skin to further damage.
What Does A Great Streamlined Routine for Menopausal Skin Look Like?
To get great results and healthy skin in menopause follow these golden rules
- Use fewer, but harder-working products. They should contain optimum concentrations of active ingredients for menopausal skin. It’s about getting the balance right to get great results. Strip your daily routine right back to 2-3 carefully selected products that will give your skin everything it needs and nothing that it doesn’t.
- Use multi-benefit products. Multi-benefit products are designed to target multiple skin concerns at the same time. They are both time and cost effective not to mention better for the environment – using less product is more sustainable and means less waste. Multi-tasking skincare products are ideal for menopausal skin which can have many and often contradictory needs. Skin can be super dry but breaking out at the same time, flushing and sensitive but in need of powerful actives to combat the effects of accelerated collagen loss. Living M has specially developed products designed to target the hormonal skin changes caused by the menopause. Try The Perfect Pair - an easy-to-use skincare duo of multi-tasking products that gives menopausal skin a daily dose of everything it needs. Use both the Quench & Soothe Serum and Collagen Boost Moisturiser morning and night.
- Avoid known irritants. Because your skin is more prone to sensitivity and dryness as you approach menopause, it’s important to avoid anything that is likely to irritate skin. Living M Skincare has been formulated without any ingredients that are known to irritate skin such fragrance, essential oils, drying alcohols, and sulphates. These ingredients are in many skincare products but they are best avoided in menopause or for anyone with any kind of skin sensitivity.
For optimum results, follow this skincare routine AM and PM;
- Cleanse skin gently. Gentle, cream-based cleansers are best for menopausal skin. Avoid soap, foaming cleansers and wipes which dry out the skin and can leave it parched. It’s also best to avoid using balm cleansers as they can disrupt the skin barrier leading to increased sensitivity and tightness.
- Use a multi-benefit serum. A great serum is key for any good skincare regime, and you should look to incorporate a well-formulated serum daily and nightly in menopause. Serums are thinner in consistency and deliver the highest levels of active ingredients for your skin but it’s important to get the balance of actives right – to get results but not risk irritating skin. You might be tempted to use the formulation with the highest level of actives but if you are seeing any redness or tightness in your skin that is a tell-tale sign you have gone too far. Rather than the glow you are looking for you are actually damaging your skin which can accelerate skin dryness and collagen loss. Living M Quench & Soothe Serum is intelligently formulated to target the contradictions of menopausal skin. Infused with multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin B5, it delivers intense hydration deep within skin’s layers, soothes and calms inflammation and helps control hormonal breakouts for an ultra-hydrated, brighter, clearer complexion.
- Use a high-performance moisturiser. Restoring lost hydration and stimulating collagen production are key for great-looking, healthy skin in menopause and a high-performance moisturiser that goes beyond simply moisturising the complexion is a must. Living M Collagen Boost Moisturiser is a potent blend of collagen-boosting peptides, phytoestrogen antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, vitamins and natural butters. The super nourishing formula boosts collagen production, combats dryness, restores lost radiance and deeply hydrates for plumper, glowing, firmer skin
For decades the beauty industry has told us to 'anti-age'. We don't need to anti-age, ageing isn't bad. The cultural fear of ageing (for women) created in society is bad. What we really need is to understand our changing skin needs during perimenopause and menopause and how hormonal changes impact our skin needs just like they did in puberty. A streamlined approach to skincare is the best way to get noticable results - less is definitely more when it comes to the menopause.
