Soothing your Perimenopausal Skin Problems

YOUR SKIN AND YOUR MENOPAUSE 💚

The perimenopause and menopause can cause particular skin problems. Skin that has been normal can become stressed, sensitive, dry or irritated. Fluctuating hormones may leave you with breakouts, even if you previously didn’t suffer with blemishes. Choosing the right skin products can help calm, soothe and repair your menopausal and perimenopausal skin problems. 

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand some common skin problems and how you can help soothe and repair your menopausal and perimenopausal skin.

Skin barrier

Oestrogen supports the skin’s natural sebum production. A drop in this hormone can lead to drier skin. When the skin becomes dry the skin’s barrier can become compromised, causing redness and inflammation. 

Getting the cleansing stage of skincare right is crucial. Switching to a gentle cleanser, designed to remove every trace of makeup and spf withoutstripping the skin of its natural oils, is the best place to start and can really transform your skin. Super Seed Cleansing Oil is rich and nourishing. It’s perfect for delicate or sensitised skin. Chia seed oil and vitamin E-rich raspberry seed oil are intensely hydrating on dry and dehydrated skin. Skin feels beautifully clean, soft and soothed. Super Sensitive Cleansing Cream is our soothing, rinse-off formulation to leave skin clean and soft while supporting your skin barrier through tough times. 

Super Seed Serum is formulated with powerful peptides to help boost and repair the skin’s microbiome. If your skin barrier is compromised you may find your skin becomes sensitive and inflamed. This serum is cooling and refreshing on the skin, it leaves it more resilient and less reactive.

Designed with sensitive skin in mind, award-winning Super Seed Facial Oil covers all bases. Made from 21 different seed oils, it feeds skin that is sensitive, in hormonal flux or prone to redness back to glowing health. Packed with natural, plant-powered goodness and free from fragrance allergens, it naturally addresses sensitive skin issues to give you healthy, glowing skin.

Fluctuating hormones can often mean breakouts. Blemish Rescue Oil with 2% salicylic acid and healing tamanu oil, helps break up congestion while speeding up recovery. Don't be tempted to dry out your skin which can cause scarring, try a gentle oil-based blemish treatment to heal and soothe.

Naturally ageing skin

Collagen makes our skin lovely and bouncy! Production of collagen begins to (noticeably) slow down in our 30s. By the time we hit our perimenopause we may have fine lines - a completely natural part of the skin’s ageing process. Retinol is a much talked about and clinically proven skin-smoothing hero. It helps speed up cell turnover so that fresh, new skin is revealed. So it works brilliantly on skin that is ageing and also on skin that is blemished. If you have perimenopausal or menopausal skin reach for these hero products.

VOTARY’s award-winning Intense Night Oil combines an oil-soluble form of retinoid (hydroxypinacolone retinoate). It tackles loss of elasticity, fine lines and pigmentation. It reduces the breakdown of collagen so you wake with firmer, smoother skin. Much like a wall needs bricks, skin requires nutrients - essential building blocks to help your skin re-strengthen its protective barrier. Avocado oil calms and smooths. Tomato seed oil and rosehip oil re-balance the skin’s mantle. By morning your skin is nurtured, nourished and restored. It appears softer and more youthful. 

Hydration is crucial for faster skin repair. Reach for a rich, deeply moisturising formula like Intense Overnight Mask. It features rosehip, hyaluronic acid and oat kernel flour to reduce redness, brighten dark spots and soothe dry skin as you sleep.

During the day, soothe skin with Super Seed Nutrient Cream. It delivers a smooth matte finish while sealing in precious moisture to protect dry and irritated skin. Nutrient Cream Light feeds skin with clever plant oleosomes to deliver intense, long-lasting hydration for thirsty skin.

Facial hair during the menopause and perimenopause

Changes in hormones, specifically oestrogen and testosterone can cause thicker hairs to appear on your face. During the perimenopause and menopause this can become more noticeable. It is completely normal but sadly not widely talked about yet. 

There are several ways to remove facial hair and it's important you find what works for you, ifyou choose to remove your facial hairs. We love Magic Razor Wands - they make light work of removing stray hairs. 

Their ergonomic handles are made from 80% wheat straw, as well as a high grade Swedish stainless steel safety blade. Magic Razor Wands glide effortlessly across to protect your skin. Use them to swipe chin and upper lip hairs. 

Magic Razor Wands work beautifully in tandem with your VOTARY Cleansing Oil. Simply apply, glide the razor across, then remove with a warm, damp cloth as usual, for skin that is soft and smooth. Follow with a few drops of Super Seed Facial Oil massaged into your face, neck and décolletage. Learn more here.

Myth busting: Shaving your rogue stray hairs will not make them grow back thicker. When shaved, the tapered end of the hair is blunted.

More about your perimenopause and menopause

Dr Louise Newson is a GP and menopause specialist. Visit her website here for useful, up-to-date information, and for information on the Balance app. Watch the VOTARY IGTV with Dr Newson here.

Watch Arabella and Dr Rebecca Lewis talk hormones and skin over on IGTV.

Arabella was invited to talk about skincare and share her experience with perimenopausal skin over on Dr Newson's podcast. Catch up here.