Shocking teenage spots thanks to HRT? Here’s how to sort it
BRILLIAnTLY — and perhaps cannily (ker- ching!) — everyone and their dog is falling over themselves to produce menopause skin support these days.
Clarins new Super Restorative Day and night Creams are lovely, nourishing affairs featuring a plant- based alternative to retinol suitable even for sensitive skins (from £60, clarins.com). M&S now boasts Prai’s expanding MenoGlow line (from £22, praibeauty. co.uk), the store’s best-selling skincare brand and most successful launch of 2021. now six products and counting, such is MenoGlow’s reputation for mitigating collagen loss and dehydration.
Vichy, owned by L’oréal, has its neovadiol range ( from £ 20.25, lookfantastic.com) targeting dryness, dullness and loss of elasticity. And Avon brought us Adapt last year, with its budget menopause hydration trio of night cream, serum and facial mist (from £6, avon.uk.com).
on the evidence of the above, one might imagine fiftysomething hormonal horrors are confined to parched faces. Yet, for legions of women, an oily complexion is midlife’s unwanted gift, with grease, cavernous pores and acne the issue, especially in a sweaty summer.
My friend Stephanie, 59, is the most glamorous of women — the last person one would associate with the phrase ‘greasy skin’.
And, yet, as she reveals: ‘I’ve had an oily complexion and blemishes since my pre-teen years, and was looking forward to not having to worry about this. However, HRT has kept this problem alive.
‘Basically, it’s given me the face of a spotty adolescent.’
NoT that one would ever know it. Stephanie’s management of her skin is impeccable. I wanted to know how she does it on our collective behalf.
Her first and foremost tip is to go easy on things: ‘ older skin can’t bounce back as it might have done in puberty,’ she advises. ‘ So balance all oilcombating measures with TLC to avoid any irritation.’
Your primary method of tender loving care should be facial mists as a morning spritz, meaning you don’t need moisturiser.
Try the antioxidant-rich Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe (£ 6.75, spacenk.com) or Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist (£22, elizabetharden.co.uk).
If you do find yourself craving a more traditional moisture hit, choose Advanced Clinicals Hyaluronic Acid Instant Skin Hydrator (£12.29, amazon.co.uk), which feels wonderful, is easy-touse, cheap-ish, and lasts for ever.
In sweltering summer, Dermalogica’s Clear Start Cooling Aqua Jelly (£ 22, dermalogica. co. uk) can be applied straight from the fridge.
A calming way to wash off the day will be Cetaphil’s brilliant, budget Gentle Skin Cleanser C (£9.49 for 236ml, superdrug.com), su great on spotty sp and sensitised skin alikA alike. otherwise, invest in Aussie botanical brand
Sand & Sky’s new oil Control Clearing Cleanser (£26, selfridges.com), so good it sold out on its own site within 72 hours.
I recommend having a first-rate liquid exfoliant to hand, namely Paula’s Choice Daily Pore - Refining Treatment 2 per cent BHA ( from £ 11, cultbeauty.com), a leaveon toner with salicylic acid to combat shiny, spotty areas.
To bring a blemish to the surface in order to treat it, use Mario Badescu’s classic Silver Powder (£11.50, spacenk.com) as a ‘drawing’ mask. A couple of times a week, seek out The Elements Az Skin Balancing Cream (£9, theelements. an overnight treatment to clear blemishes that’s kind to sensitive skin.
By day, opt for a matte sunscreen such as Paula’s Choice subtly blurring Resist Anti-Aging Super-Light Moisturiser SPF30 (£ 29.75, paulaschoice. co. uk). next, a primer and/ or poreminimiser like Benefit’s UK bestseller The PoREfessional (£29.50, benefitcosmetics.com).
A light foundation such as MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 (£29, maccosmetics.co.uk) comes in a splendid 67 shades, or try L’oréal Age Perfect BB Cover SPF 50 (£11.99, boots.com), if you happen to fit into one of its six.
oily eyelids often won’t hold powder shadow even after primer. Instead, go for a wet-looking, sparkly cream such as Trish McEvoy 24-hour Eye Shadow and Liner (£24, libertylondon.com), or Stila’s fantastic Glisten & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow (£24, stila.co.uk).
Follow this routine and nobody will ever have you down as a midlife teenager.
Follow: @HannahJBetts