4 MENOPAUSE SKINCARE: all change
Nailing its ‘meno’ colours to the mast (pot, tube and ampoule), skincare that specifically targets a menopausal audience is the next big thing. But is it just smart marketing to the sizeable number of women who have been hitherto ignored by the majority of beauty brands? Certainly products that are mindful of menopausal, perimenopausal or postmenopausal skin’s unique needs are a good idea, not least as there are multiple, often conflicting, issues to contend with. ‘Due to steeply dropping oestrogen levels, your skin will produce far less plumping, densifying collagen on its own, so more powerful but sometimes irritating collagen boosters are called for, just as skin becomes more sensitised and prone to redness,’ says dermatologist Dr Alia Ahmed. ‘Deep hydration is another must, as the loss of oestrogen affects your skin barrier, so skin will be much drier, but you also have to mitigate the risk of breakouts [fluctuating hormones can cause these out of the blue] and worsening hot flushes,’ she adds. Of course, there is plenty of ‘generic’ skincare that helps with these issues, but ‘meno’ skincare can offer a unique service in providing for these conundrums in a neat, targeted package, such as one that might include peptides and bakuchiol (trustworthy but irritation-free collagen generators), microdosed retinol, non-stinging forms of vitamin C, plant oestrogens and skin barrier builders, such as ceramides and essential fatty acids. The best brands offer a choice of hydrating gel and serum textures based on humectants such as glycerin, alongside luxurious creams based on plant oils – so you can choose the texture that’s right for your skin. What you don’t need are products with high levels of fragrance, ‘cooling’ alcohol or menthol, as these all irritate delicate skin.