6 Ways Estrogen Levels Affect Your Skin—And What To Do About It

During perimenopause and menopause, you may notice changes.

Hormones don’t just affect your skin when you’re a teenager or when you’re on your period. When we go through perimenopause and menopause, a change that can start in your 30s but usually does in your 40s, oestrogen levels drop. This can have a big effect on your skin’s ability to stay hydrated, as well as its bounce and glow.

“When oestrogen levels drop, it can lead to changes we aren’t always ready for,” says by a dermatologist. The good news is that talking about menopause has become less of a taboo in recent years, and with that has come solutions. “Removing the stigma of menopause and having access to products that help us during this time of change is really empowering,” says by doctor. One example is Stripes, a new skin care and vaginal health brand from actress Naomi Watts. Watts has been open about how she went through early menopause in her 30s, and the brand’s products are made to help skin that doesn’t have enough oestrogen.

Whether you are about to go through menopause or are already going through it, you deserve to know what to expect. Read about six common skin changes and then look for possible solutions.

1. Less Bright-and-Bouncy Skin

“Estrogen makes it easier for the body to make collagen and is one of the main reasons why skin is plump,” says Doctor. “When its levels drop, our skin gets thinner and can look duller and more wrinkled.”

If you haven’t lost oestrogen yet, a skincare routine with retinoids and sunscreen that supports collagen can help with thinning and dullness once menopause hits. But if you are already going through this change, look for products that help keep collagen in your skin, like Stripes The Power Move Ectoine Hydrating & Plumping Facial Serum, which has a new ingredient called ectoine.

Doctor says, “I call ectoine “protectoine” because it helps protect proteins like collagen.” “We heated egg whites in test tubes and found that the tube that also had ectoine stayed raw longer.” The compound comes from bacteria that can live in harsh places like the desert, and its properties help keep things from breaking down when it’s hot. This makes sense.

2. Drier Skin Than You’ve Ever Had Before

When ectoine is combined with squalane, it can also help keep dry skin hydrated. And because oestrogen is so important for keeping moisture in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy, when its levels start to drop, it’s important to use products with moisturising and barrier-boosting ingredients.

A Stripes chemist and product development manager, Jessica Kizovski, says that ectoine helps cells work better and makes them bigger. Kizovski says that squalane is another important part of the brand’s formulas. “It has been shown to improve hydration, smoothness, and barrier health, and it also boosts the effects of ectoine,” she says.

Doctor says that another way to keep your skin moist is to only wash your face at night instead of twice a day. Just splash some warm water on your skin in the morning to wake it up.

3. More Sensitivity to Products and the Environment

Doctor says that when oestrogen levels drop, the skin in general becomes more sensitive. This could mean that you need to change your skin care routine to include simpler, more protective, and less harsh products.

Look for clean, well-studied ingredients that make the skin more resilient and don’t damage the moisture barrier. For example, Stripes Resting Clean Face Ectoine Nourishing & Calming Face Wash can break down makeup, oil, and dirt without stripping and drying out skin.

4. Faster Aging of Hands and Feet

“Menopause skin changes often show up in the hands and feet before they show up on the face,” says by doctor. This is likely because these parts of the body don’t get as much blood flow.

Try Stripes The Full Monty Squalane Hydrating Vitamin C Body Oil for daily neck-to-toe care. It has deeply hydrating ingredients like squalane and antioxidants that make your skin look healthier. And why not give yourself a relaxing massage while you put it on? Doctor says that menopause is a time to enjoy our bodies, look inward, and love ourselves.

5. An Acne Comeback

“A drop in oestrogen can cause acne in some people because the body becomes a little more open to androgen,” says by doctor. “Surprising bouts can happen every now and then. This usually gets better as hormones level out toward the end of menopause, but it can be very frustrating in the meantime.

If your skin isn’t too sensitive, your doctor can prescribe a retinoid that will speed up the turnover of skin cells and stop the buildup of dead skin cells, which can cause pimples. No matter what, your skin will still need water to keep from drying out too much and keep that healthy barrier. Stripes Dew As I Do Ectoine + Vitamin C Brightening & Hydrating Cream was made to work with any skin type, so it can moisturise without causing breakouts. It’s just right.

6. And, Yes, Those Infamous Hot Flashes

Even though a hot flash starts on the inside, and making changes to your lifestyle can help reduce the number and severity of them, you can also help calm and soothe flushed skin from the outside. Stripes The Cool Factor Ectoine Cooling & Calming Face Mist is a favourite. It uses edelweiss-flower extract, antioxidants, and ectoine and squalane to cool and soothe the skin. Doctor says, “I love this mist because it cools and hydrates my skin so well.”