How to care for menopausal skin

Skincare expert Sarah Murrell tells us her favourite ways to care for menopausal skin

The shift in hormones during the menopause and peri-menopause can unleash all kinds of changes in the skin, from adult acne and rosacea to flushed skin. We asked Sarah Murrell, skin health expert and co-founder of skincare brand By Sarah London, for her top recommendations on how to care for menopausal skin.

How does the menopause and peri-menopause affect skin?

The peri-menopause typically starts in your mid-40s when periods start to become more irregular and oestrogen levels start to drop, which can often manifest as a temperamental complexion with breakouts, rosacea and dry or oily skin patches.

With the onset of the menopause, there is a sharp decline in levels of oestrogen which has a dramatic impact on collagen production resulting in drier, thinner and less elastic skin. Alongside acne and dryness, many women notice increased sensitivity, redness and flushing.

Which ingredients and products are best for menopausal skin?

To counteract falling collagen levels, look for restorative natural plant oils to calm and restore the skin, pumping back all that lost moisture.

The multi award-winning By Sarah London Hero Facial Oil contains organic sweet almond, pumpkin seed, argan and vitamin E, brimming with nutrients to nourish and repair. Massage in a few drops to clean, slightly damp skin, using upward circular motions, to boost radiance and bring a dewy luminosity that menopausal skin often craves.

Hero Facial Oil, By Sarah London

What’s the best daily skincare routine during the menopause?

The best-selling 3-Step Essentials from By Sarah London offers a complete skincare routine for both morning and night and from top to toe, ensuring sufficient hydration to replenish cell moisture, omegas to repair the skin barrier and vital nutrients to improve skin suppleness.

For an everyday skincare routine, start with the By Sarah London Balancer oil-to-milk Cleanser, followed with the Reviver Hydrating Mist to add much-needed hydration to the skin; replenishing your skin’s microbiome and strengthening its important protective barrier.

Finish with the Hero Facial Oil on to damp skin, free from essential oils and synthetic fragrance, the anti-inflammatory and reparative properties of the plant oils support cell turnover and aid in collagen production.

3-Step Essentials, By Sarah London

What should I avoid during the menopause?

As the body and skin is changing due to falling oestrogen levels, you may experience increased sensitivity. Steer clear of potent acids and exfoliants which may aggravate the skin, and instead opt for soothing and hydrating skincare, like By Sarah London’s hyaluronic gel Saviour Moisture Mask.

Target outbreaks with the Ally Blemish Recovery Oil. Choosing prebiotic blends that care for your skin’s microbiome – something that can become out of whack during the menopause – is key.

The entire range at By Sarah London is free from fragrance, drying alcohols, sodium lauryl sulphate and essential oils so there’s no need to worry about any irritation.

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