For women going through puberty and pregnancy, hormone levels create a real imbalance with our bodies – our moods, our feeling of well-being, not to mention the physical fun and games. Then, as we age, moving into our 40s and 50s, we have the joy of menopause, where we can expect more of the same.
Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years as periods stop due to lower hormone levels, and you can expect to start noticing changes in your late forties and early fifties.
The perimenopause stage is the menopausal transition stage, when you start to show symptoms of change before your periods completely stop. Menopause itself is when you have not had a period for 12 months. Menopause and the perimenopausal stage of your life can cause a variety of changes, and the bad news for some women is that these symptoms can sometimes start years before their periods stop and, for some, carry on afterwards.
As well as a whole host of changes in your physical appearance and mental well-being, the menopause and perimenopausal transition can have a big impact on your skin as hormone levels change.
Menopausal and Perimenopausal Skin Issues
Collagen, which is made up of polypeptides, plays an essential role in holding together the cells in your body and provides strength and elasticity to your skin.
As you hit menopause, your levels of oestrogen reduce. As oestrogen helps maintain and increase the collagen content in your skin, your skin will lose elasticity and become dry, thinner and more sensitive during the perimenopausal stage.
Added to this, skin repair takes longer because cell regeneration also slows. This means that blemishes take longer to heal and fade, and skin can start to lose its glow. (Ref.)
“I have post-menopausal very sensitive skin which switches between acne prone and very dry. Only started using this cleanser (and moisturiser) on Friday and what a difference already! Spots on my chin have almost cleared (they've been there ages) and my skin feels soothed. My only regret is that I didn't find this skincare range sooner!”
Perimenopausal Skin Care
Although no skincare product can reverse the ageing process, with the right products, you can provide your skin with the help and nourishment it craves with your changing hormone levels.
Despite our natural skincare range being suitable for all skin types and ages, we know that our ingredients can help combat skin issues associated with menopausal and perimenopausal skin. Most of our customers are women over 45, and some have highlighted menopause specifically as the reason they use Bee Good products.
“A real find! I tried this after Sali Hughes recommended their great cream cleanser. This is a light moisturiser which is deeply nourishing of dry skin, even for a post menopausal woman. Excellent value and in a good cause. Highly recommended.”
The key to better skincare during the menopausal transition is to ensure your skincare regime contains the right ingredients – natural and hydrating. This often means looking at the products you may have used for many years and reassessing what is in them and if they are still fit for your changing skin.
Skin Firmness
Many skincare products for mature skin contain retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A, to help aid firmness. But, like many Vitamin A derivatives, it may not suit sensitive skin and can cause redness, irritation and dryer skin.
Luckily, the Bees have us covered with a wonderful natural ingredient called Propolis. The majority of the (over) 300 compounds in Propolis are forms of polyphenols. These are antioxidants that fight disease and damage in the body and include Flavonoids, which are produced naturally in plants as a form of protection. One such Flavonoid is Pinocembrin, which acts as an anti-fungal, and its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that has been proven to aid in the healing of wounds and skin.
Elasticity and Smoothness
Peptides (sometimes called polypeptides) are amino acids that make up some of the protein in your skin, and your body produces these naturally. Because the production of collagen, made up of polypeptides, is reduced during menopause, peptides in your skincare products can help the skin maintain elasticity, firmness and smoothness.
Skincare products with peptides absorb into the skin. With anti-inflammatory properties, they are also gentle, making them an ideal ingredient for perimenopausal and menopausal skin.
Dryness
During the perimenopausal transition and menopause, your skin will lose its ability to hold as much water and can get quite dry. Using calmer, more natural products will help, rather than harsher cleansers and soaps.
Regular moisturising with a natural soothing moisturiser is essential. Moisturisers with hyaluronic acid offer additional benefits, as it attracts and bonds to water molecules, increasing the skin’s water content. Honey is also an excellent ingredient for sealing in moisture as it is a natural humectant, which means it can help to absorb and retain moisture in the skin.
Summary
Gentle and soothing is the key: Feeding and nourishing your skin with proven, natural ingredients. A rich moisturiser with hyaluronic acid is ideal for easing skin dryness during the perimenopausal transition. The anti-inflammatory benefits from Propolis also help calm your skin, even if you have breakouts, and it’s worth avoiding some skincare products for oily skin as many will create more dryness.
Eat well, drink lots of water, and look after your body. Also, remember that as much as it can be a strange time with many changes happening, the more you take control of your body and mind and control the things you can, the more you can embrace the next stage of your life.
