What Does Menopausal Skin Look Like?
Make your life easier. Care for and nourish your skin in an honest way
Menopausal Skin - Help!
OK hands up, who is feeling just a tiny bit fed up with their skin? Dry skin? Dull skin? Break outs? Increased sensitivity itchiness?
Things change as we get older, but you don’t need me to tell you that. I get more questions about the best way to deal with changing skin than anything else.
It's easy to be negative when met with these symptoms.
We are our own harshest critics with that little voice berating ourselves for our skin being too dry, oily or have too many lines.
Our skin is a workhorse, working behind the scenes, including when we are asleep. This includes:
First line of defence against bacterial and pollutants.
A protective barrier to the world.
Carrying out repairs.
Helps maintain a constant temperature.
None of us can change the ageing process - and I think that most of the time we don't want to.
The thing about getting to menopause - or perimenopause is that it is a gift.
How many women do you know that didn't make it to their 40s or 50s? We all know someone.
What is magic, is the perspective that comes with age.
We know what we are about, and we (mostly) have the confidence to look back on these experiences, the good ones and bad ones, and smile -and look forward to all the adventures life still has to throw at us.
Instead let's take a step back and come up with some strategies to feel better and support our skin through this natural transition.
The menopause is defined officially as one year after your last period - but for most of us, the preceding time, the perimenopause lasts about four years.
So What Happens To Skin During the Menopause?
Hormonal changes become apparent during the perimenopause, as a direct result of reduced oestrogen in our bodies.
The skin thins and becomes more loose and can start to sag - which is when we catch a view of ourselves at an unfortunate angle - two chins anyone - yup you know what I mean.
Sunspots or pigmentation suddenly appear out of no where - even when you've been diligent with the sun cream.
And why didn't anyone warn me about the intensely dry skin!
Help for Menopausal Skin
Carrot & Mango Cleansing Butter
Deep Nourish Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant
Intensive Balm with Marshmallow & Frangipani
Radiance Cream with Rose & Frankincense
Radiance Facial Essence with Rose & Marula
Radiance Saviour Complete Collection
The Ultimate Collection - Radiance Saviour
1 - Dull Menopause Skin
Skin that is already dry coupled with slower cell turnover means lacklustre, dull looking skin, which in turn usually means dead skin cells sat on the surface.
The fix?
Hydration and moisture is key - and some gentle exfoliating.
For your face, I recommend using a balm type cleanser as a starting point.
This is a solid style cleanser, made from plant oils, that you massage into dry skin, and then remove with a cloth wrung through with warm water.
This is the most moisturising type of cleanser and is perfect for older skins that are dry and sensitive.
I like a muslin cloth rather than a cotton type cloth, the muslin also exfoliates very gently as you remove the cleanser.
If you are suffering with break outs, don't assume this won't work for you - it depends on the oils and the ingredients.
I include lavender, carrot seed and rosemary essential oils which support skin prone to breakouts.
Make sure you follow up with some serious hydrating power. I love a face oil, all that concentrated fatty acids for soft, cushiony skin and I like to layer with a cream or a balm for those dry, parched skin moments. For a lighter option, pick just one.
There's no right or wrong - it's what your skin likes. Play around to find the combination that works for you.
For your body, exfoliate gently and use a product that does both the exfoliating bit and add some hydration too.
In my Honey & Rose scrub, I pack in organic sugar with silky almond oil, creamy shea butter and essential oils giving a soft blanket of scent and creating an indulgent and soothing scrub while delivering tangible results and leaving you with noticeably softer, glowing skin.
But a word of warning, while exfoliating your face or body, gentle is key. No scrubbing delicate skin within an inch of its life.
2 - Break Outs & The Menopause
You're a teenager again. And not in a good way. It feels like life is having a laugh. Dry skin and breakouts - win, not.
Changing hormones are at play here - oestrogen levels are falling and the changing hormones can result in spots and breakouts.
The fix - a mix of hydration and ingredients that help control break outs.
Plump for the hydrating cleansing balm, but couple it with ingredients that naturally support breakout prone skin.
3 - Dry Menopausal Skin
This for me is the symptom I have struggled with the most.
Intensely dry skin is an indication that your skin's outer barrier is struggling.
As oestrogen levels fall, the skin's epidermis thickens with less oil production.
The fix?
For cleansing plump for a balm type cleanser.
Think about what you are using in the shower to cleanse with. I strongly recommend you ditch the foaming cleansers, anything that leaves you with that tight, itchy feeling.
The detergent part of most shower products are a major culprit in drying skin out further.
Consider switching back to an old fashioned soap bar. Just make sure it is real cold processed soap made with pure plant oils.
This type of bar produces glycerine which is a humectant and helps dry skin. Also check that it does not contain any artificial fragrances which can exacerbate dry, sensitive skin.
Then shore up the skin with moisturising ingredients - fatty acids, fatty butters like shea butter, glycerine, squalene are all ingredients I like.
Remember, going through the menopause and perimenopause is a perfectly natural transition that happens to everyone. Let us know your experience and any tips that might be helpful to others.
Less is more - a little simplicity
The idea behind The Rose Tree is grown up beauty. Less about looking 10 years younger and more about feeling amazing. The best ingredients for the job, not the cheapest. The finest natural and organic plant oils and butters, selected for their effectiveness.
I am all about being small, because small means personal, and comes with great service. I want finding beauty that works to be easy. I am passionate about manufacturing in Britain, sourcing ingredients ethically and being able to give a little back to the world.
My customers tend to fall into two groups.
They're either in their 30s and 40s juggling kiddies and jobs.
Or they tend to be in the 40s, 50s, and upwards - and are juggling busy lives with and adapting to their skin's changing needs, perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
I'm all about ignoring the rules, must have products, must have ingredients, it's exhausting. Let's ditch this idea that you need tens of products and a 10 step skincare routine.
Simplicity is good.
Deep Nourish Facial Essence with Rose & Blackcurrant
Carrot & Mango Cleansing Butter, Organic Muslin Set
Radiance Cream with Rose & Frankincense
Radiance Facial Essence with Rose & Marula
Carrot & Mango Cleansing Butter, Organic Muslin Set
Intensive Balm with Marshmallow & Frangipani
I used to have a 'proper' job commuting in and out of London, working crazy hours for a big blue chip organisations. I was a tad stressed, and my skin was not very happy,
I still works crazy hours but for herself, creating beauty and wellbeing goodies. Grown up beauty designed to make your life easier, that's a little clever, and that's a little easy.
The Rose Tree is a multiple award winning British beauty brand with a focus on grown up beauty. The finest natural and organic plant oils and butters, selected for their effectiveness. A small boutique producer which offers great service, who manufactures in Britain with a focus on sourcing ingredients ethically and giving back through it’s partnership with Buy1Give1.
"A British-made, luxurious, organic brand that particularly suits sensitive skin. Perfect for the mum who likes her beauty all natural."
The Independent
What women are saying about us...
"As if it wasn't bad enough that the menopause and lack of oestrogen has dried my skin to the point of reptilian , I was horrified to keep having outbreaks of spots too - talk about insult to injury . Was sceptical that an oil would help - but on a friend's recommendation tried this oil and it clears any outbreaks overnight! Amazing!" Justine
"I have tried many other products - top of the line products - none of which accommodated the change to my maturing skin. How I wish I'd found The Rose Tree products years ago. My skin looks and feels wonderfully nourished." - Kara Joy
"I I love using the Radiance Facial Essence, it makes my skin feel fabulous. I have been using this for a number of years now and would definitely recommend it." Laura
At The Rose Tree, I believe that grown up beauty means being responsible. This includes sourcing ingredients ethically, manufacturing in England, and giving a little back.
I care about making my products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. I package the majority of products in glass. I am extremely picky about my ingredients. We never test our products on animals.
I also partner up with Buy1Give1 (B1G1), a social enterprise and non-profit organisation with a mission to create a world full of giving. Unlike conventional giving models, B1G1 helps small and medium-sized businesses achieve more social impact by embedding giving activities into everyday business operations and creating unique giving stories.
That means, with your help, we can make a small but positive difference.