Menopause Skincare: Worth the Hype?

No7 has just launched its newest skincare range — a suite of products designed for menopause-related skin changes. The household beauty brand spent the past 5 years conducting scientific research into menopausal skin health and working with over 7,000 menopausal women to create this unique and purpose-driven lineup.

Photo courtesy of No7

There’s been a lot of buzz around this latest launch and for good reason! No7 is accustomed to creating crazes around product launches, and at the same time, menopause-specific items are trending. In a survey conducted last year, leading high street retailer M&S, found that 90% of women over the age of 45 were keen for brands to specifically address menopausal needs.

Several small-batch skincare producers have emerged directly targeting women in menopause, though No7 is one of the first name brand manufacturers to do the same. But we don’t expect it to be the last.

We’re all about trying out new products from brands we know and love. However… it begs the question: is menopause skincare actually worth it, or just another marketing ploy?

Let’s dive in.

What does menopause do to your skin?

Estrogen is uniquely linked to your skin health. It supports the thickness, elasticity, and hydration of your skin. In perimenopause, hormones start fluctuating and result in a steady decline of estrogen overall. The lower estrogen levels associated with menopause contribute to thinner, dry skin and a reduced moisture barrier.

Another thing that happens by your 30s is your body stops producing as much collagen, which can be exacerbated by low estrogen as well. Collagen is largely responsible for your skin’s elasticity and firmness. For more on the youth-boosting benefits of collagen — check out this post.

The combination of low estrogen and reduced collagen production that women experience leading up to menopause leads to drier, thinner, less elastic skin. This often presents as sagging around the neck, jawline, and cheeks as well as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What does menopause skincare claim to do?

The main goal of menopause skincare products is to address — not surprisingly — the impacts of low estrogen and reduced collagen.

When it comes to low estrogen, supporting healthy hydration is a key component. Much of menopause skincare is focused on supporting the skin’s natural moisture barrier to keep it looking nourished and supple. That’s why you’ll find products that aren’t just about surface level hydration, but ones that will help lock in moisture all day (and night) long.

On the reduced collagen front, much of menopause skincare incorporates ingredients that promote the development of collagen in the skin to boost elasticity — similar to many anti-aging products already on the market.

So is menopause skincare any different from anti-aging skincare?

At face value, menopause-focused skincare products aren’t all that different from anti-aging ones. However, the hope is that these product formulas prioritize the unique effects of hormone fluctuations on female skin — especially dryness.

Many anti-aging products contain harsh retinols that can end up drying skin out, which can backfire for women navigating menopausal skin changes. With these menopause-specific ranges, they should do a better job at protecting hydration while supporting collagen production at the same time.

What ingredients can you expect to see in menopause skincare?

Here are some of the common ingredients we’re seeing in menopause skincare

• Hydrating oils — such as shea butter, seed oils, and squalene. These are all natural moisturizers that keep hydration up while combating oxidative stress.

• Hyaluronic acid — this naturally occurs in the skin and is a water-loving substance, meaning it binds to water and traps it within your skin to keep it looking plump and hydrated

• Ceramides — a type of lipid, or fat, which naturally occur in the skin as well and play a critical role in maintaining a strong moisture barrier

• Vitamin C — this nutrient is critical for the production of collagen, and because it’s also an antioxidant, it’s critical in reducing free radicals which can lead to fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and more

• Niacinamide — a form of vitamin B3! It helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier by increasing the production of ceramides, ultimately supporting hydration

• Soy isoflavones — due to their estrogenic effects, brands have turned to this ingredient to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Studies have shown skin improvements in women who have taken oral soy isoflavone supplements, and it’s important to note that these estrogenic ingredients do not have the same effect on your skin health as estrogen found in HRT.

So, is menopause skincare worth it?

Here’s our #hottake… if you’re looking for skincare products to address your skin as you enter into perimenopause, it’s more important to pay attention to what’s on the ingredient list rather than what’s on the label.

Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE to see what No7 is doing with their new menopause skincare line, and we think there will be some great products in that range to keep in your skincare toolkit.

But there are plenty of high-quality skincare products out there that can support your skin as estrogen and collagen decline. You’ll be best served by understanding what your skin needs and finding products that work for you. That might be menopause-specific skincare, and it might not!

Think of your skin health just like your dietary health. We all respond differently to the food we put in our bodies, and we all respond differently to the products we use on our skin. Before being seduced by strategic branding and sexy labels, get to the root of your unique skin needs, and do the research to understand which ingredients could best support you and which brands are doing the best job at formulating those solutions. Meeting with a dermatologist to help diagnose any underlying skin issues can help you better understand your skin health currently and what you should be doing to keep it healthy as you age.

Now, we want to know… are you going to give No7’s new menopause skincare range a try? Let us know in the comments below!