Hormonal Skin Havoc? Keep your Glow with these 5 Clean Beauty Products

Do you want to know the secret to keeping your skin glowing and fresh at every age? It all comes down to a hormone-friendly skincare routine!

It's important to know what you’re putting on your skin so that you can limit your exposure to toxins and endocrine disruptors, especially around your eyes, nose, and mouth. A quick check of the ingredient list can reveal a long list of harsh chemicals and additives which can have irritating side effects and that you'd actively avoid in other areas of your life. But skincare tends to be a sneaky source of potential toxin exposure and knowing how your skin changes as you age can help you to proactively fight signs of aging.

How hormone fluctuations can impact your skin

Lowered estrogen and reduced collagen production are natural parts of perimenopause, and can lead to some noticeable changes in how your skin looks and feels. Knowing how you can care for your aging skin is critical, especially because it’s not uncommon to experience these skin changes for a while after perimenopause.

In fact, your body loses up to 30% of collagen within the first 5 years of menopause which can lead to drier, thinner, and looser skin, all of which can make your skin more sensitive to harsh chemicals, fragrances, and other common additives. These ingredients don’t provide your skin with the nourishment or protection they need to keep skin healthy, especially as hormones fluctuate and estrogen levels decline with age.

That’s why prioritizing natural, clean ingredients will help protect and care for your skin (and the planet) in the longterm. Let’s

How to know if your skin is sensitive

If you've noticed that certain products that used to work for you now irritate your skin, it could be a sign that your hormones are changing. It’s possible that any product can cause your skin irritation, but perimenopause and hormonal imbalances can make those irritations even more common. Taking a few extra minutes to try a product on a small area of your skin can save you from potential discomfort or allergic reactions later on.

A 1-day patch test is a simple and easy way to see how your skin react to a new product new:

How to do a skincare patch test:

Wash and dry the upper part of your inner arm, near your elbow.
Apply a small amount of product to the area with a clean cotton ball. Cover for 24 hours with a gauze pad.
If you notice tingling or itching, remove the gauze pad and wash the area. Discontinue use and take note of new ingredients in the product.
If don’t have any irritations or sensations, leave the gauze pad on for the full 24 hours before removing it.
If your skin looks and feels normal, you likely don’t have any sensitivities to the product.

If you're still unsure about the health and safety of some of your favorite makeup brands and products, head on over to this incredible resource: EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. It's a helpful database that contains research findings on products and insight into specific ingredients - so you can take clean beauty matters into your own hands.

5 clean beauty essentials for healthier, glowing skin in perimenopause

Consistency is key when it comes to your health and wellness, so it may take trying a product for a few weeks in order to see results. But when you’re excited about a product, you’re more likely to use it! That’s why we’ve brought you a few of the top innovative clean beauty products for your skincare routine and the hormone-friendly ingredients that keep your skin and the earth healthy and happy.

A cold-pressed cleanser that won’t leave skin stripped of moisture…

Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser by Youth to the People

Created by using a blend of cold-pressed superfood extracts, this cleanser uses the powerful nutrients in kale, spinach, and green tea, to nourish and protect the skin. This non-drying gel cleanser easily removes makeup with ease and doesn’t leave skin feeling stripped of its all moisture (dry skin isn’t something many of us need more of right now...). Plus it’s [acked with phytonutrients, vitamins C, E, and K, and inflammation-fighting antioxidants to maintain your youthful glow. Research has linked antioxidants to promoting collagen synthesis (collagen is the most abundant protein in the body!), which helps keep skin elastic and strong to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

It is vegan, cruelty-free, pH-balanced, and free from harmful ingredients including parabens and sulfates. This antioxidant-packed gel cleanser is pH-balanced

A natural antioxidant-rich facial oil to combat signs of aging…

Essential Hydrating Oil by OSEA

If your skin has been feeling dull and dry due to hormonal changes, visibly plump and restore your skin’s radiance by utilizing the powerful benefits of macadamia nut oil! Super rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and packed with vitamin E, this nut oil boasts natural antioxidants that combat the effects of oxidative stress on the skin

This type of oil is a safe and natural choice for nourishing deep layers of skin after cleansing and before applying moisturizer. It’s free of potentially harmful parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petroleum, and synthetic fragrances. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably packaged — a great eco-conscious choice to visibly plum skin and reduce fine lines.

A safe-for-sensitive-skin foundation that matches your skintone…

True Skin Serum Foundation by Ilia

We’re featuring this natural foundation alongside our clean beauty recommendations because it packs quite a nourishing punch! By using a blend of oils and botanicals, including niacinamide, aloe vera, and jojoba seed oil, this hydrating foundation helps to improve skin texture and fight common skin changes such as dryness, itchiness, and irritation. Jojoba oil is what’s called a humectant ingredient, meaning it helps attract water to the top layer of the skin, which further promotes proper skin hydration and keeps acne at bay. It’s considered to be hypoallergenic, so even those with sensitive skin can try out this foundation.

Ilia is a brand committed to sustainability, creating eco-friendly products, using recycled and FSC-certified paper for packaging, and it’s also cruelty-free. You can choose your foundation skin tint for flawless blending and a natural look.

A moisturizer with Damask rose extract for an deep hydration boost…

Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream by Fresh

The Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream has a lightweight, gel-like texture that absorbs quickly, making it perfect for everyday use. It’s a nourishing blend of rosewater, rose flower oil, and rosehip oil for an ultimate hydration boost to soothe hormonal skin. It's also formulated with hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture, as well as a blend of antioxidants to help protect the skin from environmental stressors. The Damask rose extract helps protect the skin from moisture loss by strengthening the skin’s barrier for 72 hours of deep hydration.

Based on self-assessments from 60 people after 4 weeks, 100% agreed skin felt smooth and supple and immediately hydrated. You won’t find any harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates in this moisturizer, plus, Fresh promotes eco-friendly packaging, sustainably sourced ingredients whenever possible, and it’s certified cruelty-free by PETA.

A revitalizing cool mask to gently exfoliate, unclog pores, and brighten skin…

Blue Tansy Invisible Pores Resurfacing Clarity Mask by Herbivore

Anyone with oily or acne-prone skin will find this cool gel mask particularly refreshing and cleansing. Using blue tansy oil for the natural gorgeous blue color also serves another purpose here — to soothe irritation and reduce redness with its anti-inflammatory properties. White willow bark is a natural source of skin-clarifying salicylic acid, a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), and papaya and pineapple enzymes that work together to exfoliate, unclog pores, and improve the skin’s overall clarity and texture.

Harsh exfoliants won’t help dry skin heal or nourish your skin’s supportive layers, but this botanical mask is designed to gently transform your complexion in the morning or at night. Herbivore is cruelty-free, and this vegan mask will make you feel like you’re having an at-home spa day.

Have you noticed your skin changing recently? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll continue recommending hormone-friendly products that your skin will love!

Follow us on Instagram @mbody.official and download the MBODY app today to learn more about how to support your hormonal health — available on the App Store and Google Play Store!