Understanding Menopause and Its Impact on Skin
Menopause is a natural phase of life marking the end of menstrual cycles, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55 – though it can happen earlier or later. During this transition, levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone decline, leading to a variety of physical and emotional changes, including noticeable shifts in the skin[1].
Oestrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining collagen production, hydration, and elasticity[2]. As hormone levels drop, the skin may begin to behave differently. Some women find their skin becomes drier or more fragile, while others experience breakouts reminiscent of their teenage years.
Although these changes are completely natural, understanding what’s happening beneath the surface helps you care for your skin more effectively during menopause and beyond.
To read more about menopause and when it can occur, please see our-in depth blog here.
What Happens to Your Skin During Menopause?
As hormone levels fluctuate, you might notice a range of skin changes, such as[3]:
- Atrophy
- Changes in oil balance leading to breakouts or dermatitis
- Dry and itchy skin due to diminished skin moisture
- Heightened sensitivity and inflammation
- Loss of elasticity and firmness (increased laxity)
- More visible lines and wrinkles
- Thinner, more delicate skin (epidermal thinning)
These skin changes are common during menopause and can often be managed with the right skincare and bodycare routines. Many women find that natural creams and botanical ingredients help to restore moisture, comfort, and radiance without harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances.
What Natural Ingredients Support Menopausal Skin?
There are various plant-based allies that may particularly help your skin feel soothed and replenished during menopause. Look for products containing these trusted botanicals:
- Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa): Traditionally used to support hormone balance, wild yam is often found in creams that help calm dryness and maintain skin comfort.
- Evening Primrose Oil: Rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), it supports hydration and reduces the appearance of redness and irritation.
- Calendula: A gentle, soothing herb ideal for calming inflammation and helping delicate skin feel nurtured.
- Aloe Vera: Hydrating and cooling, it helps to replenish moisture while supporting the skin barrier.
- Shea Butter: Deeply nourishing and protective, great for dry or sensitive menopausal skin.
- Rosehip Oil: Naturally rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants to promote a radiant glow.
Skincare Routine for Menopausal Skin
Creating a daily routine is one of the most powerful ways to support your skin naturally. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
1. Cleanse:Use a non-foaming cream cleanser or cleansing balm to protect your natural oils.
Try: Napiers Oat Cleansing Balm
This herbal balm-to-oil formula melts away makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while deeply caring for the skin. This cleansing balm is perfect for all skin types – including sensitive, dry and combination skin.
Explore the benefits of using cleansing balms here.
2. Tone:
Choose alcohol-free toners with rose or chamomile water for extra hydration.
Try: Napiers Neroli Blossom Water
This floral toner hydrates, brightens, and revitalises the skin. Especially beneficial for mature or dry skin, it helps restore balance and radiance when used morning and night.
3. Mask
Use a face mask once or twice a week, depending on your skin type, to deeply cleanse, rebalance, and refresh your complexion.
Try: Napiers Mother of All Silver Miracle Face Mask
This purifying and soothing treatment helps reduce the appearance of ageing, blemishes, and oxidative stress. With a blend of colloidal silver, kaolin clay, calendula, and chamomile, it draws out impurities, removes excess oil, and calms redness while supporting the skin’s natural barrier.
Suitable for oily, blemish-prone, or sensitive skin, this mask leaves the skin feeling clear, smooth, and comfortably hydrated. For those with drier skin, use just once weekly to avoid over-drying while still benefiting from its refining and revitalising effects.
4. Serum
While creams provide essential moisture and protection, serums deliver concentrated nourishment deeper into the skin — helping to support areas affected by dryness, dullness, or pigmentation changes that may occur during menopause.
This radiance-boosting blend works to brighten and even out skin tone while delivering deep hydration and soothing comfort. Liquorice root helps restore clarity and glow, while water horsetail supports elasticity and texture, and chamomile offers calming reassurance for sensitive or inflamed areas. This oil is ideal for sensitive skin, absorbing effortlessly to leave it feeling supple, luminous, and revitalised.
If your skin leans towards dryness, try Napiers Vitamin C Serum. This serum delivers deep hydration while supporting natural radiance and a smoother, more supple complexion.
If you have skin that experiences breakouts, Napiers Anti-Blemish Serum may be a better option for you. With niacinamide, zinc PCA, witch hazel, willow bark, tea tree, and chamomile, this serum helps reduce the appearance of blemishes while supporting the skin’s natural balance.
5. Eye Cream:
The skin around the eyes is delicate and can become drier or more fragile during menopause. Applying an eye cream morning and night helps keep this area hydrated and bright.
This cooling and soothing cream is made with eyebright, chamomile, and chickweed – botanicals traditionally used to calm and refresh tired or irritated eyes. Its light, gel-like texture hydrates and comforts while helping to reduce puffiness and dryness caused by hormonal or environmental changes.
6. Moisturise:
Lock in hydration with a nourishing moisturiser that supports elasticity and radiance.
This light, fast-absorbing formula with damask rose, rosehip, and silk peptides smooths fine lines, refines texture, and protects the skin, leaving it firmer, radiant, and softly scented. It also includes green tea, rich in antioxidants and polyphenols that help soothe the skin and reduce redness or irritation.
For those with dry or blemish-prone skin, we recommend Napiers Rowan Moisture Formula – a deeply hydrating cream with Scottish rowan berries, macadamia oil, and shea butter. Rich in vitamin C and seaweed extracts, it helps brighten, firm, and smooth the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and rejuvenated.
7. Protect:
Use SPF during the day to shield from UV damage.
Nourish Overnight:
During the night, skin works to repair and restore itself, making a rich night cream essential.
Try: Napiers Frankincense Nourish Night Cream
Infused with frankincense, sandalwood, and vetiver, this cream works to smooth fine lines and promote supple, rejuvenated skin. Enriched with rosehip, jojoba, and shea butter, it provides deep hydration without heaviness, leaving skin soft, refreshed, and visibly revitalised by morning.
Don’t Forget Bodycare
Menopause doesn’t only affect the skin on your face. As oestrogen levels decline, the skin across your entire body can become thinner, drier, and more prone to itchiness. legs, and feet often need extra care to stay soft and comfortable.
Hydration and gentle exfoliation are key to keeping your body comfortable. Choose natural bodycare products that soothe and nourish deeply.
Try: Napier Wild Yam Skin Cream
This trusted herbal moisturiser is made with wild yam root extract, rich in diosgenin, which is traditionally valued for supporting women during periods of hormonal fluctuation, including perimenopause and menopause. Enriched with calendula, aloe vera, and vitamin E, it helps soothe irritation, restore softness, and provide lasting hydration, making it ideal for mature, dry or sensitive skin.
For a lighter alternative suitable for all skin types, Napiers Wild Yam Body Oil combines wild yam extract with coconut and jojoba oils to deliver deep moisture to the skin. Traditionally used to support the body through hormonal changes, this nourishing oil helps maintain balance, leaving skin smooth and comforted.
To learn more about Wild Yam and how it may be used during menopause, read our blog here.
Try: Napiers Magnesium Oil Spray
This clean, high-strength formula is made with pure magnesium chloride from the ancient Zechstein seabed. This fast-absorbing spray supports relaxation and muscle recovery, making it perfect after exercise or before bed. Many people find it especially comforting for tired or restless legs at the end of the day. Each use delivers elemental magnesium to the skin, helping ease tension and promote calm without leaving residue. Gentle and suitable for all skin types, it’s a simple way to restore balance and unwind at the end of the day.
Try: Napiers Starflower Dry Skin Cream
This natural emollient is formulated to soothe, moisturise, and protect dry or sensitive skin. Enriched with borage (starflower) seed oil, naturally high in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), it helps restore moisture and strengthen the skin barrier. Blended with chamomile, chickweed, and nourishing plant oils, it calms irritation and leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. Suitable for those prone to eczema or dermatitis, it’s an ideal everyday cream for hardworking or easily irritated skin.
Together, these products nurture both face and body, offering comfort and balance during menopause and postmenopause.
Lifestyle Support for Healthy, Radiant Skin
Alongside natural skincare, small lifestyle shifts can make a big difference during menopause:
- Stay hydrated: Aim for 6–8 glasses of water a day to support elasticity and moisture[4].
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods: Include omega-3 sources like flaxseed, walnuts, and oily fish, along with colourful fruits and vegetables.
- Manage stress: Elevated cortisol can heighten inflammation and sensitivity. Try mindfulness, yoga, or gentle breathing exercises.
- Support the skin microbiome: Regular movement, good sleep, and balanced nutrition help your skin stay resilient.
- Herbal teas and supplements: Chamomile, red clover, and sage teas can be comforting, but always consult a qualified herbalist for personalised advice.
Reducing congestion can also help support overall wellbeing during menopause, as easier breathing encourages deeper rest and relaxation. Try Napiers Sinus Rub Cream, a gentle herbal blend with myrrh, bayberry, eucalyptus, and lavender to comfort and ease sinus tension. This small self-care ritual may help you breathe more easily and unwind naturally.
Seek Personalised Guidance
Every woman’s experience of menopause is unique. If you’d like tailored advice on the best natural support for you, consider booking a free consultation with us. Our qualified herbalists can guide you towards gentle, effective routines to support your wellbeing.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have concerns about your skin or menopause symptoms, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does menopause start?
Menopause typically occurs between ages 45 and 55, though symptoms can begin during perimenopause, the transition phase leading up to menopause.
What are the benefits of wild yam?
Wild yam contains plant compounds traditionally used to support hormonal balance and soothe dry or sensitive skin. It’s often featured in natural creams designed for menopausal and postmenopausal care. Learn more here.
How can I keep my skin hydrated during menopause?
Focus on using natural skincare, drink plenty of water, and incorporate omega-3-rich foods into your diet. Avoid harsh soaps and products that strip natural oils.
Is menopause skincare different from regular skincare?
Yes, menopausal skin may benefit from richer, more nourishing formulations that target dryness and loss of elasticity. However, every woman’s menopause journey is unique, so it’s important to choose products that suit your individual skin type and needs.
