The effects of menopause on your skin

What is menopause?

Menopause represents on average one third of a woman's life. In 2022, nine million Canadian women are 45 years old or more*. Knowing that menopause is a natural process that sets in, on average, at 51 years old**, 1 Canadian woman out of 2 has or will soon reach menopause.

Despite this, the subject is still taboo. It's time to take the drama out of it! Like puberty, menopause is a time of hormonal upheaval. It marks a new stage in a woman's life, when a new perception of her body and femininity starts. It is the beginning of a new life, at an age when women are still bursting with energy.

The transition takes place gradually and in two stages:

• During peri-menopause, come the first hormonal variations. It is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles and can have both physical (hot flashes, skin aging, changes in hair growth, weight gain ...) and psychological impacts (mood changes, insomnia ...).
• Post-menopause is marked by the complete cessation of menstrual cycles for more than a year. Some symptoms decrease or gradually disappear (hot flashes, mood swings ...), while other ones intensify (skin aging, osteoporosis).

Hormone and skin

For many women, the shifting hormone levels in menopause lead to significant changes that include much lighter sleep, weight gain, urinary issues, an increased risk of developing certain diseases and, of course, modifications in the epidermis, such as:

• Dehydration and dryness
• Loss of tone, elasticity and definition
• Increased, more pronounced wrinkles
• More brown spots

Reduce the effects of menopause on your skin

Great news! It’s never too late to reduce the effects of menopause on the skin! Here are a few tips.

Skin care routine

• Choose skin care products that strengthen the skin while nourishing it.
• Don’t forget your neck and hands.

Sponsored content | The Vichy solution: Neovadiol

In response to the scientific discovery that cortisol production increases with menopause and drastically accelerates skin aging, Vichy is relaunching its iconic Neovadiol franchise with 5 new creams under two protocols: the peri-menopausal redensifying and plumping protocol and the post-menopausal replenishing and redefining protocol.

At the heart of this relaunch are two powerful active ingredients, proxylane and cassia extract, which counteracts the effects of cortisol. These active ingredients are associated with a combination of powerful dermatological active ingredients (niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and omegas 3-6-9) to reactivate skin mechanisms at menopause.

Tested under dermatological control on peri- and post-menopausal skin, and even on sensitive skin, these expert treatments target the specific needs of each stage of menopause.

1- PERI-MENOPAUSE PROTOCOL

These products can be integrated into the beauty routine as soon as menstrual cycles become irregular.

PERI-MENOPAUSAL DAY CREAMS

The redensifying and plumping day creams provide radiance, tone, and firmness thanks to its cocktail of active ingredients: proxylane, Cassia extract, hyaluronic acid and Vichy thermal water.

Available with 2 textures to meet the needs of normal to combination skin and dry skin.

PERI-MENOPAUSAL REVITALIZING NIGHT CREAM

The night cream revitalizes, helps restore volume and radiance and immediately refreshes the skin by 2.7°C to promote a good night's sleep and calm hot flashes.

This protocol is intended for women whose menstrual cycle has stopped for at least one year.

POST-MENOPAUSAL RELIPIDANT DAY CREAM

This replenishing and redefining treatment is specifically designed to help mature skin that has gone through the menopause period to keep its firmness, its bounce and its tone. It redefines the contours of the face and makes the skin more comfortable by limiting skin dryness.

POST-MENOPAUSAL RELIPIDANT FIRMING NIGHT CREAM

Enriched with omegas 3, 6 and 9, this replenishing and redefining cream compensates for the effects of menopause on the skin. It acts at night, when the cutaneous barrier regenerates to reconstitute the loss of lipids and nourish intensely. It leaves the skin firmer, smoother and less dry.

What about facial massages?

In addition to helping you relax, a facial massage can stimulate blood flow, help your products better penetrate the skin and tone the epidermis. There are a variety of different techniques. Here’s one:

• With bent fingers, gently massage your cheekbones starting from the nose and moving up to the hairline, near the ears. Repeat five times.
• Use the same technique along your jaw line. Apply gentle pressure starting from the middle of your chin and move upward until you reach behind the ears. Repeat five times.
• Still using your fingers, massage your neck starting at the top and work your way down. Repeat five times.

Habits to adopt

• Improve your skin tone by massaging your skin when applying moisturizer.
• Protect yourself from UV rays every time you go outdoors, since the main cause of skin aging is the sun.
• Remove your makeup every single night; use non-irritating, alcohol-free products.
• Quit smoking to regain a luminous complexion and halt the appearance of lines around your mouth.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle: sound eating, adequate sleep and exercise.

In-store services

For an analysis of your skin and recommendations on the products best suited to meet its needs, speak with your beauty consultant. She will be more than happy to help!  

*Statistics Canada

**Rozenbaum H.: Menopause. Clinical aspect. Editions ESKA, Paris 2000