Your Skin Is Changing (and That’s Okay)
Have you ever wondered why a baby’s skin looks so beautifully smooth, soft and bouncy? That fresh-faced complexion we can’t resist reaching out to touch has all the ingredients we’re looking for, including the collagen, elastin and natural moisturising factors that help keep skin plump, supple and hydrated.
But we don’t stay babies forever, and neither does our skin!
First, we hit our teenage years, when hormones can send our skin into a spin. For many of us, things settle down through our 20s and 30s, and we find a routine that seems to work. Then we hit our 40s, and those hormones start making themselves known again. Suddenly, our skin might feel drier, look a little less plump, become more sensitive or simply behave in ways we’re not used to.
Of course, we’re all different. Some of us notice these changes earlier, some later, and some barely recognise them at all. But if your skin has started to feel unfamiliar, you’re definitely not alone.
Here’s the question I’d ask first: are you treating your skin like it’s 28?
Now, if you answered yes and you actually are 28, good for you! You are likely to be doing exactly the right thing.
But what if you’re 48, 58 or 68?
Is the routine you’ve relied on for years still giving your skin what it needs today? And if your skin is changing, how do you know what to change with it?
So, what’s going on, and how can I best support my skin?
- “My skin feels dry and tight.”
As we age, and particularly around menopause, changes in oestrogen can reduce your skin’s hydration, lower levels of surface lipids and effect your skin’s barrier. You might notice your skin feels tight after cleansing, looks flaky or loses some of its plumpness.
How to support it:
- Choose a gentle cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin feeling stripped, preferably an oil-based or hydrating cleanser.
- Apply a moisturiser containing ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid or ceramides.
- If your skin needs extra nourishment, add a facial oil as the final step of your evening routine.
Worth noting: oils will help to soften your skin and help protect the skin barrier, reducing moisture loss. However, they don’t give your skin water in the way a hydrating product does. An oil is an optional extra and shouldn’t be considered as a replacement for moisturiser.
- “My skin doesn’t feel as firm or plump.”
Collagen and elastin help give skin its structure and bouncy texture. Their levels reduce over time, with hormonal changes around menopause contributing to these changes.
How to support it:
- Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day (regardless of if it’s cloudy or you are inside) to help protect against further sun-related damage.
- Keep your routine consistent, with moisturiser to support hydration and the skin barrier.
- Support firmer, smoother-looking skin with Tropic’s world-first certified natural retinal. Sourced from microalgae, this innovative, plant-based form of vitamin A helps refine skin texture, improve the appearance of fine lines and support a firmer-looking complexion. Youth Potion combines this pioneering ingredient with nourishing plant-derived ingredients to care for your skin while targeting visible signs of ageing. Use as directed, apply SPF the following morning, and avoid using exfoliating products on the same day.
Set realistic expectations: skincare can improve hydration, texture, skin’s plumpness, and the appearance of fine lines, but a cream cannot fully restore lost collagen or reverse every age-related change, only a time capsule can do that. 😉
- “My skin seems more sensitive than it used to be.”
A changing skin barrier can make skin feel more reactive. Products you’ve used for years may suddenly sting or cause redness, although persistent sensitivity can have other causes too.
How to support it:
- Ou may want to give your skin a rest for 24-48 hours from all skincare. Then, simplify your routine and introduce one new product at a time back in.
- Choose fragrance-free products if fragrance seems to trigger irritation. Many companies use ‘parfum’ as a way to hide triggering, or potentially harmful ingredients, so it’s best to stay away.
- Avoid harsh scrubs, over-exfoliation and introducing several active ingredients together.
- Patch-test new products and stop using anything that causes a reaction.
If irritation persists, or you develop a rash or significant redness, seek advice from a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
- “My complexion looks dull, uneven or more lined.”
Changes in hydration, accumulated sun exposure and the natural ageing process can affect skin texture, pigmentation and the way light reflects from the skin.
How to support it:
- Make daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher a priority. Although some foundations contain SPF, most people apply less foundation than the amount used to test its labelled protection. Use a dedicated sunscreen as your main sun protection, applying it generously and reapplying as directed, particularly when spending time outdoors.
- Focus on hydration first; dehydrated skin can make fine lines look more noticeable.
- Consider ingredients such as niacinamide, which can support the skin barrier, and vitamin C, which can help improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and support antioxidant protection. Introduce vitamin C gradually if your skin is sensitive.
- Be patient and introduce products gradually rather than chasing quick fixes.
Worth knowing: Follow a vitamin C product as per storage instructions to ensure it doesn’t oxidize.
- “Nothing seems to work for my skin anymore!”
Perhaps this is the most frustrating change of all. I know how disheartening it can feel when the products you’ve relied on for years suddenly don’t seem to do the same job. You might find that your old favourite moisturiser isn’t nourishing enough, products that once suited you now cause irritation, or your skin seems to have developed a mind of its own!
The important thing to remember is that you don’t necessarily need more products — you may just need a different approach.
How to support it:
- Take a fresh look at your routine. What is your skin telling you? Is it feeling tight, looking dull, becoming more reactive or experiencing breakouts? Start with the concern that matters most to you.
- Keep things simple. A gentle cleanser, a moisturiser suited to your skin and daily sun protection provide a useful foundation. You can then introduce other products according to your needs.
- Give your skin time to adjust. Avoid changing everything at once. Introduce new products gradually so you can see what works for you.
Not sure where to start? This is where I can help. Book a free 20-minute skin consultation with me, and we’ll look at your current routine, discuss your skin concerns and explore how you could better support your skin through its changing needs.
Book your FREE Skin Consultation
Your skin is changing. Your skincare can change with it.
The aim isn’t to have the skin you had at 28. It’s to understand the skin you have today and give it the care and support it needs.
Our skin changes throughout our lives, and menopause can bring changes that many of us weren’t expecting. But you don’t need an overflowing bathroom cabinet or a complicated 10-step routine to look after it well. Start with the basics, pay attention to what your skin is telling you, and make changes that work for you.
And if you’re curious about why menopause can affect our skin so significantly, I’ll be exploring this in more detail in my upcoming talk on skin and the menopause. I’ll share more details soon!
