There’s not a single person on the planet who hasn’t suffered a crisis of confidence at one point or another (TRUST us!). SO, we present The Confidence Collection, (click here for our previous editions!) brought to you by our pals at Caci. We’ll be covering all areas of self-belief in all areas of life – dating, work, relationships, beauty and personal growth – with practical advice, words of wisdom from women who have seen it, lived it and conquered it, and everything in between.
It’s World Menopause Awareness Month this month and if you’re a regular reader of Capsule, you’ll know that, well, every month is menopause awareness month! We’re constantly chatting about the effects of menopause and perimenopause because it’s SUCH an misunderstood stage of womanhood – and some of these effects are SUPER surprising (bone density, anyone!?). But here we’re delving into what actually happens with your skin when your body starts to lose vital hormones, and crucially, what to do about it.
It’s 7.43am, you’re already late, you’re peering into the bathroom mirror under the one light that you keep meaning to replace because, Jesus, that’s too bright for this stage of life, and suddenly, you notice it. Your skin.
Is that… dullness? A weird patch of dryness that you’re absolutely sure wasn’t there yesterday? Why do you look like you haven’t slept in a week, even though you finally got a solid seven hours (good for you, darls)? And oh god, is that a hot flush sneaking up your neck?
Welcome to perimenopause, baby – the wild hormonal rollercoaster that no one really warned us about when we were growing up but, if you’re in your late 30s and early 40s, is hurtling towards you with the speed of a freight train.
We know so much more about perimenopause now – the mood swings, the periods that ghost us and then come back like a toxic ex messaging ‘u up?’. But skin changes? That one wasn’t in the bloody brochure.
“I thought I just needed a new moisturiser…”
Capsule reader Sarah is 44, a graphic designer, a self-described queen of serums, mother of two, and the proud owner of what she used to call ‘reasonably good skin’ because she has invested in it – the skincare, the treatments at Caci, the SPF. But, like all the good women before her, she started waking up with cheeks that felt like a desert and random bouts of redness that made her look permanently embarrassed.
“I’d be sitting in a Zoom meeting and suddenly feel like someone had turned on a heater under my chin,” she says. “Then I looked in the mirror one day and thought, ‘Why do I look… different?’ I wasn’t glowing anymore. My skin felt tight, dry, and kind of blah. I thought it was just winter or my skincare had stopped working.”
Turns out perimenopause is more of a cow than we have her credit for, eh.
So, why is our skin suddenly betraying us?
The culprit? Oestrogen. Well, more specifically, the lack, or fluctuation, of it.
During perimenopause, progesterone and oestrogen levels start to drop – and these and other hormones begin to go haywire. They don’t gently decline, they fluctuate like mad, and the hormonal instability shows up everywhere – especially on your skin. Oestrogen is basically the fairy godmother of youthful skin – it keeps collagen production humming along and helps skin stay plump, hydrated, and resilient. But when she packs her bags and heads off on an indefinite Fijian holiday? Things start to shift.
Less oestrogen means:
- Less collagen (hello, fine lines)
- Less oil production (goodbye, dewy glow)
- Thinner skin (more sensitivity)
- Slower cell turnover (dullness, dryness, uneven texture)
Combine that with the occasional sweaty rage flush (although this could be latent anger at the world right now and if so, we understand!) and you’ve got a recipe for skin confusion.
“Why do I feel hot and dry at the same time?!”
God, what a sentence. Because, quite frankly, hormones are chaos. While hot flushes (those sudden waves of heat that make you want to stick your face in the freezer) are classic perimenopause fare, the irony is that your skin is often also crying out for moisture.
Your body’s internal thermometer is out of whack. Your skin barrier? A bit compromised. Your usual skincare regime? Probably not cutting it anymore.
So, what can we actually do about it?
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to just suffer through this. With a few tweaks to your routine, trusting the experts and a little grace for yourself, you can absolutely get that glow back.
1. Switch to gentler, more nourishing skincare
Now’s not the time for stripping cleansers (the ones we loved in our youth because they made our skin feel squeaky clean!) or aggressive exfoliants (NO MORE APRICOT SCRUB, DARL). Look for products with:
- Hyaluronic acid (to hydrate) – try Skinsmiths B12 Hydra Cream Mask
- Ceramides (to repair the skin barrier) – reach for Murad’s Essential C Firming Day Radiance
- Essential fatty acids (to lock in moisture) – Seal in hydration with Murad’s Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Oil Drops
- Peptides or retinal (for collagen support that tackles the signs of ageing) Add to your PM routine Murad’s Retinal Resculpt Overnight Treatment [ed’s note – we’ve written about this product before and guys, it’s insanely good].
2. Consider talking to a pro
Trust us and pop into a Caci clinic for some tried-and-true advice from women who are going through the same things as you – but who also know their stuff when it comes to sorting it out. Sometimes in these situations, your at-home skincare just isn’t enough (no shame in that). The team knows skin inside and out – especially when it comes to treating dryness, dullness, and those sneaky fine lines that show up uninvited during perimenopause. Whether it’s a personalised skin plan, hydrating treatments, or collagen-boosting options like microneedling or LED therapy, they’ve got you covered. Also, a GP or dermatologist can help you navigate hormone-related skin changes on a hormonal level. In some cases, topical oestrogen creams or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might be part of the conversation.
3. SPF is non-negotiable
Your skin is more sensitive now, so protecting it from the sun is essential. Even on cloudy days. Even if you’re just going to brunch. (Especially if you’re going to brunch.)
4. Hydrate like you mean it
Internally and externally. Think water, herbal teas, and moisture-rich skincare. Sarah swears by putting a humidifier in her bedroom: “It’s like a little spa misting my face while I sleep.”
5. Adjust your expectations, and be kind to yourself
This stage is full-on. Your skin is going through it, you’re going through it, and honestly? You’re doing great. Give your body what it needs, even if that’s just a cool face cloth, a good laugh, and a glass of wine with your best mate (or a scroll through dog videos under the duvet).
Most importantly, you’re not alone in this
Perimenopause is a messy, surprising, and often misunderstood chapter of life (classic women’s health research, right!?). But it’s also a time to reset, rethink, and reclaim your relationship with your body, and your skin.
