Perimenopause and your skin: 7 skincare tweaks to keep your skin glowing and healthy

Perimenopause marks a sharp drop in oestrogen, which weakens your skin barrier, making it prone to dryness, redness and irritation (Image: Canva)

Your 40s often bring sudden changes to your skin, unexpected dryness, irritation and loss of glow. This phase, known as perimenopause, happens due to shifting hormone levels that directly affect your skin barrier and hydration.

The skincare regime that once worked for you a few years ago, may not work today. However, with simple tweaks and ingredient-focused care, your skin can bounce back to being healthy and resilient.

Perimenopause marks a sharp drop in oestrogen, a hormone that supports skin hydration, elasticity and collagen production. As this decline begins, your skin barrier weakens, making it prone to dryness, redness and irritation. “Many women also notice slower skin cell turnover, leading to dullness and uneven tone,” says Nitin Guppta, Founder of skincare brand Juhst. External factors like pollution, stress and lack of sleep only make it worse.

Also read: Going through perimenopause? Eat well, stay active, use natural supplements to balance hormones

Recognising these biological changes is the first step to adjusting your skincare routine and preventing long-term damage.

The products and active ingredients you swore by in your 30s may now cause flare-ups or irritation. Over-exfoliation, strong retinoids or aggressive peels can worsen the sensitivity already triggered by hormonal shifts. “This is when your skin craves nourishment over correction. The new approach focuses on barrier-repairing ingredients, deep hydration and gentle anti-ageing actives that won’t stress the skin further,” explains Guppta.

Guppta shares 7 skin-loving tips to care for perimenopausal skin:

• Prioritise barrier health with soothing ingredients: Hormonal changes weaken your skin’s natural defence. Look for ceramides, fermented extracts and microbiome-friendly peptides to rebuild and protect.

• Hydrate smart using low molecular humectants: Ditch heavy creams and instead choose low molecular weight hyaluronic acid or polyglutamic acid that hydrate deeply without clogging pores.

• Try targeted peptides for firmness and bounce: With collagen production slowing, bioactive peptides like Matrixyl or Acetyl Hexapeptide can help improve firmness and reduce fine lines over time.

• Gently exfoliate with skin-friendly acids: Forget harsh scrubs. Opt for lactic acid or PHAs to encourage cell turnover without damaging your fragile skin barrier.

• Soothe hormonal redness with adaptogens: Ingredients like reishi mushroom and ashwagandha extract calm irritation and help your skin build resilience against stress triggers.

• Do not skip daily broad-spectrum SPF: Thinner, UV-sensitive skin during this stage means daily sunscreen is vital to prevent further ageing and pigmentation.

• Support collagen levels from within: A daily scoop of hydrolysed marine collagen can help improve hydration and elasticity slowly, though it’s no instant fix.