Perimenopause- my skin story
From puberty through to menopause, and every stage in between, hormonal shifts can profoundly influence the condition and behaviour of our skin.
For me perimenopause started at the age of 53 and this is my skin story.
In the year leading into menopause, I experienced my first hot flush and my already sensitive skin became highly reactive. I was watching my son play basketball when I felt a surge of heat rise up through my chest then neck and then my face. I was visibly flushed and my skin felt swollen and prickly. The next day the redness was mostly gone and my skin was covered in tiny small blisters - it was like my skin had been burned but from the inside out. The blisters disappeared after a day and my skin was fine again. This happened 2 - 3 times per month for one year - see the image above. It turned out that ingredients my skin was previously fine with - essential oils etc in natural foundations, sunscreens suddenly didn't work for me anymore and when combined with a hot flush caused the severe reactions I was experiencing.
This wasn’t just “sensitive skin.” It was barrier breakdown under hormonal stress.
What is actually happening to my skin
During perimenopause, declining estrogen affects:
- Lipid production → weaker barrier
- Water retention → dehydration and tightness
- Inflammatory response → increased reactivity
- Healing capacity → slower recovery
The result is skin that:
- Flushes easily
- Struggles to tolerate previously “safe” products
- Becomes dehydrated, then inflamed
- Reacts in unpredictable ways
For me, the priority became very clear:
calm inflammation, rebuild the barrier, and deeply hydrate—without triggering further reactions.
The products that helped me restore my skin
As the founder of Wildcrafted Organics I am fortunate to have had the most healing, nourishing products to help me recover from these episodes but the experience made me determined to create a product that really dealt with these symptoms. With the Bio Retinol Crème I removed potential triggers (including essential oils), and focused on a formulation that supports barrier repair, reduced inflammation and increased hydration at a cellular level while I included clean beauty Actives that encourage skin cell renewal and increased collagen regeneration.
My go to products for your skin during perimenopause & menopause
1. Wild Rose Mist — immediate hydration and calming
This became my first step—especially during or after a flush.
- Provides instant hydration (up to ~60%)
- Helps rapidly reduce the feeling of heat in the skin
- Niacinamide stimulates the synthesis of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids these lipids form the “mortar” of the skin barrier
I used this throughout the day, not just in a routine. Think of it as interrupting inflammation early.
2. Wild Pansy Serum — rebuilding hydration pathways
This is where deeper repair started.
Key actives:
- 10% Niacinamide → barrier strengthening, reduces redness
- N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) → enhances hydration and supports skin renewal
- Hyaluronic Acid + humectants → multi-level hydration
- Ceramide complex → lipid barrier repair
This combination helped:
- Reduce reactivity over time
- Rehydrate dehydrated, compromised skin
- Improve the skins resilience
3. Bio Retinol Crème — repair & anti premature ageing
Traditional retinoids were not an option during this phase. The skin simply couldn’t tolerate them.
This formula focuses on:
- Retinol alternative RetinART & Bakuchiol → collagen support without irritation
- The Longevity peptide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2→ supports cellular repair signalling
- Infitrio® extract, complex of three Australian Wild Botanicals→ targets inflammaging reduces inflammation
- Ceramide complex and biomimetic lipid blend that help restore the skin’s natural lipid architecture and lock in hydration for up to 72 hours
- No essential oils → critical for reactive skin
It delivers:
- Barrier support
- Increased Collagen & Elastin
- Increased cellular renewal
- Hydration
- Long-term structural repair
4. Everlasting Beauty Balm — for dry, depleted skin
When my skin felt parched, tight, and unable to hold moisture, this was essential.
- Exotic butters & healing precious oils nourishes like nothing else
- Seals in hydration from previous steps
- Provides immediate comfort to compromised skin
This step is often underestimated—but in menopausal skin, it can be the difference between ongoing irritation and actual recovery.
What I learned
Perimenopause and menopause can trigger a profound shift in the skin. As oestrogen declines, changes in hydration, barrier strength and reactivity become more noticeable—sometimes gradually, sometimes quite suddenly. For some, it’s subtle; for others, it can be completely debilitating.
Perimenopausal skin is functionally different skin.
- It needs barrier repair not harsh aggressive treatments or products
- It needs hydration at every level including your cleanser
- It needs clean, nourishing products full of skin loving natural antioxidants not products full of water and plastic polymers
A final note ....
If your skin suddenly feels reactive, flushed, or intolerant to products you’ve used for years—you’re not imagining it. Hormonal shifts can fundamentally change how your skin behaves.
The focus isn’t on doing more.
It’s on doing the right things—gently, consistently, and with respect for a compromised barrier.
And when you support the skin properly, it does recover and you will regain your skin's vitality.