Menopause skin, explained

Why your skin suddenly feels different, and the simple routine that helps.

Also in Skin changes: Perimenopause skin · Menopause skin · GLP-1 skin

In a nutshell: falling oestrogen makes skin drier, thinner and more sensitive. Focus on three things: gentle cleansing, barrier-repairing moisture and daily SPF. Add one active, such as retinal or azelaic acid, once your skin feels calm.

What changes, and why

Oestrogen helps skin hold on to moisture and make collagen. As levels fall, often from your mid-40s, many women notice:

Dryness and tightness: skin makes less oil and loses water more easily, so a moisturiser that used to work may suddenly feel too light.
Thinner, less firm skin: research suggests skin can lose as much as 30% of its collagen in the first five years after menopause, then around 2% a year after that.
Sensitivity and redness: a weaker skin barrier reacts more easily, and hot flushes can leave skin flushed.
Dark spots: pigment patches and age spots can become more noticeable.

Menopause is reached 12 months after your last period. If your periods haven’t stopped yet and your skin changes week to week, see our perimenopause skin guide.

What helps, by concern

Dryness and tightness

What helps: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid Good

Try: Haruharu Black Rice 5 Ceramide Cream

Sensitivity and redness

What helps: Centella, azelaic acid Promising to good

Try: Purito Wonder Releaf Centella Serum (unscented)

Breakouts

What helps: Azelaic acid, niacinamide Good

Try: COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum

Fine lines and firmness

What helps: Retinal or retinol Strong

Try: Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + Retinal

Dark spots

What helps: Niacinamide, tranexamic acid Good

Try: Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum

Protecting it all

What helps: Daily SPF50 Strongest

Try: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+

Evidence ratings match our evidence table. Tap a product to compare its prices.

A simple routine

Morning

1. A gentle, low-foam cleanser, or just water. 2. A hydrating serum or barrier moisturiser. 3. SPF50, every day, even when it’s cloudy.

Evening

1. A cleansing oil or balm, then a gentle cleanser if you wear make-up. 2. One treatment, such as retinal or azelaic acid, two or three nights a week to start. 3. A richer ceramide cream.

Introduce one new product at a time, and patch test first, because menopausal skin can be more reactive than it used to be. Not sure what you need? Take the routine quiz.

What to go easy on

Strong foaming cleansers, scrubs, daily acid toners, and lots of actives at once. They can make dry, sensitive skin worse. Our pairing guide shows what works well together.

What about HRT?

Hormone replacement therapy is a medical decision made with your doctor, and it isn’t prescribed for skin alone. Some research suggests oestrogen therapy can improve skin collagen, thickness and moisture. If you’re considering HRT for other symptoms, it’s worth asking your GP about skin too.

When to see your GP

If you have persistent itching, a rash that won’t settle, sudden severe acne, very flushed skin that could be rosacea, or any mole or patch that changes, speak to your GP or pharmacist. Some of these have effective prescription treatments.

Good to know

Why has my skin suddenly gone dry?

Falling oestrogen means skin makes less oil and holds on to less water. Switching to a richer, ceramide-based moisturiser usually helps.

Why am I getting spots in my 40s?

This is common in perimenopause, when hormones swing up and down. Our perimenopause skin guide explains what helps.

Can I still use retinol?

Yes. Retinoids have the strongest evidence for fine lines. Start slowly, a few nights a week, and pair them with a good moisturiser.

Sources

This page is general information, not medical advice. Last updated 5 November 2026.