Perimenopause & Your Skin: What’s Really Going On Beneath the Surface

November 20, 2025

Let’s be honest, life during perimenopause can feel pretty unpredictable. And your skin should be the last of your problems, right? But one day it looks fine, the next it’s dry, flushed, or breaking out like you’re 16 again. And your appearance can have a huge affect on how you feel overall.

You might find your glow has quietly packed up and left the building, leaving your skin feeling unfamiliar. But here’s the thing, you’re not doing anything wrong. What’s happening is deep, biological, and totally natural.

Let’s peel back the layers and look at what’s really going on beneath the surface, and, more importantly, what you can do to support your skin (and yourself) through this incredible transition.

The Hormonal Shift

Perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause) typically begins in your 40s. During this time, your hormone levels (mainly oestrogen and progesterone) start to fluctuate. Some days your skin might look glowing and calm; others, it can feel dry, reactive, or inflamed. These shifts are your hormones sending mixed messages to your skin.

Oestrogen, in particular, plays a starring role in how your skin looks and feels. It supports collagen production, hydration, and barrier strength. When oestrogen begins to decline, all of those systems start to wobble.

Collagen Decline

Collagen is the protein that gives your skin its firmness and elasticity. Think of it as the scaffolding that keeps everything lifted and smooth. Collagen production naturally slows down, and during perimenopause, it can drop dramatically (by as much as 30% in the first five years after menopause).

You might notice your skin feels less “bouncy,” fine lines deepen a little quicker, and cheeks may lose some of their plumpness. This doesn’t mean you’re ageing badly, it’s biology. But it does mean your skin needs a little more support to maintain structure and resilience.

Gua sha face massage can be a beautiful way to do this. By stimulating circulation and supporting lymphatic flow, it encourages collagen synthesis and oxygen delivery to skin cells.

Hormonal Dryness

If you’ve been slathering on moisturiser but your skin still feels dry or tight, you’re not imagining it. Oestrogen helps regulate the skin’s natural oil and water balance. As it drops, sebum (oil) production slows down, and your skin’s ability to hold on to moisture weakens.

The outer layer of the skin, your barrier, becomes more fragile and prone to transepidermal water loss (that’s when hydration literally evaporates away). This can lead to dryness, flakiness, and that uncomfortable feeling that no cream can fix.

The key here is to hydrate first, then lock it in. Start with a hydrating essence like Jenny Nordic Skincare’s Rehydrate & Balance Beauty Essence, which is designed to flood the skin with moisture while supporting your microbiome — essential for a strong barrier. Follow with a nourishing oil serum like the Glow & Revitalize Oil Serum to seal in hydration and restore suppleness. This duo works beautifully to recreate that youthful dewiness, even when hormones are doing their own thing.

Sensitivity & Inflammation

You may also find that products you used to love suddenly sting, or your skin flushes more easily. That’s because hormonal changes can trigger inflammation and increase sensitivity. The skin barrier becomes thinner and less efficient, allowing irritants and pollutants to penetrate more easily.

This is why minimal skincare becomes your best friend during perimenopause. Less is truly more. Overloading the skin with too many active ingredients can do more harm than good.

A calm, consistent routine that focuses on barrier repair, hydration, and gentle nourishment will always outperform a shelf full of trendy serums.

3 Ways Nurture from the Inside Out

Your skin reflects what’s happening internally. Supporting it holistically — through nutrition, touch, and mindful routines — can make a world of difference.

Nutrition for Radiance

Your skin cells rely on a steady supply of nutrients to stay healthy. During perimenopause, focus on foods that support collagen and hydration:

Healthy fats: Think avocado, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish. These support your skin’s lipid barrier and help retain moisture.
Protein: Collagen is made from amino acids, so make sure you’re getting enough protein to support repair and renewal.
Phytoestrogens: Found in flaxseeds, chickpeas, and soy, these plant compounds can gently mimic oestrogen in the body and help balance hormones.
Antioxidants: Berries, leafy greens, and colourful vegetables combat oxidative stress, keeping your skin vibrant and strong.

And don’t forget hydration. Your skin needs water just as much as your body does. Herbal teas and infused water are gentle, skin-loving ways to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Massage: Reconnect with Your Skin

One of the most powerful ways to support your skin (and your nervous system) is through facial massage or gua sha. Beyond the visible benefits like lifted features, brighter complexion, and improved elasticity, regular massage helps calm the stress hormones that can exacerbate inflammation and sensitivity.

A few mindful minutes each evening with your Glow & Revitalize Oil Serum can transform not just your skin, but your mood. The ritual itself is grounding, a chance to pause, breathe, and reconnect with your changing self.

Minimal, High-Performance Skincare

Your skin doesn’t need 12 steps. It needs the right steps.

A minimal, high-performance routine supports your skin barrier, maintains balance, and allows your natural radiance to shine through:

Cleanse gently – Use a nourishing oil cleanser like Smooth Oil to Milk Cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin.
Hydrate deeply – Spritz or press in Rehydrate & Balance Beauty Essence to replenish moisture and strengthen your microbiome.
Nourish & protect – Massage in Glow & Revitalize Oil Serum to lock in hydration, soften fine lines, and restore that perimenopausal glow.
Soothe & repair (optional) – Add The Balm where your skin needs extra love — lips, dry patches, or areas prone to irritation.

That’s it. Simple, effective, and kind to your skin.

A New Kind of Glow

Perimenopause is not the end of your beauty; it’s the evolution of it. Your skin might be changing, but it’s also inviting you to slow down, simplify, and reconnect with yourself more deeply.

Through the integration of gentle, nutrient-rich skincare with mindful self-care and balanced nutrition, you can enhance your skin's innate resilience and glow, regardless of hormonal fluctuations.

So next time you look in the mirror and notice those changes, remember: your skin isn’t failing you. It’s speaking to you. Listen, nurture, and give it what it truly needs — love, hydration, and a little bit of glow.

Explore Jenny Nordic Skincare

Every product in the Jenny Nordic Skincare range has been created with perimenopausal skin in mind. To restore balance, strengthen the barrier, and revive your natural radiance with a minimal, holistic approach.

If you’re not sure where to start, try The Discovery Set, a simple 3-step routine that lets you experience the power of minimal skincare and the calm, glowing confidence it brings.

Because beautiful skin isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection, care, and embracing the changes that make you uniquely you.

Jenny, the founder of Jenny Nordic Skincare

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