Nov 9th 2020
How to Be a Glow-getter. Secrets to adding moisture back to estrogen-depleted skin
Does it seem like your skin has suddenly became drier, almost overnight? You may have even gone from oily or combination skin to rough and dry skin that looks dull. Maybe your tried-and-true products have just stopped working! If any of these scenarios speak to you, you could be entering peri-menopause. Peri-menopause is the time when women begin the loss of estrogen. And since depleted estrogen can affect your skin’s behavior—it’s a good time to think about adjusting your skin care regimen.
If you’ve been reading the SeeMe blog, by now you’ve learned that there are MANY changes to your skin as you approach menopause. And a lot of those changes are the result of decreasing levels of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen has multiple functions, including helping to regulate moisture levels in the body. It also stimulates the production of collagen and oils, which help make skin feel smooth and elastic, and which support a barrier that keeps moisture in and damaging, unstable molecules in the environment (like free radicals) out.
While menopause affects every woman differently, issues with dry, sensitive, and flaky skin are extremely common. Fortunately, there are proven ways to replenish moisture in depleted skin and recover a more radiant, smooth complexion.
Here are what we consider the most critical:
Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet
How much water is plenty? Drink when you’re thirsty and aim for about 8 glasses a day. A balanced diet includes lean protein, multi-colored vegetables, fruit, whole grains, dairy and healthy fats. Essential Omega-3 fatty acids, which can boost your skin’s natural oils, are plentiful in salmon, sardines, walnuts and flax. Remember that smoking and drinking alcohol can aggravate dry, itchy skin, so avoid them or keep them to a minimum.
Exfoliate regularly
Skin cell turnover slows as we age, and surface skin cell buildup can make our complexion look dry, dull, and can even lead to breakouts. Fortunately, it’s easy to prevent buildup by exfoliating those dead cells away. Common options include using a cleanser with a gentle abrasive scrub, using a sonic cleansing brush, or incorporating a chemical exfoliant like salicylic or alpha hydroxy acid into your routine. It's worth noting that using a scrub that feels very abrasive—or scrubbing too hard—can lead to redness and irritation, so go a little easy. Our skin thins out as we age, so be gentle. It was from this research and knowledge of skin transition that we developed our I'll Mask With You Smoothing Treatment mask. The kaolin clay removes impurities while salicylic acid helps slough off dead, dull skin cells, while retaining moisture and delivering our exclusive SeeMe Complex for hydration and rejuvenated skin.
Try a serum under your moisturizer
This step could be critical to solving your dry skin issues and lead to a more radiant, healthy-looking complexion. A serum is typically the “heavy hitter” in a skin care line, as it contains high levels of active ingredients. If you apply it under your daily moisturizer or night cream, you can more than double the hydration nutrients for your skin. (The SeeMe Beauty Smooth Out Serum is packed with hydrators like hyaluronic acid and avocado oil.)
Add vitamin B3—niacinamide—to your skincare routine
This powerhouse ingredient helps create a strong barrier on the skin’s surface, which helps the skin retain moisture and protects it from environmental damage. (The SeeMe Beauty See Me Complex—found in all SeeMe Beauty creams and serums —contains vitamin B3.)
Always wear sun protection
During menopause, skin becomes thinner and more vulnerable to UV damage, so it’s especially important to wear a sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Sun exposure can damage skin’s protective barrier, which can lead to dryness, sun spots, and among other aggravation's.
While there’s no perfect way to prevent your skin from all signs of aging (who would want to?), protecting and nourishing your skin is basically self care. If your existing skin care products aren’t performing they way they used to, it may be time to consider a new skin care routine. And if you are experiencing estrogen loss, developing skin care products that revitalize and brighten dull skin caused by menopause is what we do at SeeMe Beauty.