Overview
- Menopause-related hormonal shifts can weaken the skin barrier, leading to dryness, sensitivity, itchiness, redness, breakouts, and visible ageing.
- A consistent, science-led daily ritual focused on cleansing, barrier repair, and targeted actives can significantly improve skin health, comfort, and radiance.
- The most transformative results are achieved when at-home rituals are supported by professional treatments, restoring confidence and long-term skin resilience.
As women move through menopause, their skin begins to reflect the internal hormonal transitions taking place. These shifts often arrive unexpectedly: a newfound dryness, a rise in sensitivity, or changes in texture and tone. What was once predictable can begin to feel unfamiliar. At RATIONALE, we believe these moments call not for correction, but for deeper understanding, supported by precise, science-led solutions. In this journal, we will delve into the key actives that can help support the skin through menopause, giving you a meaningful starting point for understanding and addressing the changes you may be seeing.
Our research
To understand menopausal skin transitions more deeply, we conducted a 90-day study with 20 women aged 35–62. Each participant began a personalised morning and evening ritual shaped by detailed skin analysis. For added insight, half of the group also received monthly in-clinic treatments, helping us assess how professional care enhances at-home rituals.
The findings
Baseline assessments revealed impaired barrier function, central facial redness, and pronounced dryness and dehydration.
After 90 days, participants reported:
90%
brighter, more radiant skin
85%
improved nourishment and hydration
65%
reduced redness
Key takeaways
Consistency proved crucial: a regular cleansing ritual, combined with barrier-fortifying formulations, delivered improvements—70% noticed benefits from cleansing alone. A daily double-cleansing ritual, paired with barrier-fortifying actives, delivered rapid results—70% of participants noticed and felt improvements from this step early in the process/shortly after starting.
By the end of the study, 95% felt more confident, with several embracing their natural, makeup-free complexion. Importantly, 85% gained new insights into their skin, feeling more informed and empowered throughout their hormonal transition.
Client Testimonial
Georgina
“My skin looked and felt much better; it was significantly less dry. I noticed that the improvement in my skin made my makeup apply more smoothly, last longer, and required much less product. I even received compliments from colleagues during Teams meetings about how good I was looking, with questions about what I was doing to look so well.”
Skin conditions affecting women during menopause
Menopause introduces a series of internal transitions—primarily driven by declining oestrogen—that significantly influence the skin’s structure, function, and behaviour.
These can include, but are not limited to:
Drynessand dehydrated skin
As oestrogen levels fall, the skin’s natural lipid production diminishes. Without
sufficient ceramides and essential fatty acids, the skin’s barrier becomes
compromised, allowing moisture to escape more easily.
Commonly presents as:
small, flaky patches, rough or scaly texture or a feeling of tightness after
cleansing.
In this state, the skin seeks nourishment—formulations that replenish lost lipids,
reinforce barrier integrity, and restore suppleness.
A supportive ritual focuses on:
- Lipid-rich formulations that supports skins natural oils
- Ceramides and cholesterol to rebuild the barrier
- Humectants such as glycerin for deep hydration
- Occlusive hydrators to seal in moisture and prevent water loss.
Explore The Integrity Collection for formulations that target the look and feel of dry, dehydrated skin.
Sensitivity, redness and itchy skin
A compromised barrier leaves the skin vulnerable to environmental stressors, temperature changes, and active ingredients. During menopause, this fragility can manifest as sensitivity, red and itchy skin.
Commonly presents as: diffused redness, facial flushing, irritation, stinging, or itchiness.
With the barrier impaired, the skin requires restoration before it can tolerate more advanced actives.
A supportive ritual focuses on:
- Anti-inflammatory actives such as niacinamide
- Skin-identical lipids to maintain nourishment
- Cooling hydrators to soothe discomfort
- Botanicals that reduce the appearance of redness
Explore The Resilience Collection for formulations that target the look and feel of sensitive, red and itchy skin.
Irregular oil flow and breakouts
Hormonal fluctuations can lead to irregular sebum production, triggering congestion even in women who have never experienced breakouts previously.
Commonly presents as: Red or white-headed bumps, under-the-skin congestion or tender, inflamed cystic breakouts
Reduced cell turnover, combined with increased oil flow, creates an environment where impurities become trapped.
A supportive ritual focuses on:
- Encouraging healthy cell turnover
- Maintaining optimal pH
- Balancing sebum production
- Strengthening the skin’s microbiome
Explore The Clarity Collection for formulations that target the look and feel of oily, congested skin.
Glycation
Glycation is biochemical process whereby excess glucose binds to collagen, creating molecules known as Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). These weaken the skin’s structural matrix, accelerating visible ageing.
Commonly presents as: Loss of firmness, increased fine lines, reduced elasticity, cross-hatching, or dullness. This process is intensified by UV exposure, emotional stress, and high sugar intake, making holistic support essential.
A supportive ritual focuses on:
- Antioxidants to combat oxidative stress
- Peptides to support collagen integrity
- Acidic formulations to help slow glycation progression
- Lifestyle shifts—sleep, nutrition, and stress management
Explore The Vitality Collection and The Renewal Collection for formulations that target the look and feel of glycation.
Two simple introductory rituals
Formulation recommendations will ultimately depend on a client’s skin resilience and their key concerns, however, here are two introductory rituals to begin with:
Option 1: #4 The Crème (Sensitive/Reactive Skin)
Suitable for: Morning and evening use as needed.
A rich, oil-based moisturiser powered by B-Group Vitamins to reinforce the skin barrier. This crème in enriched with ceramides and lipids for deep nourishment, while amino acids and moisture-retaining peptides provide long-lasting hydration. Pair with: #4 The Nourishing Cleanser — a nourishing, lipid-rich formula featuring soothing ceramides and lipids.
Skin therapist tip: Can double as a hydrating mask.
Option 2: #1 The Crème (Very Dry Skin)
This sumptuous strengthening cream supports skin barrier function with a proprietary B-Group Vitamin Complex, including niacinamide, nourishing and enhancing the feeling of skin softness.
Suitable for: Morning and evening use as needed.
Pair with: #4 The Nourishing Cleanser — a nourishing, lipid-rich formula featuring soothing sweet orange extract.
Skin therapist tip: Can double as a hydrating mask.
Client Testimonial
Kristy
“The results exceeded my expectations. I received so many compliments on my glow, and personally, I felt a transformation in suppleness, softness, and hydration. Redness and pigmentation softened, dry spots disappeared, and I finally saw radiance return."