It’s one of the most significant changes a woman goes through in her lifetime, and something every woman will go through. The menopause is a biological change that signifies the end of menstruation and your natural reproductive life. It usually starts between ages 45 and 55 and comes with a host of symptoms – including skin issues. Here we look at what happens to skin during the menopause and how you can manage it, and which Rodial range is perfect for your menopausal skincare routine. 

What happens to skin during the menopause?

Throughout our lives, our skin changes. From around age 20, our collagen levels start to deplete. Collagen is the substance responsible for keeping our skin plump and supple. During the menopause, collagen depletion accelerates due to the sharp drop in oestrogen levels – some studies have shown it can reduce by up to 30% in the first five years of the menopause. Afterwards, the reduction steadies, at a rate of around 2% a year for the next 20 years. Depleted collagen levels mean skin loses plumpness, and can lead to sagging, loose skin as well as fine lines and wrinkles.

As well as a reduction in collagen, decreased oestrogen levels during the menopause can cause your skin barrier – responsible for protecting skin from external aggressors and keeping in moisture – to become compromised, which can lead to dehydrated skin. Skin may become dry, itchy and sore as a result. Some women also experience adult acne during the menopause.

What is ‘menopausal face’ and what does menopausal skin look like?

If you’re going through the menopause, you may be noticing skin changes and some unpleasant symptoms. Your skin may feel dry, tight and sore: this is due to the drop in oestrogen, which affects the functionality of the skin barrier and its ability to keep in moisture. Other visible effects include flaking skin – a symptom of dryness and dehydration – as well as fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and mouth, as well as loose, crepe-like thinning skin and itchiness. This is caused by the rapid reduction in collagen levels, in turn caused by the decline of oestrogen. Your skin may also start to look dull, which is caused by a loss of moisture and dehydration.

Additionally, because of the fluctuation in hormone levels throughout menopause, some women may experience acne or occasional breakouts. Menopausal acne is essentially a type of hormonal acne. This may manifest itself as deep, tender bumps or cysts around the mouth, jawline and chin. It’s caused by the drop on oestrogen, which leads to a relative increase in testosterone levels, resulting in oily skin and clogged pores. Many experts recommend oral treatments to tackle menopausal acne – if you’re suffering, speak to your GP or your dermatologist for advice.

What is the best skincare for menopausal skin?

When it comes to menopausal skincare, the key is not to attack skin with quick fixes. You need to build a menopausal skincare routine that manages symptoms and supports skin health. Look for hydrating ingredients, peptides and ceramides: hydrators like hyaluronic acid help deliver moisture back into the skin, while ceramides help to replenish and repair the skin barrier to keep moisture in. Peptides are amino acids that help moisturise skin and help to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, as well as boost collagen and elastin production.

Retinol can also be an ingredient to seek out when looking for menopausal skincare. Retinol is a cell-communicating ingredient that speeds up cell turnover overnight, encouraging younger cells through skin to smooth and plump fine lines and wrinkles, as well as stimulate collagen production. It’s a good idea to start slow and low if introducing retinol for the first time during menopause: start by using a low-level retinol product once a week and increase usage as skin adjusts.

Bee venom and menopausal skin

Back in 2013, our founder Maria Hatzistefanis wanted to create a range for the advanced signs of ageing that utilised ingredients that were not available on the skincare market at the time. She was inspired by the effects of bee venom – the rush of blood to the skin's surface resulting in plumpness and swelling – and how a range could mimic these effects to visibly plump, firm and reduce wrinkle depth in ageing skin, as well as in skin experiencing the effects of hormone changes related to the menopause, such as loose, crepe-like skin.

The range was heralded by the press as able to "halt the damaging effects" of the menopause on skin, after user trials conducted on women aged between 50 and 59 reported benefits including improved skin texture, reduced appearance of lines and wrinkles and "more youthful" skin.

Rodial’s bee venom range is powered by ethically sourced bee venom, which mimics the effect of the bee sting, tricking skin into thinking it's been stung and stimulating blood flow to produce plumping and firming effects. It works synergistically with peptides – such as Matrixyl 3000 – to add moisture and tighten skin that's lost its elasticity, which is a major effect of the menopause on skin.

Bee Venom also includes other ingredients like vitamin C, which gets to work on brightening tired, dull skin as well as reducing the appearance of pigmentation like sun spots and dark circles. There’s also marine collagen, which encourages further collagen production and P-Cell, derived from chilli pepper stem cells, which also boosts elasticity.

The Rodial menopausal skincare heroes

Discover our top products for managing menopausal skin and shop our range of menopausal skincare heroes below.

Bee Venom Moisturiser

A luxurious, replenishing buttery cream powered by plumping bee venom as well as peptides to smooth fine lines and restore skin elasticity. Can be used morning and evening – use SPF afterwards in the morning.

Bee Venom Eye

An extreme performance eye cream to smooth out under eye wrinkles, brighten dark circles and firm the skin with bee venom, stem cell technology and melittin peptide.

Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Velvet Cream

A luxurious velvety cream with a powerful blend of nourishing ingredients including hyaluronic acid, Hydromanil and squalane that melts into the skin to bring comfort and replenish dry skin. 

Bee Venom Super Serum

An ultra-lightweight, silky serum with bee venom, marine collagen, P-cell and red seaweed extract to plump, firm and boost elasticity. An ideal daily treatment to use after cleansing and before moisturiser.

Retinol Booster Drops

A nourishing serum powered by retinol to boost cell turnover and plump and smooth fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin tone. Formulated with bakuchiol to soothe and refine texture and vitamin b5 for hydration. Use in the evenings after cleansing and before moisturiser.