Hello Beautiful,

Let's talk about something that affects millions of British women but somehow still feels like a taboo topic: menopause and what it does to our skin.

I've lost count of how many women have messaged me saying, "Shona, my skin has completely changed. Nothing works anymore. What's happening?"

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And more importantly, you're not imagining it. Menopause genuinely transforms your skin – but understanding what's happening is the first step to giving your skin what it actually needs.

What's really happening to your skin

During perimenopause and menopause, your oestrogen levels drop significantly. And oestrogen? It's been your skin's best friend for decades.

Here's what the science tells us:

Collagen loss accelerates dramatically
In the first five years after menopause, women lose approximately 30% of their skin's collagen. Thirty percent! No wonder your skin feels different. This loss of collagen means less firmness, more fine lines, and skin that doesn't bounce back the way it used to.

Your skin becomes drier
Oestrogen helps your skin retain moisture and produce natural oils. When it drops, your skin can become noticeably drier, sometimes even uncomfortably so. That moisturiser that worked for years? Suddenly it's not enough.

Sensitivity increases
Many women find their skin becomes more reactive during menopause. Products that never bothered you before might suddenly cause redness or irritation. Your skin's barrier function weakens, making it more vulnerable to environmental stressors.

Elasticity decreases
Your skin loses its elasticity, which is why you might notice more sagging, particularly around the jawline and neck. It's not about ageing gracefully or ungracefully – it's simply biology.

Healing slows down
Skin cell turnover slows during menopause, which means your skin takes longer to repair itself and regenerate. Blemishes linger, dullness sets in, and that radiant glow feels like a distant memory.

Why conventional skincare often fails menopausal skin

Here's the frustrating truth: most skincare isn't formulated with menopausal skin in mind.

Harsh anti-ageing products with strong retinoids? They can be too aggressive for your newly sensitive skin. Lightweight moisturisers designed for younger skin? They simply don't provide enough nourishment for your drier, thirstier skin.

And those products loaded with synthetic fragrances and preservatives? Your compromised skin barrier is now reacting to them in ways it never did before.

This is exactly why so many women tell me, "Nothing works anymore." It's not that nothing works – it's that what you're using wasn't designed for what your skin needs now.

What menopausal skin actually needs

Let me share what I've learned from years of working with women navigating menopause:

Deep, lasting hydration
Not just surface moisture, but ingredients that penetrate deeply and help your skin retain water. Organic unrefined shea butter, for instance, is rich in fatty acids that support your skin's moisture barrier. Natural oils like those in our formulations work with your skin's own lipid structure.

Gentle, effective anti-ageing ingredients
This is where bakuchiol becomes absolutely brilliant. It provides retinol-like benefits – stimulating collagen, reducing fine lines, improving firmness – without any of the irritation that menopausal skin simply can't tolerate. It's powerful enough to work, gentle enough not to cause problems.

Nourishment, not just treatment
Your skin needs to be fed, not just treated. Plant-based oils rich in vitamins and antioxidants give your skin the building blocks it needs to repair and regenerate. Frankincense oil, for example, has been shown in studies to improve skin tone and elasticity.

Simplicity
Complicated routines with multiple actives can overwhelm sensitive menopausal skin. Simple, high-quality formulations with fewer ingredients often work better than elaborate multi-step regimens.

Natural, non-irritating ingredients
When your skin barrier is compromised, every synthetic chemical is a potential irritant. Natural, organic ingredients are recognised by your skin and work with it, not against it.

A realistic skincare routine for menopausal skin

Here's what I recommend, based on what actually works for real women:

Morning:

1. Gentle cleanse with lukewarm water (hot water strips your already-dry skin)  
2. Apply Super Natural Oil With 2% Bakuchiol to damp skin (2-3 drops is plenty)
3. Pat All Around Eyes Elixir around the eye area
4. If needed, layer Organic Frankincense & May Chang Moisturiser for extra hydration
5. Always finish with SPF I recommend Shade Skin Elixir will be here next year and it's a beauty.

Evening:

1. Use Organic Frankincense & May Chang Moisturiser as a hot cloth cleanser
2. Apply All Around Eyes Elixir to eye area
3. Massage in Magnificent Night Oil or Intensive Night Cream
4. Don't forget your neck and décolletage

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

What you can realistically expect

I believe in honesty, so let me be clear: natural skincare won't stop menopause or reverse all its effects. What it can do is support your skin through this transition and help it be the healthiest, most radiant version of itself.

Women using our products during menopause report:

• Significantly improved hydration (often within days)
• Reduced sensitivity and redness (usually within 2-4 weeks)
• Softer, more supple skin texture
• Gradual improvement in fine lines and firmness (over 8-12 weeks)
• That glow returning – not the flush of a hot flush, but genuine radiance
• Skin that feels comfortable again, not tight or irritated

Beyond skincare: The whole picture

Whilst I'm passionate about skincare, I'd be remiss not to mention that what you put on your skin is only part of the equation.

Menopausal skin also benefits from:

• Staying hydrated (boring but true – drink your water!)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (support skin from the inside)
• Quality sleep (when possible – I know night sweats don't help)
• Stress management (cortisol is not your skin's friend)
• Gentle exercise (boosts circulation and that natural glow)

You're not alone in this

Here's what I want you to know: the changes you're experiencing are normal, they're valid, and they're shared by millions of women.

Your skin isn't failing you. It's not being difficult. It's simply responding to a massive hormonal shift, and it needs different support now than it did before.

The good news? Once you understand what's happening and give your skin what it actually needs, it can thrive again. Different than before, yes. But beautiful, healthy, and radiant in its own right.

A personal note

I created Skin Elixir partly because I saw so many women struggling with exactly this – skin that had changed, products that no longer worked, and a beauty industry that seemed to ignore the reality of menopausal skin.

Every product I make is formulated with mature, changing skin in mind. Not as an afterthought, but as the primary consideration.

Because you deserve skincare that works with your body's changes, not against them. You deserve to feel beautiful and comfortable in your skin, regardless of what your hormones are doing.

Menopause is a transition, not an ending. And your skin? It's still capable of being absolutely gorgeous.

With love and solidarity,
Shona x

P.S. If you're navigating menopause and struggling with your skin, please know you can reach out to me directly. I read every message, and I'm always happy to offer personalised advice. We're in this together, lovely.

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