*Updated September 2026.
During perimenopause and menopause, falling estrogen often leaves skin drier, duller, thinner, and more sensitive. The most helpful changes to your routine are richer moisture from botanical oils and butters, a hydrating layer like hyaluronic acid, gentle cleansing and exfoliation, and daily sun protection. Below, we explain what's changing in your skin and how our products fit into a routine built for this stage.
Table of Contents
What Is Perimenopause and Menopause?
How Perimenopause and Menopause Change Your Skin
What Your Skin Needs Now
A Simple Routine for Perimenopausal and Menopausal Skin
Crème Nouveau: Rich, Multi-Use Moisture
Oil Nouveau: Concentrated Nourishment for Dry, Mature Skin
Hyaluronic Elixir: Lightweight Hydration
Gentle Daily Exfoliation
Butter Balm: Relief for Dry Body Skin
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Perimenopause and Menopause?
Perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause, when the body begins to make less estrogen and a series of physiological changes begin. It can start in a woman's 40s (or even earlier) and lasts until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. Menopause is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It's a natural biological process with physical symptoms like hot flashes and emotional symptoms tied to hormonal changes. The drop in estrogen also affects the skin's appearance, texture, and comfort.
How Perimenopause and Menopause Change Your Skin
Estrogen plays a role in how well skin holds moisture and how much collagen it makes. As estrogen declines, many women notice:
- Dryness and itching. Skin holds less water and can feel tight or itchy, on the face and the body.
- Dullness and grayness. Skin can lose its brightness as surface cells build up and moisture drops.
- Thinner, less firm skin. Lower collagen can make skin look less plump, with more visible fine lines.
- Redness and sensitivity. Products and routines that worked for years may suddenly sting or irritate. Hot flashes can also bring on flushing.
- Dark spots and uneven tone. Years of sun exposure often become more visible at this stage.
What Your Skin Needs Now
The good news: the changes that help during perimenopause continue to help through menopause and beyond. The most important shifts are:
Rich nourishment
Botanical oils and butters supply essential fatty acids and antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, which help soften skin and support its moisture barrier. For the face, Oil Nouveau and Crème Nouveau deliver concentrated botanical nourishment. For the body, our Butter Balms bring the same richness to dry arms, legs, and hands.
Hydration
It’s recommended to cleanse with a mild cleanser and using a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid or glycerin(source). Our Yuzu Oil Cleanser removes makeup and buildup without stripping skin. our Shea Milk Bar Cleanser, made with shea butter, goat milk, and evening primrose oil, cleanses with a soft, creamy lather. Follow with Facial Mist and Hyaluronic Elixir (which is hyaluronic acid) for a layer of hydration, then seal it in with Crème Nouveau (which has glycerin, among is many beneficial ingredients).
Gentle exfoliation
Skin still needs help shedding dull surface cells, but harsh scrubs can worsen sensitivity. Soft natural fibers do the job gently: use Yuzu Oil Cleanser on cotton pads each night, or pair any cleanser with our Konjac Sponge.
Daily sun protection
A broad-spectrum sunscreen helps prevent new dark spots and protects skin that's becoming thinner.
A Simple Routine for Perimenopausal and Menopausal Skin
Morning
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Rinse with warm water or cleanse gently.
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Mist with Facial Mist.
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Apply Hyaluronic Elixir to damp skin.
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Seal it in with Crème Nouveau and / or Oil Nouveau
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Finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Evening
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Cleanse with Yuzu Oil Cleanser on cotton pads.
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Mist, then apply Hyaluronic Elixir.
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Press in Oil Nouveau.
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Apply Crème Nouveau.
Crème Nouveau: Rich, Multi-Use Moisture
During perimenopause, skin needs gentle renewal and rich nourishment. Crème Nouveau is a rich, buttery botanical cream made with botanical butters and natural oils chosen for their deep moisturizing properties. It restores moisture, helps soothe dry, tight skin, and brings back a healthy glow.
It works as your night cream, day cream, eye cream, neck cream, décolleté cream, and tops-of-hands cream.
Oil Nouveau: Concentrated Nourishment for Dry, Mature Skin
As skin moves from perimenopause into menopause, its ability to retain moisture decreases and collagen production slows. That's when a richer, more concentrated layer makes a visible difference.
Oil Nouveau is a concentrated facial oil blended from six botanical oils: [list the six oils]. Together they supply vitamins A, C, and E, beta carotene, and omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids [and omega-5, if confirmed]. The blend helps soften the look of fine lines, calm the look of redness, improve the look of uneven tone, and leave skin supple and protected with antioxidants.
Hyaluronic Serum: Lightweight Hydration
Hyaluronic Elixir is simple: 1% hyaluronic acid and 99% water. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in skin and holds onto water like a sponge, helping skin look plumper and more refreshed.
To get the most from it, mist first with Facial Mist, apply the serum, then lock in moisture with Crème Nouveau right after. Hyaluronic acid works best when it has water to draw from and a richer layer on top to keep that water in the skin.
Gentle Daily Exfoliation
Gentle daily exfoliation keeps skin bright through perimenopause and menopause. We recommend natural fibers like cotton and konjac.
Our Yuzu Oil Cleanser, used nightly on cotton pads, dissolves makeup, lifts away environmental buildup, and removes dead skin cells to soften and smooth skin with minimal irritation.
We also recommend exfoliating after moisturizing. Applying Crème Nouveau and then gently wiping with a cotton pad softens dead skin cells first, so they lift away with less friction.
For extra exfoliation while cleansing, pair our Konjac Sponge with any facial cleanser. It's gentle enough for daily use, even around the eyes.
For more on this approach, read our guide to gentle daily exfoliation.
Butter Balm: Relief for Dry Body Skin
Menopause dryness isn't limited to the face. Arms, legs, and hands often feel dry and itchy too. Our Butter Balms are made with [a base of shea butter / kokum butter, confirm] for rich, long-lasting moisture. Apply to slightly damp skin after a warm (not hot) shower to lock in hydration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does skin get drier during menopause?
Lower estrogen reduces the skin's ability to hold moisture and weakens its barrier, so water escapes more easily. Richer moisturizers and a hydrating layer like hyaluronic acid help.
Is face oil good for menopausal skin?
For dry skin, yes. A concentrated oil like Oil Nouveau supplies fatty acids and antioxidants that help soften skin and reduce moisture loss. Layer it over hydration and under or with a cream.
How often should I exfoliate mature skin?
Gentle methods like cotton pads and a konjac sponge can be used daily. Harsh scrubs are best avoided, since skin is often more sensitive at this stage.
Do I still need sunscreen?
Yes. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen helps prevent new dark spots and protects skin that's becoming thinner.
Your Skin Through Every Stage
Perimenopause and menopause change what skin needs, but the answer isn't complicated: richer nourishment, steady hydration, gentle exfoliation, and daily protection. Every Beaute Nouveau formula is made by hand in small batches, with ingredients chosen to nourish skin through every stage of life.
