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Menopause is still a taboo topic. As the body is going through hormonal changes, the skin may experience significant challenges during this time. A number of women who are directly going through this time in life or their friends and children are asking us for help with creating skin rituals. Some brands directly drop to the "40s and beyond skincare" category. But this is not the case with Klairs and By Wishtrend. Here is our conversation with Wishtrend Team.

Skincare during menopause

Karolina: Are there any specific guidelines on how to incorporate ingredients and skincare products during menopause and post-menopause in your daily skin regime?

Wishtrend Team: During menopause, a woman's body releases fewer hormones, throwing off the balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The results may not be too noticeable in the first few years of perimenopause, but the drop in hormones like estrogen will definitely make for thinner, less resilient skin.

Karolina: How to create the skincare during or after menopause ?

Wishtrend Team: The focus should most certainly be on hydration and incorporating lipids into your skincare routine.

Skin dryness during menopause

Karolina: Many of the women we spoke to are experiencing dryness. What skincare would you recommend for them?

Wishtrend Team: If you hear the word hydration, what is the first ingredient that comes to your mind? More than 50% of you will think of hyaluronic acid. They are the current “IT” ingredient for hydration. Hyaluronic acid, or also called hyaluronan, is a clear and gooey sugar molecule that is naturally produced by our body.

It presents in a large amount not only on our skin but also in our joints and eyes.

Their water-retaining properties help our tissue to retain moisture, including our skin.

Surprisingly, hyaluronic acid can hold a thousand times its weight in water! Yes, you read it right. This is why they are so popular for their hydrating benefits in skincare since it works like a magnet for water and is highly praised for its hydrating and anti-aging benefits.

Let’s learn more about what the hype is all about.

The power of Hyaluronic Acid

Karolina: Exactly. Let's talk more about this probably best-known hydrating ingredient. How does ‘Hyaluronic Acid’ work on our skin?

Wishtrend Team: Most of the hyaluronic acid on our skin is located in the dermis or deeper layer of our skin, and some also present in the surface layer of our skin. The hyaluronic acid is bound to collagen on one end and links to water on the other hand. This is how it gives that plump and bouncy-structure on our skin.

However, just like the amount of collagen in our skin, hyaluronic acid production reduces as we age, and the existing hyaluronic acid present in our skin starts to degrade. Therefore, it shows as age-induced dryness and accentuated premature signs of aging, wrinkles.

Karolina: What are your recommendations?

Wishtrend Team: Luckily, we have a way to replenish our hyaluronic acid through “Dear, Klairs Fundamental Water Gel Cream”. Since hydration is a key fundamental component for our skin to function properly, anyone with any skin type and concern can benefit from a good hyaluronic acid in their skincare routine. Especially, if you are struggling with dehydrated skin. The other good news is hyaluronic acid is beneficial in many ways and more than just hydration, for example:

• Moisturizing
• Improve the depth of wrinkles (plumping)
• Antioxidant activity
• Promote skin barrier repair
• Increase elasticity

Skincare for women of colour

Karolina: Some of the women we spoke to, especially women of colour, were more concerned about acne, discoloration issues, and dark circles under the eyes. What should they focus on when creating skin rituals?

Wishtrend Team: There is one top ingredient we would recommend.

1. Improve skin tone & brightening

We get skin discoloration for different reasons; acne scarring, sun spots, redness and etc. The reasons why we get it might differ but the ingredient to target this concern falls into one ingredient, Vitamin C. Vitamin C is great to achieve uniform skin tone and better complexion. The brightening effects can be attributed to the vitamin’s role in inhibiting tyrosinase. Through this, Vitamin C is great for lightening any discoloration from sun spots, age spots and even acne spots when applied casually and consistently. But not only that, it is also great for embarrassing redness.

2. Reduce Inflammation

Vitamin C is mostly known for its antioxidant properties and this helps to get rid of free radicals that can damage cells and tissue. Plus, Vitamin C accelerated cell turnover which is great for skin recovery and wound healing. The anti-inflammatory response prevents redness and inflammation and even sunburns. It works on a cellular level when applied casually so whenever skin has been stimulated, irritated or damaged, a drop of vitamin c serum can do the trick.

3. Help Fade Hyper-pigmentation

Along with the first reason why you need Vitamin C for skin, Vitamin C is probably most well known among us as a great ingredient to add to fade hyper-pigmentation or acne spots. Age spots, acne spots or even sunspots occur when melanin is overproduced on the area. When Vitamin C application has been shown to impede melanin production, this will be an ingredient to remember.

4. Encourage Collagen Production

Vitamin C is known to positively affect the synthesis of collagen. Since Vitamin C is acidic, when applied to the skin, the skin is triggered to ‘heal’ itself by accelerating the production of collagen. And we know collagen is a naturally occurring protein that depletes over time, and collagen production is very closely related to skin’s elasticity and firmness as well. So lower level of collagen is a shortcut to wrinkles and losing elasticity on the skin. Adding a Vitamin C to your skincare routine will help stimulate collagen production and keep the skin younger longer.

The Best Way to Add Vitamin C in Your Routine

Karolina: What are your tips to add vitamin C to skin routine?

Wishtrend Team: The easiest and the most effective way to add Vitamin C to your routine probably will be using a Vitamin C Serum. With the concentrated extract of Vitamin C, and added after when the skin is prepped, it will deliver great antioxidant care to your skin. There are already a variety of Vitamin C serums out there in the market, but which one will work best for you? And which one will your skin fall in love with at ease?

Fine lines and wrinkles

Karolina: Some of the most common skin concerns are lines and wrinkles you get with menopause. These are often crow's feet and lines above the upper lip. How would you tackle those?

Wishtrend Team: If you are used to the thick texture or prefer the nourishing buttery texture when it comes to eye creams, you’ll love the Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter. This will glide onto the skin smoothly however leave your under eyes feeling more deeply nourished.

The Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter will be suitable to be applied specifically onto the areas of fine lines in your night routine and leave it on over night for enhanced anti-aging care around the eyes. A hydrating glow around the eyes after the application is a plus.

The Key Ingredients of Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter

Caffeine: As the main stimulant in coffee and tea, caffeine is long known for its ability to improve cellulite and puffy eyes and is even thought to have antioxidant properties! This little darling can help constrict blood vessels, which makes it great for dark circles caused by puffiness.

Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract: This is basically red bean extract. It has the ability to tighten and soften the eye skin as well as promote circulation.

Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract: A type of Japanese mugwort, this is known for its antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties as its extract can reduce redness and nourish the eye skin area!

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil is rich in vitamins A and E, therefore being able to protect the thin skin around our eyes.

Check also "The Best Anti-Ageing Skincare Routine for Your 20s, 30s, 40s". Simply click here.

Note: Strictly speaking, Klairs and By Wishtrend cosmetics are not created especially for menopause women and have not tested/ studied under this angle.