5 Menopause Skin Changes—and How to Get Your Glow Back

Think of your hormones as the instruments in a symphony and your body as the orchestra. For the music to sound harmonious, each instrument must play its part perfectly, at the right volume, pitch, rhythm, and tone. 

During perimenopause and menopause, however, some of these instruments begin to play more softly, particularly estrogen, one of the lead players in your body’s hormonal symphony. 

This natural transition can bring about a host of visible changes, and your skin, the body’s largest organ, is often one of the first places where this shift in the symphony shows up.

You might notice that your once-luminous complexion now appears dull, your skin feels perpetually dry, or you’re seeing a change in firmness and fine lines becoming more visible. 

These changes are incredibly common, and while they can be disheartening, they are also entirely manageable. Welcome to what we call “menopause mode” skin. The good news is that with the right care and a little understanding of what your skin needs during this new phase, you can absolutely help restore its natural, healthy-looking glow.

This guide will walk you through five of the most common signs of menopause-mode skin and provide simple, effective strategies to bring back that radiant look you love. 

We’ll explore how to nourish your skin from the inside out and introduce you to clean, doctor-formulated skincare designed to support your skin through this beautiful stage of life.

1. Skin Feels Drier Than Ever

One of the most immediate and noticeable changes during menopause is a sudden increase in dryness. You might find that your trusty moisturizer no longer seems to do the trick and your skin feels tight, flaky, or even itchy. 

This is a result of declining estrogen levels, which can affect how your skin maintains hydration by influencing natural oil (sebum) and ceramide production—key components in keeping the skin’s surface barrier feeling comfortable. When estrogen levels drop, this barrier may not retain moisture as effectively, leaving your skin more prone to dryness.

Tip: Incorporate hydration-focused skincare both day and night.

To address this dryness, it’s essential to shift your skincare focus to deep hydration and barrier support. Look for products that not only replenish moisture but also help maintain it. 

This means incorporating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and nourishing botanical oils into both your morning and evening routines.

For a comprehensive approach to menopausal skin concerns, The Spa Dr.® 4-Step Age-Defying System offers a complete, harmonized routine. This system is designed to deeply hydrate, support the look of firmness, and promote radiant-looking skin.

• Step 1: Clear & Refresh Facial Cleanser gently cleanses without stripping the skin’s natural oils.

• Step 2: Age-Defying Lift & Tight Serum helps create a visibly tighter, lifted appearance.

• Step 3: Hydrate & Renew Enriched Moisturizer helps quench dry skin for a smoother look.

• Step 4: Glow & Enhance Facial Boost is a luxurious blend of oils that seals in moisture and gives your skin a beautiful glow.

This system is infused with key ingredients like kakadu plum (a rich natural source of Vitamin C) that help brighten and support a healthy-looking complexion, along with antioxidant-rich cranberry seed oil and pomegranate seed oil to enhance your skin’s natural radiance. With consistent use, your skin can look more hydrated, supple, and radiant.

2. Fine Lines Appear More Noticeable

As you move through menopause, fine lines and wrinkles—especially around the eyes and mouth—may start to appear more noticeable. Estrogen naturally influences the skin’s smooth and supple appearance, and as its levels decline, skin may look less firm and more prone to creasing. 

The American Academy of Dermatology Association notes that women can lose about 30% of their skin’s collagen in the first five years following menopause, with gradual changes continuing thereafter. This decrease, combined with dryness, can make lines more visible.

Tip: Look for peptides and antioxidants that help support a firmer, smoother-looking complexion.

Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, act as building blocks that help support the skin’s natural resilience. Antioxidants help protect your skin from environmental stressors that can accelerate visible aging.

Your skin does its most active renewal work overnight, which is why a high-performance night cream is a must-have. The Spa Dr.® Youthful Firming Night Cream is designed to nourish and revitalize the appearance of your skin while you sleep, helping it look smoother and more radiant by morning.

This luxurious cream features niacinamide (Vitamin B3), celebrated for helping improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven tone. It also contains peptides to support the look of firmness and elasticity, while hydrating watermelon extract and soothing aloe leaf extract provide comfort and moisture. With regular use, you can wake up to a complexion that feels soft, refreshed, and more youthful-looking.

3. Lost Natural Glow

That coveted “lit-from-within” glow can seem to fade during menopause, leaving your skin looking dull and uneven. This can be due to a slower rate of surface cell turnover—meaning that dead cells linger longer, scattering light rather than reflecting it. Combined with decreased moisture, this can result in a duller appearance.

Tip: Gentle exfoliation and antioxidant-rich ingredients help bring back radiance.

Incorporate gentle exfoliation into your routine to remove dull surface buildup. Pair this with antioxidant-rich products to help brighten and protect your skin from environmental stressors.

And once again, The Spa Dr.® 4-Step Age-Defying System proves to be an invaluable ally. It’s formulated to address multiple aspects of mature skin, including dullness and uneven tone. Kakadu plum, one of its hero ingredients, contains a potent amount of Vitamin C, a skincare favorite known for helping promote a brighter, more luminous look. With daily use, you’ll notice a complexion that appears more radiant, even, and full of life.

4. Skin Feels Thinner or Less Firm

Another common change during menopause is a visible reduction in firmness and elasticity. You might feel that your skin seems thinner, more delicate, and less resilient. This is linked to a natural decline in collagen and elastin—the proteins responsible for your skin’s bounce and structure.

Tip: Support firmness with ingredients that help visibly lift, smooth, and plump the look of skin.

For a powerful addition to your skincare routine, The Spa Dr.® Age-Defying Lift & Tight Serum is a concentrated formula designed to visibly smooth, lift, and firm the skin’s appearance. In a clinical study with 33 participants over 56 days, 97% noticed a visible improvement in the look of firmness after 28 days of use.

This serum is packed with key ingredients, including kakadu plum for Vitamin C support, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and a botanical retinol alternative that helps improve the look of fine lines and elasticity without irritation. It also contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that helps defend against environmental stressors. With regular use, your skin can look firmer, smoother, and more lifted.

5. You’re Noticing Mood or Energy Shifts That Affect Your Skin

Menopause is a holistic experience that can affect how you feel inside and out. Many women notice shifts in mood, energy, or sleep during this time. These changes can influence how your skin looks, as stress and lack of rest can lead to a dull or tired appearance.

Tip: Address the inside-out connection. Inner balance supports outer radiance.

To truly help your skin look its best during menopause, it’s essential to care for your overall well-being. When you feel balanced and rested, it shows in your complexion.

The Spa Dr.® Hormone Balance Blend is a hormone-free botanical supplement formulated to support women’s well-being through menopause.*

Developed by Dr. Trevor Cates, this blend includes five powerful botanicals traditionally used to support balance, calm, and vitality, including maca root, chaste tree berry, dong quai, saw palmetto,  and black cohosh for comfort during menopause.*

This supplement is designed to support your body’s natural rhythms and promote a sense of balance and vitality.*

Embrace Your Glow at Every Age

Navigating menopause can feel like uncharted territory, but “menopause mode” skin doesn’t mean your glow is gone. It’s simply time to support it differently. 

With consistent care, clean, doctor-formulated products, and a holistic approach that nourishes both your skin and well-being, you can feel radiant and confident at every age.

You are not alone on this journey. And with the right care and self-love, your natural beauty can continue to shine through menopause and beyond.