Simple Skincare Routine for Menopausal Skin

If your bathroom shelf is full of half-used jars, this one is for you. The American Academy of Dermatology's tips for menopausal skin come down to three basics: a mild cleanser, moisturizer and daily sunscreen (AAD). That gives you a simple routine of three steps, morning and evening: cleanse gently, add moisture, and protect. In the morning, protect means sunscreen. At night, it means a richer moisturizer.

What changes in your skin around menopause?

You may have noticed that your skin feels drier, or reacts more easily, than it used to. That's not your imagination.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes several changes that can show up around menopause (AAD):

• Skin holds less water, so it feels drier, especially in dry air.

• Skin's pH shifts around age 50, which can make it more sensitive and easier to irritate.

• Skin becomes thinner and loses collagen, so it can bruise more easily and lose some firmness.

A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist explains it the same way: as estrogen falls, skin has fewer of the molecules that hold moisture, and less collagen (Cleveland Clinic).

Think of a garden in a dry season. A good gardener doesn't respond with more fertilizer, more sprays and more tools. She waters gently, covers the soil so it holds moisture, and protects it from the strongest sun. Your skin is asking for the same three things: water, cover, protect.

Because skin can become more sensitive at this stage, the AAD suggests testing any new product before it joins your routine. A short routine means fewer new products to test. When it comes to anti-aging products, the AAD also suggests starting with one at a time, because using several at once can irritate the skin.

The simple skincare routine for menopausal skin, step by step

Step 1: Cleanse gently (water)

Dermatologists suggest washing with a mild cleanser instead of soap, since bar soaps can be too drying for skin at this stage (AAD). Use warm water, not hot, and pat your face dry with a soft towel (AAD).

A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist also suggests a gentle, non-foaming cleanser made for sensitive skin, and short, warm showers (Cleveland Clinic).

Notice how your skin feels afterward.

Step 2: Add moisture (cover)

This is the step that keeps the soil covered. Dermatologists recommend applying moisturizer after washing and whenever your skin feels dry, and they point to glycerin as an ingredient that may help (AAD). Applying it while your skin is still slightly damp helps hold the water in (AAD).

Another ingredient worth knowing is niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3. Remember the layer that keeps the garden soil covered? In your skin, that layer is made partly of fats called ceramides. Niacinamide has been widely studied in skin care, including its relationship with that protective layer. Reviews of the research also describe niacinamide as well tolerated in skin care (Boo, 2021).

Step 3: Protect

In the morning, protect means sunscreen. The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day before going outdoors, on all uncovered skin, even in winter. Daily sunscreen also helps prevent further thinning of the skin.

In the evening, protect means a richer layer. Think of it as a blanket for your skin overnight. Dermatologists note that creams and ointments usually do more for dry skin than lotions (AAD).

Twice a week: a pause just for you

The daily routine is the foundation. Twice a week, you can add one small ritual, like a mask that's left on for a few minutes. It's optional.

Why does it matter to feel your skin?

For a few minutes each morning and evening, your hands are on your skin. That's a chance to pay attention to it.

With your fingertips, you can notice:

• Texture: smooth, rough, or tight in certain spots.

• Temperature: warm and flushed, or cool and calm.

• Comfort: how your skin feels right after cleansing, and again after moisture.

None of this is a verdict on your skin. It's information you can use to make kind choices for it.

LEAF's founder, Janete, describes the moment her own skin changed: "That's when I began to listen. Our skin reflects how we live: our rest, our food, our stress, our seasons." Her advice: listen to your skin with kindness.

This is Janete's lived experience, not a scientific claim. Let your routine be a few quiet minutes that belong to you.

How do you keep a routine you'll actually follow?

Think of brushing your teeth: a short habit you keep every day, even on tired days. Skin care can feel the same.

A few things that help in real life:

• Keep everything in one place, by the sink, in the order you use it.

• Pair it with something you already do: morning coffee, evening tea, brushing your teeth.

• Missed a night? Simply start again the next one.

• Notice, then choose kindly. How does your skin feel after cleansing? Is it more comfortable on days you moisturize right after the shower? What you notice can guide gentle choices for your skin.

Research on habits supports patience. In a well-known study, 96 volunteers repeated one new daily behavior in the same context. Among those whose results could be measured, it took a median of 66 days for the behavior to feel automatic, with a range of 18 to 254 days, and missing a single day did not meaningfully set people back (Lally et al., European Journal of Social Psychology, 2010). So if you miss a night, there's no need to start over or feel guilty. Just pick it up again tomorrow.

Consistency matters for your skin, too. The AAD notes that most skin care products take at least six weeks to work, sometimes up to three months, and advises continuing to use a product after you see results (AAD). And in a four-year trial of 903 adults under 55, people who applied sunscreen every day showed 24% less skin aging than those who used it only when they chose to (Hughes et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013; summary from the American College of Physicians).

So be patient with yourself. Give your routine at least those six weeks, notice how your skin feels along the way, and let what you notice guide kind choices for your skin. On the days you forget, simply come back to it. Your skin doesn't need perfect. It needs you, most days.

Tried everything already? Here's how to start fresh

If you've spent years trying products that promised a lot and delivered little, it's natural to be careful about trying one more. That caution is wise.

The AAD suggests a simple way to test any new product before it joins your routine (AAD):

1. Apply a small amount to a quarter-sized area that won't get rubbed off, such as the inside of your arm or the crook of your elbow.

2. Do it twice a day for 7 to 10 days, using the amount you'd normally use.

3. No redness, itching or swelling? It's ready for your face.

4. If your skin reacts, gently wash the product off and stop using it.

That's why LEAF always says the same thing: patch test first.

When should you see a dermatologist?

A simple routine is everyday care, not treatment. The AAD recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist if (AAD):

• dryness doesn't improve

• a rash lasts or a skin condition such as eczema or rosacea gets worse

• acne won't clear

• you notice a new or changing spot, or are due for a skin cancer check

• you're thinking about exfoliating or microdermabrasion at home, since thinner skin can be harmed

Where does LEAF fit into a simple routine?

You can follow everything above with products you may already own. If you're looking for products made for dry, sensitive and mature skin, here's exactly where ours would sit, and nothing more.

Serenity Serum: step 2, once a day

A lightweight gel serum made for dry, sensitive, irritated and mature skin. You apply it once a day, morning or evening, to a clean, dry face and neck. Choose whichever time is easier for you to remember.

It helps soothe and hydrate dry, sensitive skin. It also contains açaí fruit extract, for antioxidant care, and a lactobacillus ferment, LEAF's signature ingredient. It's free from parabens, phthalates and synthetic dyes. Among its ingredients are glycerin, which the AAD mentions for menopausal skin, and niacinamide. In the morning, follow it with sunscreen; in the evening, with a richer moisturizer.

Nutri-Mask: your twice-a-week pause

A green clay mask with a light, almost watery texture, made for dry and sensitive skin. It helps remove dead skin and impurities, contributes to moisture for sensitive skin, and promotes a clearer, more luminous look. Twice a week, apply it to a clean, dry face, let it dry for a few minutes, then remove it with a cloth dampened in lukewarm water. Avoid the eye area, and stop using it if irritation occurs.

Like the serum, it contains niacinamide.

"When I use the Nutri-Mask, my skin looks more luminous and visibly cleaner." — Janete OBriant, Founder, LEAF Daily Care

That's Janete's own experience. Every skin is different, so yours may respond in its own way.

For estheticians and dermatologists: full ingredient lists (INCI), as published on each product page

Serenity Serum: Aqua, Propanediol, Glycerol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Caprylyl Glycol / Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Betaine, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract.

Nutri-Mask: Aqua, Propanediol, Kaolin, Illite, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Kaolinite, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Smectite, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Helichrysum Organic Essential Oil, Maltodextrin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract.

Your next step

If a simple routine feels right for you, explore the Serenity Serum + Nutri-Mask duo and see the full ingredient lists and how to use each one. There's no rush. Test first, and let your skin decide.

Your turn to share

What does your routine look like right now: three steps, ten, or somewhere in between? And what's the one step you never skip? Tell us in the comments. Your answer might help another woman simplify hers.

This article is for general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your own doctor or dermatologist.

Frequently asked questions

How many steps does a menopausal skincare routine need?

The AAD's tips for menopausal skin center on three basics: a mild cleanser, moisturizer and daily sunscreen. That's why this routine has three steps: cleanse gently, add moisture, and protect, with sunscreen in the morning and a richer moisturizer at night.

Should I stop using soap on my face during menopause?

Dermatologists suggest washing with a mild cleanser instead of soap, because bar soaps and deodorant bars can be too drying for skin at this stage.

Do I really need sunscreen every day?

Yes, the AAD recommends broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day before going outdoors, including in winter. It helps protect against age spots, skin cancer and further thinning of the skin.

Is a serum enough, or do I still need a moisturizer?

Dermatologists recommend applying moisturizer after washing and whenever your skin feels dry. In this routine, step 2 can be a serum or a light moisturizer. If your skin still feels dry, add a moisturizer.

Related articles

• Is It Normal for Skin to Become More Reactive with Age?

• Why Does Mature Skin Itch?

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology. Skin care during menopause.

• American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' tips to relieve dry skin.

• American Academy of Dermatology. How to test skin care products.

• LEAF Daily Care. Serenity Serum + Nutri-Mask product page (directions for use and ingredient lists).

• Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide (Niacinamide) to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants. 2021;10(8):1315.

• Cleveland Clinic. Here's How Menopause Affects Your Skin and Hair (with dermatologist Kiyanna Williams, MD), 2021.

• Lally P, et al. How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology. 2010.

• American Academy of Dermatology. Page on getting results from anti-aging products.

• Hughes et al. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2013 (summary from the American College of Physicians).