A radiant complexion one day, shiny skin with impurities the next, dry and sensitive skin another day? What is the explanation? It is probably due to your menstrual cycle and the influence of hormones on the skin. To prevent these inconveniences and maintain healthy skin, you should adjust your face care to your menstrual cycle. Here is an example of a skin care routine based on a classic 28-day cycle. However, it may vary from woman to woman.
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How To Adjust the Beauty Routine to Your Cycle?
Summary
- Skin and Menstrual Cycle: How Are They Related?
- First Phase: The Menstrual Phase, Which Announces the Beginning of the Menstrual Cycle
- Second Phase: The Preovulatory Week (the Follicular Phase)
- Third Phase: Ovulation and the Time After
- Fourth Phase: The Luteal Phase, the Last Phase of the Cycle
Published November 17, 2021,
updated on July 2, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
7 min read
Skin and Menstrual Cycle: How Are They Related?
The epidermis is constantly changing during the menstrual cycle. The hormonal fluctuations put the skin to the test and change its structure, shine and appearance. The skin reflects all the phases of the female cycle: it is drier in the first half of the cycle, becomes more oily at the end of the cycle and small blemishes may appear on the face. The right idea is to anticipate these fluctuations by adjusting your skin care routine as the weeks go by. For this purpose, we have developed the Woman skincare collection, which is designed to meet the needs of the skin at each stage of the cycle. Of course, not all women are equally sensitive to their menstrual cycle.
First Phase: The Menstrual Phase, Which Announces the Beginning of the Menstrual Cycle.
During the menstrual phase, when estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest, the skin produces less sebum, blood circulation slows down, the skin barrier becomes sensitized and the epidermis becomes drier, more uncomfortable and prone to inflammation, and the complexion becomes sallow.
What routine should you follow during this phase?
First, avoid overly abrasive exfoliation, such as a granular scrub or peel-off mask. Irritating ingredients such as certain AHAs, retinol, etc. should also be avoided. Prefer gentle exfoliation, no more than once a week, followed by a moisturizing mask. For example, you can opt for the 5% PHA (INCI name: gluconolactone) cleansing peel. This scrub is known for its mildness and moisturizing properties and also contains inulin and aloe vera (INCI name: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder) to avoid exacerbating the drying effect.
In this phase, the primary goal is to provide the skin with a good daily dose of moisture without irritating it. At the same time, the epidermis, which was damaged in the previous phase of the cycle, is regenerated. For example, use our Serum 1 from the Woman series, which is enriched with hyaluronic acid (INCI name: Sodium Hyaluronate) for its moisturizing properties, aloe vera for its repairing properties, and bisabolol and cornflower hydrolate (INCI name: Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water) for its soothing effect. Complement daily use with a moisturizer at the end of the routine to maintain optimal moisture levels in the epidermis.
Second Phase: The Preovulatory Week (the Follicular Phase).
After menstruation, the preovulatory phase begins. The skin barrier is strengthened and the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid resumes in the follicular phase. During this period, estrogen production increases, which affects the skin cells. The increase in estrogen levels promotes skin hydration and stimulates blood circulation, which brightens the complexion. Estrogen also stimulates fibroblasts, which synthesize hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin. Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps the skin, while collagen and elastin give it elasticity, suppleness and firmness. What's the bottom line? The skin is smoother, less oily, more radiant, less dry and more resistant to external factors.
What routine should you follow during this phase?
At this stage, you need to help the skin maintain its glow and moisture content. You can integrate Serum 2 from the Woman series into your routine. In particular, it contains vitamin C (INCI name: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate) to neutralize free radicals responsible for skin damage, as well as fruit acids such as blueberry extract (INCI name: Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract), lemon extract (INCI name: Citrus Limon Fruit Extract) and Orange Extract (INCI name: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract) to gently exfoliate the skin night after night and remove any dead skin cells that may dull the complexion. Since the formula is photosensitizing due to the fruit acids, you should apply a sunscreen with at least SPF30 every morning.
Third Phase: Ovulation and the Time After.
During this phase, estrogen levels have peaked and begin to gradually decrease, while progesterone levels increase. The increased production of progesterone is associated with excessive sebum production. During this phase, you may notice enlarged pores, blackheads, and oilier skin than usual.
What routine should you follow during this phase?
To slow down this phenomenon and limit the appearance of impurities, use Serum 3 from the Woman series. This care contains, in particular, pistachio extract (INCI name: Pistacia Lentiscus Gum) and sugar from wheat (INCI name: Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose). The absorption of excess sebum has the additional effect of "shrinking" the pores of the skin, making them less visible, while maintaining the moisture content of the skin.
Fourth Phase: The Luteal Phase, the Last Phase of the Cycle.
A few days before menstruation and the beginning of a new cycle, it is not uncommon to have pimples due to hyperseborrhea, especially in combination or oily skin. Women who have severe skin rashes during this time can even be said to have hormonal acne. This is due to increased sebum production, which creates a favorable environment for the development of skin blemishes, characterized by a sharp increase in progesterone and testosterone levels and a decrease in estrogen levels.
What routine should you follow during this phase?
Prefer a double cleansing routine every evening to thoroughly nourish the skin. This is especially true if your skin is prone to blemishes. For example, you can start with the minimalist cleansing oil with only 7 ingredients, especially if you wear makeup or sunscreen every day. After that, you can use the cleansing gel with zinc and bamboo extract (INCI name: Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract), which is balancing, clarifying, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
Add gentle chemical exfoliation to your evening ritual once or twice a week to cleanse pores and prevent the accumulation of excess sebum and dead skin cells. Our gel-textured exfoliating mask combines the exfoliating action of four AHAs (glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid) and one PHA (gluconolactone) to work at different levels of the epidermis.
Intensify your routine with Serum 4 from the Woman line, which contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and mattifying active ingredients with zinc and seaweed extract. Thanks to its special composition of sugars with hydrophobic amino acids (INCI name: Saccharide Isomerate), it offers a complete effect. If impurities have appeared, the targeted care for impurities with Bakuchiol, tea tree oil (INCI name: Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil), zinc oxide (INCI name: Zinc Oxide) and green clay (INCI name: Illite, Montmorillonite) can be used as a supplement to dry out the impurities thanks to the cataplasma texture.
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