My Perimenopause Skin Journey: Restore. Correct. Maintain.
By Shweta, Founder of Harmony Skin & Beauty Therapy
This Menopause Awareness Month, I’m sharing something a little more personal. My own experience of perimenopause, how it changed my relationship with my skin, and why it reinforced everything I’ve believed about skin health throughout my career.
I thought I was too young for perimenopause.
I was 39, exercising regularly, practising yoga and feeling fitter than ever. Yet, despite doing all the things I thought I should be doing, something didn’t feel quite right.
After finally speaking to my doctor about my hormones and having a consultation with Dr Katie Barber at Oxford Menopause Clinic, I began to understand what was happening. I was experiencing perimenopause.
Having my concerns heard and knowing I could finally access the support I needed was an enormous relief. But as a skin therapist with over 25 years of experience, my mind immediately turned to something else.
My skin.
I knew how hormonal changes could affect collagen, elasticity, hydration and skin sensitivity. I’d spent years helping women navigate these concerns, but suddenly I was experiencing them myself.
My first thought?
I need to start collagen banking!
I wanted to protect my collagen, address skin laxity and get ahead of the changes I knew could be coming. But then I reminded myself of something I tell my clients almost every day. Healthy skin must always come first.
And sometimes, before we can correct, we need to restore.
Understanding the Connection Between Menopause and Skin
During perimenopause, fluctuating hormone levels can influence how our skin looks, feels and functions. Oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining skin hydration, collagen and elasticity. As hormone levels change, many women begin noticing differences in their skin, sometimes before they even realise they’re experiencing perimenopause.
Skin may become drier, more sensitive or reactive. Fine lines may appear more noticeable, firmness can begin to change, and existing concerns such as rosacea may become more difficult to manage.
But one of the most important things I’ve learnt is that we cannot look at skin changes in isolation. Stress, sleep, lifestyle, hormonal health and emotional wellbeing all contribute to the bigger picture. And that’s exactly why I decided to approach my own skin journey in three stages.
Restore. Correct. Maintain.
Phase One: Restore Skin Health
Before we stimulate, we need to restore.
When I first started thinking about treatments, I wanted to jump straight into collagen stimulation. But my skin was already showing signs of inflammation, and my rosacea needed attention. I knew that introducing intensive treatments before my skin was ready wasn’t the right approach.
Instead, I went back to basics. My priority became calming my skin, supporting its natural barrier and creating the right conditions for it to recover. For the first time, I made myself a priority in my own clinic. I booked treatments with my wonderful team and created a programme that focused not only on my skin, but also on how I was feeling.
LPG Endermologie
I began incorporating regular LPG Endermologie treatments into my routine. For me, this was about more than the physical benefits of the treatment. I wanted dedicated time to relax, switch off and support my wellbeing, alongside the mechanical stimulation and circulation benefits of Endermologie. Sometimes we underestimate how important it is to give ourselves permission to stop.
Dermalux LED Phototherapy
I also introduced regular Dermalux LED treatments to support my skin. LED phototherapy can help support skin recovery and manage visible inflammation, making it a useful addition to a programme focused on calming and strengthening the skin.
Oxygen Rx
Alongside LED, I incorporated Circadia Oxygen Rx treatments to support my complexion and help manage the appearance of redness associated with my rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic condition, and I know there isn’t a treatment that will make it disappear permanently. For me, it’s about understanding my triggers, managing flare-ups and maintaining healthy skin over time. This first stage wasn’t about achieving dramatic results. It was about giving my skin what it needed. And just as importantly, I was finally taking time to look after myself.
Phase Two: Correct & Stimulate
Once my skin was ready, I could begin working towards my longer-term goals.
As my skin became calmer and my rosacea more manageable, I felt ready to move into the next phase. This was where my focus shifted towards improving skin texture, stimulating collagen and addressing the changes in firmness I had begun to notice.
Microneedling
I introduced microneedling to support collagen production and improve my skin’s overall texture, tone and radiance. Microneedling works by creating controlled micro-injuries in the skin, encouraging its natural repair response and stimulating collagen production over time. It’s a treatment I’ve recommended to clients for years, but experiencing the journey myself gave me an even greater appreciation of the importance of timing and consistency.
Morpheus8
As my weight began to settle following lifestyle changes, I also wanted to address skin laxity around my jawline, face and tummy. I chose Morpheus8, which combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen remodelling and improve the appearance of skin firmness and contour.
But the most important part of this stage wasn’t simply which treatments I chose. It was the order in which I approached them. I wasn’t trying to do everything at once. I was building on the progress I’d already made, choosing treatments based on what my skin needed at that particular time. And that’s something I feel incredibly passionate about when creating treatment programmes for my clients.
Phase Three: Maintain & Optimise
Healthy skin is a journey, not a destination.
One of the biggest misconceptions about advanced skin treatments is that once you’ve achieved your desired results, the work is finished. But our skin continues to change throughout our lives. Hormones fluctuate, collagen production changes, and factors such as stress, lifestyle and environmental exposure continue to influence skin health. For me, maintenance is about protecting the progress I’ve made while continuing to adapt my routine.
Forma Radiofrequency
Forma can be incorporated into a maintenance programme to support skin firmness through controlled radiofrequency heating and collagen remodelling.
Regular Skin Health Treatments
Hydrating, nourishing and barrier-supporting facials remain an important part of my routine.
Not every appointment needs to be about intensive correction. Sometimes maintaining healthy skin means focusing on hydration, comfort and resilience.
Personalised Homecare
I’ve also reassessed my skincare products to make sure they support my skin’s changing needs.
It’s not about using the strongest active ingredients or following every new skincare trend.
It’s about understanding what your skin needs and choosing products that work together to support it.
Because sometimes, doing less, but doing it consistently, can make the biggest difference.
What Perimenopause Has Taught Me About Skin Health
Although I’ve spent over 25 years working with skin, experiencing perimenopause myself has given me a different perspective. I understand more than ever how frustrating it can feel when your skin suddenly behaves differently. When products you’ve used for years no longer seem to work. When redness, dryness or changes in firmness appear unexpectedly. Or when you simply don’t feel quite like yourself.
But I’ve also learnt that we don’t need to fight against our changing bodies. We need to understand them, listen to them and support them. For me, this journey has reinforced something I’ve believed throughout my career. Skin health must always come before correction. We cannot expect the best results from advanced treatments if we haven’t first created the right foundation. And we cannot separate what’s happening on the surface of our skin from what’s happening within the rest of our bodies.
Bringing My Experience Into Harmony
My personal experience of perimenopause has only strengthened the approach we take at Harmony. When a client comes to us concerned about pigmentation, skin laxity, sensitivity or changes in texture, we don’t immediately reach for the most intensive treatment. We listen. We assess the skin, understand their concerns and consider the wider factors that may be influencing their skin health. Using our advanced skin analysis technology, professional treatments and years of experience, we create personalised programmes that work with the skin rather than against it.
For some clients, that may begin with restoring hydration and strengthening the skin barrier.
For others, it may involve collagen stimulation, skin rejuvenation or a longer-term programme of corrective treatments.
And for many women navigating perimenopause and menopause, it means having someone who understands that their changing skin is part of a much bigger journey.
Restore. Correct. Maintain.
Three simple stages, but an approach that can make a meaningful difference to long-term skin health. This Menopause Awareness Month, I hope that by sharing my experience, I can encourage more women to feel comfortable talking about the changes they’re experiencing. You don’t have to have all the answers, and you certainly don’t have to navigate your changing skin alone.
At Harmony, we’re here to listen, guide and support you through every stage. Because beautiful skin isn’t about fighting the ageing process. It’s about feeling confident, comfortable and healthy in the skin you’re in.
With love,
Shweta x
Let’s Talk About Your Skin
If you’ve noticed changes in your skin during perimenopause or menopause, our experienced team can help you understand what’s happening and where to begin.
Book a personalised skin consultation at Harmony and discover a treatment programme designed around your individual skin needs.
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