There comes a moment during perimenopause or menopause when your skin stops behaving the way it used to. The retinol you tolerated for years suddenly stings. Your glow looks flatter. Redness lingers longer than it should. You feel dry and overheated at the same time. On a recent episode of The Beauty Authority, Shiri Sarfati, licensed esthetician and executive vice president of Repêchage, breaks down what’s actually happening to menopausal skin—and how to update your routine without overcomplicating it.
“Millennials today are entering their perimenopausal and menopausal years,” says Sarfati. “This is a large population experiencing these hormonal shifts for the first time.”
Here’s how to adjust your routine accordingly.
1. Try Not to Over-Exfoliate
If your first instinct is to reach for stronger acids, pause, says Sarfati. Hormonal shifts thin the skin and weaken the barrier, and over-exfoliating during this stage can amplify irritation rather than improve texture.
“For us, Repêchage, traditionally, we’ve always been about maintaining the skin barrier,” Sarfati explains. “Hydration, maintaining the skin barrier and then utilizing those clinically proven ingredients to help boost the collagen production and the stimulation.”
If your skin feels reactive, she advises scaling back glycolic cleansers and weekly peels before adding anything new.
2. Less Shock, More Support
Menopausal skin responds better to support than shock. “Peptides are large chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein,” Sarfati says. “They are able to work almost by fooling the skin into rebuilding.” Instead of relying solely on resurfacing, she says to consider collagen-supporting formulas such as Repêchage’s Triple Action Lift Peptide Serum ($130), which focus on signaling rather than stripping.
3. Layer on the Hydration
Dryness during menopause is rarely just surface-level. It often runs deeper. Sarfati points to formulas that contain multiple weights of hyaluronic acid, “one that’s more topical and one that penetrates deeper.” A peptide cream such as Repêchage Triple Action Lift Peptide Cream ($150) can seal in moisture without overwhelming the barrier. Consistency is key. “It needs to be twice a day. And it needs to be consistent,” she says.
4. Add Cooling if You’re Flushing
Hot flashes and overheating aren’t just uncomfortable—they can worsen visible redness and disrupt sleep, which in turn affects skin recovery. “We’re utilizing a Creoactives menthol lactate,” Sarfati says. “Not only does it give you that instant cooling effect, but it reactivates in humidity.”
A mist format makes it easy to apply throughout the day. “You can mist yourself all day long,” she adds. Repêchage’s Triple Action Lift Peptide Cooling Mist ($70) delivers that cooling sensation while still supporting firmness.
5. Simplify Instead of Mixing Everything
Menopausal skin is often less tolerant of experimentation. “There’s so much consumer confusion today,” Sarfati says. Clients come in “red, irritated, blotchy… they’re doing too much.”
If you’re layering vitamin C, acids, retinoids and multiple brand serums at once, consider streamlining. Systems formulated to work together tend to produce steadier results than trend stacking.
6. Book a Monthly Reset
At-home care maintains balance. Professional treatments elevate it. “In 60 minutes, you can see a big difference in your skin,” Sarfati says of the Triple Action Lift Peptide Creofacial, noting smoother texture and reduced redness after one session. She recommends monthly facials to reinforce results and adjust your regimen as your skin evolves.
7. Extend the Routine Beyond Your Face
Menopause affects more than your complexion. The neck, décolletage and hands often reveal thinning skin first. “How can we move lymph, move some blood flow?” Sarfati asks. Dry brushing, gentle exfoliation and extending peptide and hydrating products below the jawline can help maintain overall skin tone and circulation.
Menopausal skin is not something to correct. It is something to understand. When the barrier is supported, hydration is layered properly and collagen signaling is introduced thoughtfully, the skin regains steadiness. As Sarfati says, “It’s about having consistent results.” The glow may evolve, but with the right adjustments, it does not disappear.
