Skincare for menopausal skin: what works for dryness, thinning and wrinkles
Skin loses collagen quickly in the first years after menopause, so it becomes drier, thinner and less firm. Daily sunscreen and a retinoid have the best evidence against wrinkles, and a good moisturiser eases dryness. Products labelled for menopause add little.
See a GP or dermatologist about a mole that changes, a sore that does not heal, very itchy skin, or sudden acne. Ask a pharmacist before using retinoids if you have eczema or rosacea.1
How menopause changes your skin
Estrogen helps keep skin thick, firm and moist. As levels fall, collagen drops fast, by about 30% in the first 5 years after menopause, then more slowly.2
Skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic, and wounds heal more slowly.2,3
Step 1: sunscreen every day
Sun exposure causes most visible skin ageing, such as wrinkles and dark spots. A broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, every day, is the single most useful step.1
Step 2: a retinoid at night
Retinoids have the strongest evidence for wrinkles. A review of 7 randomised trials found prescription tretinoin improved wrinkles, dark spots and dullness, with results from 1 month and lasting up to 2 years.4
Retinol, sold without a prescription, is a weaker relative. It is gentler, but the evidence is thinner. Start 2 or 3 nights a week, as dryness and redness are common at first.
Step 3: moisturise for dryness
Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and a richer cream. Look for ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, and apply it to damp skin.1
Short, warm rather than hot showers also help.1
What about menopause skincare ranges?
Many brands now sell products labelled for menopause. Some ingredients, such as plant estrogens applied to the skin, have small studies, but the evidence is limited.5 A good basic routine matters more than the label.
Supplements and HRT
Collagen supplements are popular, but when independent researchers looked only at the better-quality trials, they found no clear benefit for skin.6 See our page on collagen.
Women who take estrogen tend to have fewer wrinkles and less dry skin.3 But HRT is not prescribed for skin alone.
Common questions
What is the best moisturiser for menopausal skin?
A fragrance-free cream with ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid, applied to damp skin. The price and the menopause label matter less than these ingredients.1
Is retinol safe for skin after 50?
Yes, for most people. Start slowly, a few nights a week, as thinner skin can get dry or red. Prescription tretinoin has the strongest evidence for wrinkles.4
Do menopause skincare products work?
Some ingredients have small studies, but the evidence is limited.5 Daily sunscreen, a retinoid and a good moisturiser matter most.1,4
Does HRT improve your skin?
Women who take estrogen tend to have fewer wrinkles and less dryness, but HRT is not prescribed for skin alone.3
Related
Sources
- Skin care during menopause, American Academy of Dermatology
- Calleja-Agius J, Muscat-Baron Y, Brincat MP. Skin ageing, Menopause International (2007)
- Estrogen and skin: the effects of estrogen, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on the skin, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2005), PubMed
- Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, International Journal of Women's Dermatology (2022), PubMed
- Lephart ED. Bioactives for estrogen-deficient skin: topical and oral supplement clinical studies, Dermatology and Therapy (2025)
- Scientists find major flaws in the research behind collagen supplements, ScienceAlert (on Grimes and Mahto)