Related to hair and nails health , skin health can also be affected by loss of oestrogen production. As you can see from previous posts, the list of areas of the body where oestrogen plays a significant role is much longer than expected. No wonder going through the change is such a trying time for some of us!
Collagen production drops as oestrogen drops, resulting in loss of elasticity, dryness, thinning, spots, wrinkles etc. Why, after surviving the teenage spotty years, does Mother Nature see fit to plague us meno-travellers with spots! Like we don’t already have enough on our plates to cope with? And I daren’t frown about dotty skin in case I make the brow furrows even deeper! It’s infuriating.
Even simple things like eyebrow trimming are no longer fun. I need to use the magnifying mirror to see what I’m doing. This is fine until your gaze wanders elsewhere. Everything is brought into sharp, large focus. The smallest blemish is now mountainous. And as for facial hair! Wow. How long do some of those suckers grow?!
Given that permanent hair removal is out of my budget, as are most other major facial treatments designed to return our skin to youthful appearances, what can you do on a budget?
- Wear sunscreen – I use moisturisers and foundation creams with built-in sunscreen. It helps reduce any pre-existing age-spots (I wish they had a nicer name!) and prevents more of the little blighters popping up.
- Cleansing – use something mild and gentle. No soap – if you don’t have dry skin yet, you soon will have with soap.
- Toning – yes, I still tone after cleansing. I found a wonderful facial spritz that does the trick without being harsh. You can make your own with lavender water.
- Moisturise – daily application after bathing and as often as you feel you need it. Over the years I’ve used Nivea but now my body skin seems to prefer Aveno. Buy small quantities to see which one suits you best and be prepared to change as your skin changes.
- Facial oils. I used to buy facial oils but after doing a course on aromatherapy at the beginning of this year, I make my own. I also make oils for Mr D and for Cost Center 1’s partner who has a touch of eczema. Both chaps have lovely glowing skin. I’ll share my recipe at the bottom of this post.
- Moisturiser – find one with a good SPF… about factor 30 is great. Retinols and peptides can help with wrinkles and sags.
- Eye area – I’ve tried creams and gels and find the gels more easily absorbed and easier to apply make-up over.
Here comes the common sense advice. If any spot, mole or blemish is giving you cause for concern, get it checked out by a specialist. It may be nothing sinister but there’s nothing so calming as peace of mind.
As promised, here’s my recipe for the facial oil I use – just a couple of drops on the fingertips lightly brushed over your face morning and night, under your chosen moisturiser. It gives your skin an extra boost and you smell gorgeous too!
Ingredients:
Blue or brown glass bottle with dropper screw top (Amazon have a variety you can buy)
30ml base oil… I use jojoba or almond oil
2 drops Frankincense – relaxing scent and great for skincare
2 drops sandalwood – one of my favourites. It’s relaxing and softens skin
1 drop rose – a balancing scent which nourishes skin
Method:
Sterilize the small bottle and its dropper either by heat or sterilizing fluid
Once cool, add the base oil and carefully add the essential oils. It is important to ensure you use the correct dilution on facial skin… no more than 6 drops in total per 30 ml. If you have delicate skin, use fewer drops per 30 ml.
Wishing you all a chilled weekend. For those of you in the US, I hope you enjoyed a peaceful fun Thanksgiving.
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