How Hormones Affect My Skin: a Step-By-Step Guide to Hormone-Friendly Skincare

Your monthly hormonal changes can have a big impact on your skin. Here’s how hormones affect your skin and the products you can use to help.

The hormone levels in your body have the power to influence your mood, sleep patterns, eating habits – and the condition of your skin.

Your hormones affect your skin in a range of different ways from increasing the oiliness to helping it glow. Here are all the details on how hormones influence your skin and what you can do about it, plus a step-by-step guide to hormone-friendly skincare.

What are hormones and how do they affect my skin?

Hormones are biochemical messengers that are produced by specialised cells in many of the body’s organs. They are circulated around the body in our blood.

Let’s take oestrogen as an example. The female sex hormone is predominantly produced by the ovaries as well as by parts of the adrenal cortex, the outer part of the adrenal gland. A number of factors determine how much of this hormone is produced and when it is distributed around the body.

Your age and where you are in your menstrual cycle are key to determining how much oestrogen and other hormones are circulating in the body. This has a direct impact on the skin. For instance, blemishes and impurities often appear at specific points in the cycle.

Your step-by-step guide to hormone-friendly skincare

To create a hormone-friendly skin routine, you need to know what part of the cycle you are in and what is happening in your body. You can then select the products your skin needs to look its best at that stage.

The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period. Let’s start there.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to each phase and the best products to support your skin throughout the month.

1. The Start of Your Cycle

Skin is recovering and needs moisture.

Menstrual bleeding marks the start of the cycle and this lasts from day 1 to around day 5. As soon as the body begins to get rid of the lining of the uterus that has thickened during preceding phases, a woman’s period starts.

At this point, the skin starts to recover from the luteal phase – see step 4 – meaning that pimples and irritation start to disappear. To help the skin recover effectively, it needs plenty of moisture and soothing skincare products during this phase.

We recommend using our Hyaluron Serum to help the skin's natural processes. Our Moisturising Mask can be just the ticket at this stage, too. It’s ideal for days when all you want to do is stay home and laze around on the couch.

During this phase it’s a good idea to make sure your daily skincare regime is packed with hydration, so consider using our Moisturising Day Fluid or Rejuvenating Day Fluid.

2. The Follicular Phase

Skin is glowing and ready for intensive treatments.

The second phase in the monthly cycle is known as the follicular phase, lasting from around day 6 to around day 12. This starts on the first day after your period has ended.

At this stage, the body starts to work hard to prepare for an egg cell to be fertilised. The ovaries produce lots of follicles and the womb lining thickens. The female body needs plenty of oestrogen to perform these processes so during this phase your body is flooded with oestrogen.

This wave of oestrogen is good news for your skin because oestrogen stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, as well as increasing libido. The complexion is left looking and feeling fresh, clear, and even – just in time for date night.

Now’s the time to get those highly potent active ingredients and intense facial treatments on the go. Our Glow Mask with caffeine and ginger extract helps to boost the skin’s natural glow during the follicular phase. You might also like to give our Rejuvenating Power Serum a go to help stimulate collagen production and tone your skin.

3. The Ovulation Phase

Skin starts producing more oils and may need mattifying serums.

The next phase in your cycle is the ovulation phase, which takes place between around day 13 and 18. The follicles that have formed will keep on growing until ovulation occurs and an egg is released from the ovaries.

During this phase, oestrogen levels are at an all-time high and your skin is positively radiant. Thanks to the positive effects of hormones on your skin at this stage, you can continue to use products containing lots of active ingredients as this is when they will be absorbed most effectively by the skin.

If you suffer from dry skin, you may notice that your skin has more moisture during this phase. If you have oilier skin, your skin might get even oilier during ovulation and blemishes may start to appear. This is where products like our Purifying Cleansing Gel, Purifying Clay Mask and Purifying Serum may come in handy, as they will help to remove excess oil and help to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.

4. The Luteal Phase

Skin is oilier and may develop blemishes so it needs extra cleansing and purifying.

The turning point in the cycle, the luteal phase, begins on day 19. If the released egg has not been fertilised, oestrogen levels in the body will gradually drop during this stage.

This changing hormonal balance in your body can have a negative impact on your skin and your mood. Fatigue and sluggishness are common complaints at this point in the cycle. What’s more, levels of the hormone progesterone are high. This progestogen sex hormone causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oily secretions during this stage of the cycle.

Combine falling oestrogen and increasing progesterone with a slight rise in body temperature and you have the ideal breeding ground for bacteria that can cause blemishes and impurities. The luteal phase lasts until around day 28 and thorough cleansing has to be the most important part of your skincare regime during this phase.

Our Purifying Cleansing Gel containing botanical extracts of Alpine willowherb and masterwort root has the antibacterial properties you need. Use it with our Moisturising Day Fluid, which takes care of shiny patches in the T-zone. This is also the time to rely on our Purifying Serum and Purifying Clay Mask to help keep your skin clear of blemishes.

Take control when hormones start to affect your skin

Throughout your cycle, your hormones can affect your skin in different ways. By paying attention to the phases of your cycle and how you’re feeling, you can support your skin better. Use this step-by-step hormone-friendly skincare routine to give your skin the nourishment and nutrients it needs.

Remember that good skin comes from both inside and outside so try to support your body with a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole foods to avoid skin worsening through your cycle.

If you suffer from blemishes and acne throughout your cycle, you might benefit from changing your skin routine. Learn more here.