ACNE AGAIN??? Skin Health and The Shifts With Perimenopause and Menopause.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Acne,
(Again?)
The Perimenopausal Plot Twist No One Warned Us About
Somewhere between realizing that crop tops are back again and asking “is it hot in here or is it just me?” — a cruel little plot twist emerges: sensitivities and adult acne in perimenopause / menopause.
As if the hormonal rollercoaster of our teens wasn’t enough, here comes the sequel. And this time, it’s got stress, sleep disruption, and skin issues that seem to think they’re welcome to stay here, rent-free, like our grown-ass children.
Let’s break down what’s happening, how to support your skin and self, and why you are not a broken version of your younger self — you are evolving. High Tea Skincare was created with this evolution in mind.
The Surprising Skin Shift: What Causes Acne in Midlife?
Perimenopause and menopause involve dramatic hormonal changes — particularly declining estrogen and relatively elevated androgens — which can lead to increased sebum production. That can mean imbalanced skin that somehow feels drier and maybe oilier at the same time (WTF?!), and more opportunity for clogged pores and breakouts, especially around the jawline and chin.
Other contributors:
- Cortisol (stress hormone): Chronic stress (hello, caregivers of aging parents, careers, relationships, sleep loss, growing kids—all of it) can increase inflammation and sebum production.
- Disrupted skin barrier: As estrogen drops, your skin may become drier and more reactive, losing collagen, hydration and elasticity — even while still breaking out. Rude.
- Gut and liver sluggishness: As your body shifts how it detoxifies and processes hormones, congestion and inflammation can show up on your face.
- Product overuse: In the scramble to “fix” our faces, we often strip, over-exfoliate and throw everything at our skin without letting it recover.
Multifaceted, Doable Solutions
(Because This Isn't Just a Skincare Problem)
Let’s be real: one magic serum won’t fix this. But a proper ritual, or at least a routine, can help. This is about creating space for your skin and body to recalibrate — so let’s get you the tools to support that.
skin
- Barrier support first – Moisture and oils are not the enemy. Using gentle, barrier-repairing products that nourish without clogging is key. Look for ingredients like niacinamide, green tea, bakuchiol, CoQ10, and gentle botanical oils that balance & restore rather than overwhelm.
- Skip the teen formulas – We’re not 14, and our skin doesn’t need that punishment (again). No more benzoyl peroxide death spirals. We want balance, not chemical warfare.
- Intentional layers – At High Tea Skincare, we formulate with the skin’s long-term rhythm in mind. Our products like LUSCIOUS and EXQUISITE were crafted to be gentle on fluctuating skin, deeply reparative and made without any cheap fillers or hormone-disrupting junk. They are literally crafted to rejuvenate, balance, hydrate and protect the skin during this crazy time.
mind + body
- Stress support – Cortisol plays a bigger role than we think. Mindfulness practices, adaptogenic herbs (like ashwagandha, ginseng, holy basil), daily movement and adequate sleep all directly benefit your skin.
- Nutrition & gut support – Less sugar, more fiber, healthy fats, fermented foods. Your skin is often a mirror of what’s happening inside. Consider talking to a functional medicine provider if you suspect deeper hormone or gut imbalances.
- Community & compassion – The shame spiral around “bad skin” can be isolating. You’re not alone. The more we talk about this, the more power we have through the knowledge we acquire and the more we help each other.
You’re Not Falling Apart. You’re Becoming More You.
This phase of life isn’t a slow descent into invisibility. It’s a sacred disruption — a return to self. You’ve already evolved before. Puberty. Pregnancy. Heartbreak. Career shifts. This is just another season — one that strips away what no longer serves.
As priorities shift, so does our desire to please. To perform. To look "youthful" enough to be taken seriously. You don't need permission to take up space with your laugh lines and your holy rage and your glowing, recovering skin.
You don’t need to prove anything anymore. You are the proof.
Let’s Talk About the Skincare Industry
(And What It Doesn’t Want You to Know)
The industry is all too happy to exploit menopausal insecurity — offering "miracle creams" that cost $300 but say nothing about cortisol, gut health or the shame cycles they're feeding. Using the term anti-aging, like that's really a thing to chase and obsess over.
Yes, you deserve great skincare — but not because you’re trying to stop time (well, maybe slow it just a little). Because your skin is a living, breathing organ worthy of care, comfort and reverence.
At High Tea, we don’t believe in anti-aging. We believe in pro-skin, pro-woman, pro-evolution rituals. Everything we create is intentional: botanical, multi-functional and infused with ingredients known to nourish skin going through these real-life shifts
Want to Go Deeper? Some Favorite (Real) Resources:
- The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) – Reliable, research-based information on menopause and midlife health.
- Lara Briden, ND – Author of The Hormone Repair Manual and advocate for natural hormone support.
- Mind Body Green: Hormone Health – Accessible wellness content with expert voices.
- PubMed – For those who want to deep-dive into studies about estrogen and skin aging or stress-related acne.
- Explore functional medicine practitioners, traditional medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda) practitioners and naturopathic doctors and therapists who specialize in midlife transitions.
- Check out this link to Healthline for information on menopausal skin
final thoughts
If you’re struggling with breakouts again or new sensitivities, you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. Your skin isn’t betraying you. It’s adapting, like the rest of you, to this next evolution.
With compassion, grace and a little sacred rebellion, we can face this season with clear skin and clear eyes.
Because this time around, we’re armed with experience and endless victories behind us, and more than enough wisdom to know what we actually need.
This time, you have High Tea on your side.
Hi, I'm Marika
Owner & Formulator
High Tea SKincare
When they ask who your dream customer is - the person you hope to actually help and make life easier for - I think that it's the busy woman in her 40s-50s, who cares about natural products and what she puts in and on her body. She's not trying to look like someone she's not, she just wants to be the best version of herself.
If it were me, I would want to know more: the products, the ingredients, the process - how, why, what led to this?
This blog gives you a chance to deep-dive into an ingredient or product, or to see where my head was at when I chose to formulate a product and why I crafted it the way I did.
Grab yourself a cup of tea and enjoy!