From cooling mists to CBD serums, these are my hero products for menopause
Sally Foran offers eight products to help ease menopause related skincare issues
As if women don’t have enough to deal with during menopause – hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog – this time in our lives can also dramatically affect our skin.
The changes are driven primarily by the decline in oestrogen, which is critical for regulating collagen production, moisture retention, wound healing, and skin thickness.
Studies show women can lose up to 30% of collagen in the first five years after menopause, followed by about a 2% annual decline thereafter.
This hormonal shift causes a range of issues: dryness and thinning skin from reduced hydration, loss of firmness and elasticity, hyperpigmentation due to fluctuating hormones and increased sun sensitivity.
A weakened barrier can also make the skin more sensitive and reactive, leaving it prone to eczema, rosacea, or even breakouts.
As October is Menopause Awareness Month, today’s column rounds up products that can help tackle these issues.
As always, lifestyle changes – eating an antioxidant-rich diet, prioritising quality sleep, exercising regularly – will amplify your results.
Avoid smoking and limit alcohol, as both accelerate collagen breakdown.
Supplements such as omega-3, collagen, vitamin D3, and tailored menopause formulas can be beneficial, but always consult your GP first.
First and foremost: SPF. During menopause, we need to be extra careful, as UV rays are particularly damaging due to reduced protective hormones and collagen — both of which help skin stay youthful and elastic.
As skin becomes more fragile during this stage, daily protection is vital. UV exposure causes pigmentation, collagen breakdown, moisture loss, barrier damage, and redness, essentially, all the visible signs of ageing.
My longtime favourite is Skingredients Skin Shield (€52, Boots), a broad-spectrum SPF that contains protective antioxidants and has a lovely peachy tint.
If you’re not wearing make-up, it gives you a healthy glow, and it doubles as a primer under foundation. Wear it daily, year-round.
Combat dryness with an intensely hydrating serum. I’ve tried many over the years, and nothing beats Clarins Double Serum (€80, Meaghers) for instant hydration – it’s iconic for a reason!
It immediately plumps and brightens the skin for a radiant complexion.
This dual-phase formula, combining water and oil, is now in its ninth generation and powered by epigenetics, with 22 plant extracts and five active molecules that deeply hydrate, firm, and smooth the skin while reducing wrinkles — just the tonic menopausal skin needs.
Retinoids are another tool in your arsenal for combating collagen loss.
They are also great for encouraging cell renewal, as well as for improving texture, evening tone, reducing pores, firming skin, tackling acne and softening wrinkles.
Start with retinyl palmitate, then retinol, followed by retinal and lastly a prescription retinoid.
I’m currently loving O Cosmedics Potent Retinol Serum (€69, zolobeauty.ie). This is an encapsulated vitamin A, meaning it’s slow-release and has less risk of irritation.
It also contains antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and eight peptides, including ‘snap 8’ a Botox-like peptide, known for its muscle-relaxing properties, which can help reduce the appearance of expression lines.
Vitamin C is another key player, as it stimulates collagen production and provides powerful antioxidant protection.
It also enhances your SPF’s effectiveness against UV damage and helps reduce hyperpigmentation.
However, the pure form, L-ascorbic acid, can irritate sensitive skin, so during menopause, it’s best to use a gentler derivative.
I love Doctrine’s Radiant Vitamin C Serum (€54, Meadows & Byrne), which uses a derivative formula combined with soothing botanical oils and emollients for comfort and hydration.
For combating hot flushes, I adore holos’ Super Natural ActivityPre and Probiotic spray (€35, McCauley Pharmacy).
This cooling mist contains live bacteria that help strengthen the skin barrier and protect against external aggressors that speed up ageing.
Each spritz boosts skin immunity, helping prevent congestion and irritation while restoring balance. It smells divine thanks to sweet orange oil, which also energises and uplifts — a welcome bonus during this challenging stage!
Keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.
For sensitive, inflamed, or rosacea-prone skin, as well as spider veins and broken capillaries, try Yon-Ka’s Serum CBD (€110, yonka.ie)
This nighttime oil serum contains 300mg of pure CBD for potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to soothe redness and irritation.
It’s further enriched with sacred lotus to combat stress, Reishi mushroom to protect against pollution, and nourishing organic oils.
A calming blend of chamomile, lavender, and neroli essential oils promotes relaxation and better sleep — a welcome benefit since insomnia is another common menopausal symptom.
It’s not just facial skin that suffers from dryness during menopause; the whole body does, including our hands.
As they’re constantly exposed to the elements, they deserve protection too. Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Anti-Age Hand Cream with SPF 20 (€4.50, Boots) is a fast-absorbing formula that delivers deep hydration and sun protection at an affordable price.
It features glycerin and collagen-boosting minerals to help reduce dark spots and restore suppleness — a true handbag staple.
Finally, tackle multiple issues, from hot flushes and puffiness to dark circles, redness, and dullness, with Sadie’s Secrets Blue Bomb Cooling Stick (€37.99, sadiessecrets.ie).
This innovative, multi-tasking solid balm provides instant cooling relief and refreshes skin during times of stress or overheating.
The non-greasy, portable formula can be applied under or over makeup for a quick, spill-free refresh.
In a sea of new product launches, this one truly fills a gap.
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