From around the mid-30s, the skin begins to change. This is not only due to aging but also because of the hormonal balance, which slowly adjusts from then on. The hormonal fluctuations that many of us expect during menopause often start years earlier, in the so-called perimenopause.

Perimenopause is the transition phase before menopause, before menstruation stops completely, and can begin as early as the mid-30s to early 40s. Especially the estrogen and progesterone levels change significantly during this phase – sometimes over several years. This causes sebum production to become irregular, the skin to become more sensitive, and prone to blemishes, redness, or inflammation, especially in the chin and cheek areas.

The reason so many women are surprised by perimenopause is mainly because it is rarely talked about – and there is certainly not enough research in this area. Yet it affects every woman sooner or later. But precisely because of this, typical signs – from skin blemishes to sleep problems to mood swings – are often attributed to other causes, even though they are closely linked to these hormonal changes.

Estrogen promotes collagen production, moisture, and elasticity. When it is lacking or significantly reduced, as during perimenopause, the skin becomes drier, thinner, and more sensitive. And even though this may seem paradoxical at first: this can lead to the skin simultaneously being prone to impurities and fine lines. The pores clog more easily while the skin barrier is weakened and inflammations heal less effectively.

At 40, we are often in the middle of life, juggling work, family, and often much more at the same time. Mental load, (small) children who don’t sleep through the night, often more responsibility at work than 10 years ago, and stress in general have an immediate impact on our skin.

Both chronic stress and lack of sleep put the body in a constant state of alert. The stress hormone cortisol rises and inhibits skin regeneration, inflammation increases, and the skin produces more sebum than it should. Often, there simply isn’t enough time for a balanced diet or regular time for oneself. And this quickly leads to increased blemishes, redness, or an unsettled skin appearance. You can read more about this topic in our article Beautiful Skin from Within.

What was good for the skin at 20 can quickly overwhelm it at 40. Harsh cleansers, aggressive peels, or drying anti-pimple products now quickly lead to an imbalance.

Rich, classic anti-aging creams can also become a problem: many contain oils or waxes that clog pores faster in skin prone to blemishes. At the same time, soothing, barrier-strengthening ingredients that mature skin urgently needs are often missing. This is exactly why we focus on Well-Aging – not just Anti-Aging.