“The hormone shifts during menopause result in a number of changes in skin,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. What skin needs for this stage of life is so crucial that French skin care company Vichy has been researching how skin changes during menopause and menopausal skin care for years. Having conducted more than thirty clinical studies, Vichy launched its first menopausal skin care line back 1992 and continues to innovate and refine its products to address skin changes during menopause. Ready to learn more? Let’s dive into some key questions, including:

• What are the three stages of menopause?

• How does your skin change during menopause?

• How to take care of skin during menopause

• Menopausal skin care products from Vichy to try at home

What are the three stages of menopause?

During menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, which are the hormones responsible for controlling the menstrual cycle. Menopause actually has three different stages:

Peri-menopause refers to the time preceding menopause when your hormone levels begin to drop. During peri-menopause, you might start to notice some telltale menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and mood changes. Menstrual cycles may also start to become more irregular.

Menopause is the official biological stage when menstrual cycles have ended.

Post-menopause is the third and final stage of menopause. Post-menopause begins when menstrual cycles have stopped for a year.

How does your skin change during menopause?

You may have talked to your doctor about common menopausal symptoms, such as hair thinning, weight changes, night sweats, the increased risk of osteoporosis or heart disease in post-menopause, but how does your skin change during menopause?

“Lipid loss and reduced collagen production during menopause can lead to skin feeling drier, thinner and less firm,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “The natural process of skin turnover slows, which can lead to dullness and uneven texture as well.” Skin elasticity also depletes during this time, which can cause skin sagging, especially along the jawline.

How to take care of skin during menopause

All skin changes during menopause can be easier to face if you know what products to use and will best serve your skin during this change. That said, what kind of skin care ingredients should you look for when it comes to creating your perfect menopause skin care routine?

Skin care products containing lipids and ceramides can help aid with lipid loss while gentle exfoliants, such as certain concentrations of alpha hydroxy acids, can target dullness and uneven texture that can occur during menopause. “To target collagen loss, fine lines and wrinkles, antioxidant-packed vitamin serums and topical retinoids are two categories of skin care that are trusted and effective,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

Vichy Neovadiol for menopausal skin care

Vichy Neovadiol, the French skin care brand’s menopausal skin care line, targets what Vichy calls the five signs of hormonal aging. They are:

1) Fine lines and wrinkles: Vichy Neovadiol skin care products help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that can become more noticeable and numerous during menopause.

2) Dryness: All Neovadiol products deeply nourish the skin with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to help combat dryness.

3) Dullness: Ingredients that increase cellular turnover and boost radiance are helpful for menopausal skin care.

4.) Uneven skin tone: Dark spots and hyperpigmentation is another one of the skin changes during menopause you might notice, so Vichy Neovadiol products are also specially formulated to improve the look of dark spots and achieve a more even skin tone.

5.) Loss of firmness: The Vichy Neovadiol menopause skin care line contains ingredients to visibly firm skin.

Ready to get to know the three products in the Vichy Neovadiol menopause skin care collection?

For all stages of menopause:

Vichy Neovadiol Meno 5 Bi-Serum

At the center of Vichy’s Neovadiol menopause skin care collection is this serum, and the number five in the name refers to its lineup of ingredients that targets all five signs of hormonal aging you might notice during peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause.

Proxylane and cassia extract promote collagen synthesis and hyaluronic acid production to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Omegas 6 and 9 address lipid loss while vitamins B3, C and E come together to provide antioxidant protection and support collagen production. Glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that works as an effective exfoliator, also helps reduce dullness as well as uneven texture and tone. Last but not least, this face serum contains Vichy volcanic water, which contains fifteen trace minerals designed to strengthen your skin barrier.

For peri-menopause:

Vichy Neovadiol Plumping Day Cream for Peri-Menopause

If you’re currently in peri-menopause, consider trying this day cream with a formula that Vichy specifically created to suit the needs of skin during the early stages of menopause. It contains hyaluronic acid to help hydrate skin, giving an immediate plumping effect that diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Proxylane and cassia extract work to increase your skin’s firmness while Vichy volcanic water nourishes the skin with fifteen essential minerals, including calcium, magnesium and iron. For best results, use this face cream twice a day for at least four weeks.

For post-menopause:

Vichy Neovadiol Post-Menopause Replenishing Firming Day Cream

During post-menopause, the loss of lipids in your skin that act as a protective barrier can result in dryness. This day cream specifically formulated for post-menopause contains omegas 3, 6 and 9 to help replenish those lost skin lipids. It also targets fine lines and loss of firmness with Proxylane while cassia extract helps plump skin and vitamin B3 adds antioxidant protection, and of course, Vichy’s signature volcanic water is included to strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier. It’s recommended to apply this face cream twice daily during post-menopause.

Looking for even more tips for how to take care of your skin during menopause? Check out the blog to read even more about menopause and Vichy Neovadiol Meno 5 Bi-Serum.