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SKINCARE DURING YOUR PERIOD

A Guide to the Effects Your Period Can Have on Your Skin

Just as your mood may fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle, so too can the look and feel of your skin. No two cycles are the same, so it’s important to listen to your body and identify how it responds to hormonal changes. Use our period skincare guide to find self-care tips that work with, not against, your body.

SO HOW DOES YOUR CYCLE AFFECT YOUR SKIN?

We all know blemishes can often indicate you’re about to start your period, but how else does your skin change during your cycle? Throughout the month, you might notice subtle fluctuations in oil production or patches of dryness as oestrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall. If you’re on the pill, your hormones are regulated so you don’t ovulate. With less testosterone in the body to prompt blemishes, changes in the skin might be less pronounced, but they can still follow a similar pattern.

Your menstrual cycle entails four phases – menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal – and each influences your skin differently1. This can make skincare unpredictable and tricky to manage. We’ve broken it down for you to explain what to expect from each stage, with help from consultant dermatologist Dr. Mary Sommerlad.

THE MENSTRUAL PHASE: DAYS 1-5

Your period. This is the first day in your cycle, when you’re menstruating, and hormones are at their lowest. Many people notice their energy levels take a dip, so it’s common to feel withdrawn, tired or sluggish.

Treat Yourself
With low levels of oestrogen and progesterone, your skin might be producing less sebum, which means you could experience dry, sensitive skin that’s prone to blemishes. Dr. Sommerlad highlights that: "Prostaglandins, which can cause inflammation, are raised during this time, meaning you may feel more muscle aches. This, and the low hormone levels, can lead to skin feeling drier and potentially more sensitive".

"Treat your skin kindly" is our dermatologist’s advice, "use hydrating gentle cleansers that do not scrub the skin, and introduce a soothing serum that contains ceramides to help support the skin barrier."

We recommend keeping the skin moisturised during this phase, to help it re-adjust to the lack of sebum being produced. Along with drinking more water, ensuring you include Vitamin E based products in your routine will help rehydrate your skin - its antioxidant properties help protect cells throughout the body and lock in moisture. Our skincare expert adds that: "If your skin gets very dry, look for hydrating and moisturising face masks".

SKINCARE FOR THE MENSTRUAL PHASE

Syncing your skincare to your cycle can help keep your complexion steady through the highs and lows of hormonal changes. Here some products with benefits to balance each stage.

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask

SETTLE DOWN

Our skin-tingling Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask helps refine the appearance of pores, absorb excess oils and boost glow.

Vitamin E Moisture Cream

SOFT TOUCH

To ward off the dry spell, our Vitamin E Moisture Cream helps skin stay hydrated for up to 48hrs, enriched with Vitamin E and raspberry seed oil.

Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

SMOOTH IT OVER

Formulated with Camomile extract, our Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter helps skin feel refreshed, effortlessly melting away any nasties after a long day.

Aloe Soothing Cream Cleanser

STAY CALM

Formulated without added fragrance, colour or alcohol, our Aloe Soothing Cream Cleanser helps skin feel settled and refreshed.

THE FOLLICULAR PHASE: DAYS 6-12

This is the stage when the follicles in the ovaries mature. During this phase, our skincare expert clarifies: "Oestrogen and progesterone levels are lower than at any other time in the cycle but start to rise gradually". It’s possible you’ll notice you have more energy as oestrogen levels increase.

About now, many people start to see improvements in their skin as collagen production restarts, making it look bouncier and feel firmer. Oil production spikes a little and dead skin cells can build up, so shift your attention to renewal. See our oily skin care guide for expert advice.

"At this stage, skin can feel and look drier than at other stages and in some women the skin may also be more sensitive" Dr Sommerlad explains. "This is also a good time to focus on hydrating the skin- look for softening ingredients such as Shea Butter and Squalane. Avoid skin peels and harsh exfoliants".

SKINCARE FOR THE FOLLICULAR PHASE

With your oestrogen levels on the rise and your collagen production starting up again, this is the perfect time to give new products a try as your skin will be less reactive. Purifying your skin and cleaning those pores are a must, so gentle exfoliation or a pore mask can aid skin renewal and help your skin feel refreshed.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash

MAKE IT MATTE

To help rinse away dirt and unwanted shine, lather up with our Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash, infused with Community Fair Trade tea tree oil for visibly clearer skin.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Mattifying Toner

TONE DOWN SHINE

Help promote a clear complexion that’s shy on shine with the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Mattifying Toner. Shake to activate the product to help banish the last traces of make-up.

Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask

PURIFY PORES

Help liberate skin from the weekly build-up of impurities with our creamy and gently exfoliating Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask.

Edelweiss Liquid Peel

FEEL RENEWED

The revolutionary gel-to-peel formula of the Edelweiss Liquid Peel gently lifts dead skin cells from the surface, infused with a blend of three plant stem cells.

OVULATION: DAYS 13-18

Ovulation occurs about two weeks before your period arrives. Oestrogen levels peak as the ovum leaves the ovary and makes its way to the uterus via the fallopian tube.

Keep it Clear

With oestrogen levels at their highest, collagen production also gets a boost. Skin is likely to look bouncy, clear, and more radiant. However, Dr. Sommerlad highlights, "raised oestrogen can also trigger excess in pigmentation".

SKINCARE FOR OVULATION

These hormones are really working for you! Besides basking in your natural luminosity, this is a good time to top up on complexion-clarifiers, maximise that glow, and get your skin prepped for the next stage. Our dermatologist explains: "If you are prone to excess pigmentation, focus on sunscreens that block visible light and ramp up the antioxidant use such as vitamin C which can help tackle this issue".

Vitamin C is the go-to ingredient for maintaining that post-period glow, as it can help your skin feel fresher and look brighter.

Tea Tree Oil

PURE AND SIMPLE

After cleansing, massage a couple of drops of the Tea Tree Oil over blemish prone areas to help your skin feel purified.

Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser

GET GLOWING

Refresh and energise your skin with our Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser, infused with camu camu extract for an instant healthy-looking glow.

Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate

BOOST THAT BOUNCE

The Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate is a clever gel-like serum that helps promote the skin’s healthy-looking glow with a good hit of moisture.

Edelweiss Serum Concentrate Sheet Mask

FLASH FIX

For a 15-minute moisture fix, kick back with the Edelweiss Serum Concentrate Sheet Mask , enriched with double the concentration of edelweiss, which is naturally (and rather uniquely) strengthened with leontopodic acid.

THE LUTEAL PHASE: DAYS 19-28

"During the Luteal phase, the levels of oestrogen remain high, and progesterone and androgens continue to rise”, Dr Mary Sommerlad explains. “There is more sebum production in this phase, which can give some women a lovely glow, however for others, the rise in sebum, testosterone, and progesterone can drive pre-menstrual blemishes."

I Feel it Coming

In this week before your period, your complexion can take a hit. Oil and sebum production surges, leading to clogged pores and blemishes around the chin and jawbone.

SKINCARE FOR THE LUTEAL PHASE

Bring skin back into balance by tending to the excess oils and sebum that prime the way for blemishes. Focus on pores to tackle impurities and congestion.

Tea Tree Oil

BANISH THE BLEMISH

The oil of approximately 15,000 tea tree leaves is packed into one mighty 10ml bottle of Tea Tree Oil. Dab this potent solution onto the areas you want to target to help keep blemishes at bay.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Night Mask

BEAUTY SLEEP

Infused with salicylic acid, the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Night Mask helps take care of blemished skin while you sleep, so you can wake up to clearer-looking skin.

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash

NO FILTER

Our foaming Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash cleanses away dirt and impurities, helping to gently unclog pores for a mattified looking complexion.

Seaweed Oil-Control Gel Cream

WAVE AWAY SHINE

To counter excess oil and sebum with a moisturiser that’s low on shine, our Seaweed Oil-Control Gel Cream is infused with mineral-rich seaweed for lightweight hydration.

So how can you become more aware of the hormonal changes going on in your body, and get in tuned with your skin and cycle? Dr. Sommerlad advises that: “There are fantastic apps available that can help you track your skin throughout the cycle.”

Note: Scientifically reviewed by Dr. Mary Sommerlad

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