2024 - Menstrual cosmetics or how to adapt your beauty routine to your cycle

Rethinking the way you take care of your skin according to your period and your entire menstrual cycle is the principle of menstrual cosmetics. How to do ? Which products to adopt? We answer you.

Sore breasts, headaches… Although many physical manifestations are attributed to our premenstrual syndrome, we do not always make the connection between the vagaries of our skin and our periods. However, the way our hormones do the roller coaster throughout the cycle influences the quality of the skin and it is not uncommon for it to become drier or present a few pimples as the period approaches. After spending years focusing on our skin type, experts and cosmetics brands are finally starting to take an interest in this phenomenon to adapt women’s beauty routines to their fluctuating skin needs.

Gone are the days when you designed your skincare routine in a fixed way without thinking about the effects of your menstrual cycle, now you don’t hesitate to change creams according to the weeks and the specific reactions of your skin.

How to take care of your skin according to the rhythm of your menstrual cycle?

A menstrual cycle lasts on average 28 days or one month. A period during which female (estrogen) and male (progesterone) hormone levels vary from week to week. The state of the skin is synchronized with these hormonal upheavals. To understand how to best care for our skin throughout the month, we must therefore take an interest in 4 phase through which the body and skin pass during a menstrual cycle. The key is a beauty routine adapted to each moment of the cycle.

The pre-ovulatory week or follicular phase

A few days after the end of the period, the production of estrogen is boosted, which improves blood circulation and the receptivity of the skin to the care provided to it. Generally, it’s the time of the month when the skin is at its best and our complexion is luminous.

Beauty routine side
Right after your period, the skin is still reactive, so it is best to avoid overly aggressive facials such as abrasive scrubs and peel-off masks. On the other hand, you can make a gentle enzymatic scrub to gently exfoliate your skin and prevent the appearance of impending blackheads. We also advise against waxing your face during this time of the month. Just keep your skin hydrated with a moisturizer suited to your needs.

During these few days, the estrogen level remains high and ensures good collagen production, which is why the skin is rather firm and supple, but it can become a little dry. At the same time, the level of testosterone (male hormone) increases, which promotes the development of imperfections (blackheads) and pimples, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

On the beauty routine side: we avoid comedogenic products that can clog the pores of the skin and we will rather reinforce hydration to combat dehydration.

Pre-period week or luteal phase

This is when estrogen levels drop sharply, causing the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. The skin becomes oily, pores clog, blackheads and pimples rub shoulders with shine.

On the beauty routine side: it’s time to take out your purifying facials to fight against excess sebum and unclog pores before the impurities lodged there turn into blackheads and pimples. If you are prone to hormonal acne during your period, the anti-blemish routine is not limited to cleaning the skin, a specific serum is a good idea. Choose it rather mattifying to counter the effect of excess sebum and don’t forget to moisturize your skin at the same time.

Hormone levels are at their lowest during menstruation. Blood circulation is slowed down, the skin becomes sensitive and fragile, dry, dehydrated and dull. It is prone to inflammation. Pimples and blackheads may persist.

On the beauty routine side:
We comfort our skin with moisturizing but also soothing treatments. Above all, we do not weaken it with cosmetics that are too aggressive, we prefer gentle treatments that will not irritate it further.

When beauty brands simplify the rules of the game

Based on these findings and wishing to offer women easier ways to respect these new beauty precepts, some cosmetic brands have launched products that meet these new period-related needs.

Woman 4 serums, Typology
€49.90

The Typology brand, for example, has launched a box of 4 serums for the face (1 moisturizing and soothing, 1 suppleness and radiance, 1 moisturizing and astringent, 1 mattifying and anti-imperfections) to be able to change them every week in order to meet all your needs. needs of the skin during the menstrual cycle.

nédé.co Oh my periods!

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The brand nidéco, which launches its new products in collaboration with its customers, has designed a moisturizing and rebalancing treatment specifically adapted to the needs of the skin in the period before menstruation in order to avoid acne breakouts.