As someone who has been in the glorious throes of perimenopause for the last eight years and counting, I’m more than familiar with the ways ‘the change’ can affect someone. While I do my best to counteract the ones that annoy me most (mood swings and lack of sleep), one area I hadn’t really considered was how my haywire hormones may be impacting my skin.
Already a fan of Boots No7’s groundbreaking Future Renew range, I’m lucky enough to say that I think my skin is in pretty good nick for 51. But that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes suffer from the bouts of ruddy cheeks and clammy skin often associated with being perimenopausal. On top of that, I’m forever looking for ways to deter the inevitable jawline jowls that come with a lack of estrogen. Skin dullness, dryness and sensitivity can also be signs of the menopause, and aware that I want to do whatever I can to keep those at arms length too, as much as I’m wary of switching up my skincare regime, I am also ready to try products that could specifically target those looming areas.
Enter No7’s Menopause Skincare line, made especially for skin going through a midlife hormonal shakeup. It’s an issue certainly not taken lightly by the brand. Not only was Boots the first health and beauty organization to be accredited as a Menopause Friendly Employer, but they are also known for their extensive research when it comes to skincare. Don’t forget that it took 15 years for them to come up with their gamechanging Protect and Perfect range in 2007, followed by Future Renew 15 years later.
This latest line has been devised by scientists following a five-year research project involving 7,000 menopausal women and designed to help skin behave as if estrogen was still present. Using ‘key menopause specific ingredients,’ most of the products contain ceramides and niacinamide to restore the depletion of lipids that occur during menopause, collagen-peptide technology to target deep lines and wrinkles, and antioxidants and vitamins such as Green tea, vitamins E, C and B5. There’s also plant-based extras – soy isoflavones and Japanese lily turf – to help with hot flushes and hydration.
For the last six months I have been trying out the range to see if it’s the skin saviour every peri and menopausal woman needs. Here’s how I got on.
Instant Radiance Serum (30ml) £32.95
I am a huge serum fan and truly believe that this is what you should always invest in – far more than any moisturizer – as the peptides most contain are fundamental to maintaining the skin’s structure and firmness. And with a plethora of lipids and ceramides to help restore what’s naturally lost during menopause, I knew this would be worth it’s price tag. (Which, IMO, is pretty reasonable, these days.)
However, what I loved the most wasn’t all the endless do-good ingredients, but the simple fact that you apply the serum through a ‘cooling’ roller system. Not only did it make the product feel refreshing as soon as it hit my skin, but I also felt that as the roller glided along my cheeks and chin, it was hopefully doing something to tackle the jawline sag that is slowly becoming apparent as the elasticity in my skin loosens.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that my skin felt hydrated and baby soft straight after – so much so, that I would sometimes forget to put my moisturiser on if I was in a rush. And if that isn’t a sign of a job well done, then what is?
Nourishing Overnight Cream (50ml) £32.95
Said to support overnight natural skin repair and hydration thanks to Hyaluronic acid, this felt less heavy duty than some of the other night creams I’ve used. And with shea butter also in the ingredients to help keep skin moisturised, it had a nice, gentle aroma to help lull me off to sleep. No7 says their research shows this product has proven to deeply moisturise and rejuvenate the feeling of skin. Did I notice? Not especially so, but I can confirm that my skin was certainly more on the hydrated than dried out side the next morning.
Protect & Hydrate Day Cream (50ml) £32.95
I love that this contains SPF30, which is especially useful as my skin has become more sensitive to the sun over the years. Plus, it’s said to lock in 72 hours of hydration, making it ideal for dry menopausal skin. There’s also another key ingredient: Bisabolol, an active plant extract which helps soothe dehydrated, irritated skin.
Like the night cream, this felt quite lightweight so I wasn’t sure how effective it would be or whether my skin would be crying out for my other anti-ageing products. However, just a few weeks after using it I had two friends – on separate occasions – tell me that my skin looked ‘amazing’. One even stopped me in the street to ask what I was using. I’d also been washing my face every morning using either a Liz Earle cleansing balm or a Derm Solutions cleanser, which helps with sensitive skin – and in tandem with the Day Cream felt like it successfully managed to rid me of any pinky peri tinge.
No7 Menopause Skincare Firm and Bright Eye Concentrate 15ml, £24.95
This was the only product I could really take or leave, as I really wasn’t a fan of the applicator. Like the serum it had rollers – three tiny ones – to distribute the concentrate, but I found that as much as I tried to do it gently, the plastic that encased the little rollers scratched and tugged the delicate skin under my eyes, which I really didn’t like. I ended up having to squeeze it onto my finger and then apply, which took away the the ‘cooling’ element of the product.
No7 Menopause Skincare Instant Cooling Mist (100ml) £14.95
Designed to help provide instant relief from hot flushes by cooling the skin, I carried this with me everywhere and certainly made the most of it. Never knowing when a flush might creep up on me, it became my go-to whenever I suddenly needed to take the edge off. Suitable for sensitive skin, I particularly liked that it wasn’t sticky and although it was quickly absorbed into my skin it left it feeling cooler and fresher. It also contains organic rose water to help ‘purify and refresh’ the skin, and the aroma was definitely a welcome distraction from those moments when I could feel myself on the verge of being consumed by heat!
So will I continue using the range?
Yes and no. I will definitely keep hold of my cooling mist as that has been brilliant in terms of helping deal with flushes – it’s also a great little skin refresher whenever you need it, regardless of whether your menopausal or not. I often gave myself a spritz after the gym or if I was heading out for the night, as it doesn’t disturb makeup.
I probably won’t use the eye concentrate or the night cream again, purely because I wasn’t sure they made much of a difference to my usual products. But I’m really torn over two other items, as the roller in the menopause serum and the lightness of the day cream ticked serious boxes for me.
Now, if only No7 could bring out a Menopause Future Renew range and combine the two…
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Claie.Wilson@metro.co.uk Share your views in the comments below.
