Women’s Hormones and Skincare: Why We Need More Research—and Better Products

Hormones influence nearly every aspect of a woman’s health—from energy and mood to skin, weight, and long-term wellbeing. Yet when it comes to research, particularly around women’s hormones and how they impact the skin, there’s a staggering gap.

For decades, the beauty and wellness industries have overlooked one simple truth: women’s skin changes constantly because their hormones do. From puberty to menopause and beyond, our skin reflects what’s happening beneath the surface.

So why isn’t there more research into hormonal health and skincare for women? And how can skincare better support us through life’s hormonal shifts?

Let’s explore.

The Gender Health Gap: A Research Problem

 

Women’s health has historically been under-researched, underfunded, and misunderstood.

A few key facts:

• Less than 2.5% of publicly funded research in the UK is dedicated solely to reproductive health, despite 51% of the population being women.
• Many clinical trials exclude women altogether or fail to account for menstrual cycles and hormonal fluctuations.
• Menopause research is decades behind, and skincare products rarely acknowledge perimenopausal or postmenopausal skin needs.

The result? Skincare recommendations are often based on male physiology or a static idea of skin, ignoring the unique, cyclical nature of female skin.

 

How Hormones Affect Skin Throughout Life

 

Women experience hormonal shifts not just monthly, but across different life stages. Each phase affects the skin in distinct ways.

Puberty

• Increase in oestrogen and androgens
• Often leads to oilier skin, clogged pores, and acne

Monthly Cycle

• Week 1 (menstrual): Dry, sensitive skin
• Week 2 (follicular): Bright, balanced skin
• Week 3 (ovulatory): Glowing, high-oestrogen skin
• Week 4 (luteal): Increased oil production, breakouts

 

Pregnancy

 

• Skin may become more sensitive, pigmented (melasma), or radiant (“pregnancy glow”)

Perimenopause & Menopause

• Oestrogen levels decline, reducing collagen, hydration, and elasticity
• Skin becomes drier, thinner, duller, and more prone to irritation

Why Most Skincare Doesn’t Support Hormonal Skin

Despite all this, most skincare products:

• Don’t address the changing needs of hormonal skin
• Use one-size-fits-all formulas
• Focus on symptoms (e.g., acne or dryness) rather than root causes (e.g., hormone shifts, barrier function)

Hormonal skin is not a skin type—it’s a condition that fluctuates, and skincare should reflect that.

The Rise of Hormone-Conscious Skincare

A new generation of skincare brands is starting to address the hormonal gap—combining dermatology, endocrinology, and women’s health science.

These products often include:

• Adaptogens to help the skin cope with internal stress (e.g. ashwagandha, maca root)
• Barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and fatty acids
• Anti-inflammatory actives like niacinamide and liquorice root
• Hormone-friendly routines that adapt across the cycle or life stage

At ESPÉRER, our Psychodermatological Skincare® approach is grounded in this philosophy. We create formulations that not only soothe stressed skin but also support the skin’s emotional and hormonal resilience—at every stage of a woman’s life.

 

 

What to Look for in Hormone-Supportive Skincare

If you suspect your skin issues are linked to hormonal changes, here’s what to look for in skincare:

Concern	Ingredients to Try
Hormonal breakouts	Zinc, niacinamide, salicylic acid, green tea
Dryness or sensitivity	Squalane, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, omega oils
Pigmentation (melasma)	Liquorice extract, vitamin C, tranexamic acid
Redness & inflammation	Aloe vera, panthenol, bisabolol, centella asiatica
Ageing-related collagen loss	Peptides, retinol (if tolerated), vitamin C

Most importantly, choose products that acknowledge skin isn’t static—and neither are you.

Final Thoughts: Why Women Deserve Better

Women’s health and skincare should not be treated as afterthoughts. Hormonal changes are not “niche issues”—they’re fundamental to how our bodies and skin function.

We need:

• More inclusive clinical trials
• Greater funding for hormonal health research
• Beauty brands to stop ignoring women over 40
• And skincare that adapts with us—not just to us

At ESPÉRER, we are committed to creating skincare that evolves alongside women—through puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and beyond. Because understanding hormones isn’t just about science. It’s about respecting women’s lives in all their complexity.

Want to learn more about hormone-friendly skincare?

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Let me know if you’d like this adapted for a newsletter, lead magnet, or social media content. I can also write a follow-up on skincare by hormonal life stage, if you’re interested.