What Estrogen Does for Your Skin
Estrogen isn’t just about fertility. It’s deeply involved in how your skin looks, feels, and functions. In your reproductive years, estrogen helps maintain:
- Collagen production: the protein that keeps skin firm and structured
- Elastin: gives skin bounce and flexibility
- Skin thickness: helps it stay resilient
- Hydration: boosts hyaluronic acid and oil production
- Barrier function: keeps irritants out and moisture in
- Wound healing: speeds up the skin’s natural repair cycle
What Happens to Your Skin When Estrogen Drops
Starting in perimenopause and continuing through menopause, estrogen levels gradually decline. This hormonal shift causes a ripple effect on your skin.
Here’s how it shows up:
- Dullness: Cell turnover slows, meaning fresh, glowing skin cells stay buried under older, rougher layers.
- Dryness and Flakiness: With less estrogen, your skin produces fewer natural oils and less hyaluronic acid.
- Sagging and Fine Lines: Collagen and elastin production drop off sharply.
- Increased Sensitivity: A compromised skin barrier lets more irritants in and more moisture out.
“Estrogen Glow” Is Real and Its Loss Is Noticeable
That luminous, plump, hydrated skin many women enjoy in their 20s and 30s? Much of it is thanks to healthy estrogen levels. When those levels start to shift, that glow can disappear.
How to Support Estrogen-Deprived Skin (Without Hormones)
Not everyone chooses or qualifies for hormone replacement therapy, but there are still plenty of ways to support your skin naturally and effectively.
✧ Prioritize Lipids and Ceramides
When oil production drops, replenishing your barrier with rich plant oils and ceramides is essential.
✧ Feed Your Skin Botanical Actives
Look for ingredients that calm inflammation and encourage repair. Marshmallow root, licorice, sea buckthorn, and green tea all have restorative properties.
✧ Use Facial Oils That Mimic Natural Sebum
Estrogen-deprived skin needs help maintaining moisture. Oils like jojoba, camellia, and rosehip can fill the gap and seal in hydration.
✧ Minimize Irritants
Avoid fragrance, alcohol-based toners, and over-exfoliation. Your skin’s healing cycle is slower now, and it thrives with consistency.
Lifestyle Tips That Boost Skin Health, Too
- Stay hydrated
- Eat omega-3 fats (walnuts, flaxseed, salmon)
- Lift weights
- Manage stress
- Get enough sleep
The Koi Approach: Respect Your Hormones, Support Your Skin
We don’t believe in fighting age. We believe in partnering with your body as it shifts and evolves. Our products nourish, protect, and restore.