What is Perimenopause, Exactly?
Perimenopause is the *transition* phase leading up to menopause. It can begin as early as your late 30s (but more often starts in your 40s), and it’s marked by fluctuating hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone.
5 Big Skin Changes During Perimenopause
1. You’re Losing Collagen Faster Than You Think
Estrogen helps maintain collagen production. As levels drop, your skin starts producing less collagen, the protein that keeps it firm and bouncy. Women lose up to 30% of their skin’s collagen in the first five years of menopause.
2. Dry, Tight, Flaky Skin Becomes the Norm
Estrogen also helps your skin stay hydrated by supporting lipid production—the natural oils that keep your moisture barrier strong. When that lipid layer weakens, your skin gets dry, sensitive, and easily irritated.
3. Breakouts and Rosacea? Yes, That Too
Fluctuating hormones can cause androgens to dominate, leading to adult acne or increased inflammation. Some women also experience new sensitivity, redness, or rosacea-like flares.
4. Dullness and Uneven Tone Creep In
Reduced cell turnover + inflammation = dull, tired skin that doesn’t “bounce back.” Sun damage from earlier decades may start to show up as uneven pigmentation or blotchiness.
5. Slower Healing and Increased Sensitivity
Cuts, blemishes, or irritation take longer to heal as your skin’s repair cycle slows. And products you used for years may now sting, burn, or cause flare-ups.
Why Standard Skincare Fails During Hormonal Shifts
Most mainstream products are designed for either young, oily skin or 'anti-aging' marketing with aggressive actives. Neither of these categories understands or addresses what skin truly needs during perimenopause.
How Koi Botanicals Supports Skin Through Perimenopause
✧ Lipid-Rich Formulas
We replace what time and hormones take away: ceramides, fatty acids, and moisture-sealing oils that help rebuild your natural barrier.
✧ Barrier-First Philosophy
Perimenopausal skin is prone to damage. That’s why every Koi formula is designed to calm inflammation, reduce reactivity, and seal in hydration, without disrupting the skin’s microbiome.
✧ No Endocrine Disruptors. Ever.
Your hormones are already shifting. We avoid fragrance, synthetic preservatives, and known disruptors so you’re not adding unnecessary stress to your system.
✧ Simple, Sensible Routines
You don’t need 12 steps. You need intelligent consistency. With Koi, you’ll know exactly what’s in your products and why it’s there.
The Bottom Line: You’re Not “Aging Badly.” Your Skin Is Communicating.
Perimenopause is a natural part of life, not a problem to be fixed. When your skin starts feeling different, it’s not failure. It’s feedback.
✨ Start Where You Are. Support Your Skin Where It’s Going.
If your skin feels like it’s changed overnight, you’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. Explore Koi’s skin-supportive formulas, made for real life, real bodies, and real transitions.