3 Ways I Prevent Post-Menopause Skin Issues + What Really Helps Elasticity After 50

Tell me, have you ever stood in front of the mirror in your bathroom doing this to your cheek only to notice that your skin does that? There's no bounce, there's no firmness, and you feel like your skin has lost its own oomph and life. This, my friends, is postmenopausal skin. But the biggest mistake that we make is assuming that it's a collagen problem when in fact it is so much more than just that, and we're going to touch on this I'm Dr. Shereene Idriss, and October is Menopausal Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to film this video, but also because you guys have been asking for it. And in the past few months, I have been talking a lot more about hormones, perimenopause, HRT, and how it affects our skin. And postmenopausal skin does deserve its own time in the spotlight. Fascinating, because in my clinic, women come in after menopause All telling me more or less the same thing, where they feel their skin has lost its bounce. Their skin feels drier, less plump. It feels thinner. And this is all part of the aging process, and there are real biological reasons as to why your skin feels that way. But firmness and hydration are not the same problem. And this portion of the video is sponsored by Dr. Regual, a Korean skincare brand founded by two pharmacists, which is. Perfect, because they approach skincare holistically. And today I want to incorporate 2 of their problems when speaking about menopausal skin. So we're going to tackle menopausal skin today in 3 different ways. First, we are going to talk about how it is that we can support our firmness and our elasticity. Then 2, we're going to focus on stimulating collagen and skin renewal. And 3, we are going to sit down and think about how can we protect The very valuable collagen and elastin that we still have. So without further ado, let us start first with the first thing that women start to notice after menopause, which is losing their skin's bounce. Okay, so when we talk about losing that bounce, patients and women automatically jump to retinoids and collagen. Now, are retinoids and collagen part of the story? Absolutely they are. But are they the whole story? No, because they need supporting ingredients to help address different facets of the aging process that are all happening at once. Because you see, our skin has 2 sort of structures, right? The deeper structure is going to help to support our skin's strength and the firmness in our skin. And I'm talking about collagen, I'm talking about elastin, and I'm talking about the extracellular matrix of our skin. Then you have the more superficial component of our skin that's made up of a lot of lipids and water. That's going to give our skin some suppleness and some cushion. Now, as we go through menopause, both of these parts of our skin start to change at the same time, which is why our skin becomes both dehydrated and we start to lose firmness. So is the answer, let's go buy a collagen cream to take care of both? Absolutely not. And for my patients, I am looking for ingredients that are going to help to signal firmness and elasticity while also giving back hydration and helping to support the skin barrier. Which brings me to the Advanced PDRN Copper Peptide Serum, which is all about helping your skin look firmer, smoother, and a little bit more plump when you start noticing that loss of that little bounce that we were just talking about earlier. Now, if you watched my last YouTube video, you know that I already went deep into the copper peptide world topically. So today I wanna highlight in this another ingredient that this serum has that I'm particularly interested in. And it's also known as PDRN, also known as polydeoxyribonucleotide. PDRN has been studied in medical settings for its role in tissue repair and inflammation. But topically, PDRN is a different story, which is what can it actually do for your skin? So in skincare, it is used for hydrating and skin conditioning benefits. Which is going to help your skin look smoother and more supple. And what I like about this particular formula is that they've paired it with encapsulated copper peptides, which is going to help your skin's elasticity by signaling your own collagen. And because it is encapsulated, it has better stability, and there is no metallic smell to it like other copper peptide serums on the market. Plus, it also has palmitoyl tripeptide-5 and acetyl tetrapeptide-9 to target the appearance of fine lines and loss of firmness. So clinically, it's proven to improve the appearance of fine lines around the eyes, for example, and even smile lines around your mouth. So texture-wise, it is very lightweight. It absorbs super quickly, and these tiny little blue copper peptide capsules that you melt into your skin rather seamlessly. So when you apply it, you just don't even notice that it's there and you get that extra hydration without feeling like you've layered on another heavy cream or product in your routine. So if your skin is feeling dehydrated or looking a little less firm or just not as bouncy as it used to be, this is a targeted serum that you want in your routine. And then I would follow it with their Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream because as you go through menopause, your skin is going to get drier. And those fine lines that you're noticing are going to become a lot more obvious. So this is where a good moisturizer can genuinely make all the difference. Now, this formula itself combines PDRN with glycerin— my favorite— niacinamide, and panthenol to hydrate and support your skin barrier while helping your skin look smoother and plumper, which is what we are losing. It also contains hydrolyzed collagen, but remember Collagen in a cream is not going to just build collagen in your face, especially as you're losing it more actively after a certain age. But what it can absolutely do is help your skin hold on to moisture, which is temporarily going to plump your skin and help those dehydration lines, giving your skin a smoother, healthier, glowier appearance. So this cream itself has even shown a 45% improvement in your skin barrier strength After just a single application. So while the Copper Peptide Serum targets the appearance of— we said firmness and elasticity— this PDRN Cream is your next step into locking in that hydration and keeping your skin feeling comfortable, supple, smooth, and just bouncy. If you are interested in peptides and you want to compare different kind of peptide formulas, here's how I like to think about the next serum. This next one is by Paula's Choice, and this formula uses a 6-peptide blend. So instead of hanging all the hopes and dreams onto a single hero ingredient, you are coming at firmness and elasticity through a few different angles, which is ultimately a better bet. You have peptides like palmitoyl tripeptide-5, which is used around collagen support signaling, along with other peptides designed to specifically help support the deeper structures of your skin that help your skin look firmer and keeps your skin looking more resilient. And because this is postmenopausal skin, I like that there is a hydration benefit built into the formula as well through glycerin and other humectants that are going to help keep your skin feeling supple, like skin, because dry skin is never a feeling that anybody is trying to achieve, especially when we're losing that bounce in our skin. So no matter how fancy your peptide cocktail is, without these humectants, you're not going to get there. Texture-wise, it's also very lightweight and gel-like, so it gives you a targeted peptide step without adding another rich layer to your routine which might mess up your makeup. So you could use this one during the day. And for me, it is a nice option when your main complaint is, I want more bounce, but I also want something that is super easy to layer into my routine. Now, peptides are one way of sending signals to our skin, but growth factors are another. And this is where I think biology is really, really interesting, because your skin cells are constantly talking to one another and gossiping, and growth factors are a hot topic. Growth factors are signaling proteins involved in cell-to-cell communication. Including signals connecting fibroblasts, the cells that are responsible for producing collagen and other parts of your skin support matrix. So this is one by SkinMedica. It is their TNS Advanced Plus, and this uses a growth factor blend in 2 separate chambers. Okay, so there are 2 chambers in this alongside peptides and other skin-supporting ingredients, and the point is not one isolated molecule. It's a whole signaling environment in the finished formula that's going to help tell your skin to be better. Okay. And this is the kind of category I think about when somebody tells me— and this is the kind of category that I think about when someone says, Shereene, I'm not just dry, I'm also noticing that my skin is looking less— it's just looking lax, like it's totally loosey-goosey. And so with growth factors, I care enormously about the actual formulation. And I want the product that was studied, not just for the words growth factor in terms of a marketing situation that was slapped onto a random bottle. Texture-wise, okay, it is very lightweight and it gets absorbed pretty quickly and it does dry down more matte. So this is not going to give you that very cushion-looking feeling. And probably you're going to want to use this just at night because I also noticed that it does pill a little bit, but I don't care so much at night. The overall goal is to support firmness through different signaling pathways when you're thinking of growth factors in addition to peptides. And if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck with the growth factors, probably apply it right after microneedling so that way you can really get it deeper into your skin because they tend to be a little bit bigger. But that doesn't mean that if you're applying it on your skin not after microneedling, it's useless. It's still signaling your skin through a cascade pathway that's allowing your skin to be better for itself. But here is the other part of bounce that I think people underestimate, okay? Your skin can have all of the fancy signaling ingredients in the world and still feel deflated if your skin is chronically dry. And that is why I think the Clarins Double Serum belongs in this conversation, okay? So if you know me, you know that I love this formula. It is a dual-phase formula, so you're combining a water phase with a lipid fatty phase. You're getting that hydration plus the nourishment in one. So you have in this formula humectants like glycerin that is helping to pull water into your skin, then squalane and emollients helping to give your skin back some of that softness and cushion that it has lost. There is also in this formula a Matrixyl peptide duo. So you're still getting part of that peptide story around the appearance of firmness and elasticity and that bounce sitting underneath all of that hydration and nourishment from the humectants and the emollients in the formula. Now, this is the kind of formula that I would gravitate towards if somebody would tell me, you know, Shereene, my skin doesn't feel like it used to feel. It's not just less bouncy, it physically feels depleted. And I think of, for example, the neck for this formula. Texture-wise, it is richer and silkier than the other serums, and it has that serum meets oil feel, which makes sense for somebody who has become noticeably drier after menopause. But if you also live in a very dry state, pourquoi pas? And sometimes restoring hydration and lipids changes how your skin feels immediately while your longer-term firmness strategy is working for you in the background. We love a silent investment. That is really the first part of getting bounce back. Support the skin's firmness and elasticity, but do not ignore the hydration and the fat lipid content, the loss of that happening alongside it. Now, you do not need every single serum that I just showed you, and these are different tools for the same overall goal. Okay, supporting your skin is one thing, but if we are talking about why the bounce is changing in the first place, now is the time that we talk about collagen. Okay, this is the part that you guys were waiting for. Collagen is part of the scaffolding that gives your skin its strength, and after menopause, that collagen environment is going to change. So this is where I move usually from supportive ingredients into something that has a much longer history of actually influencing how your skin behaves. And I'm talking about retinoids. These are not new, they're not trendy, and honestly, that is the part of why I fully trust them. What makes retinoids so interesting is that it does 2 things. Number one, it tells your skin to make more of a certain structural protein while also reducing the enzymes that are going to break down the collagen in your skin. So retinol not only does that, it also helps to increase cellular turnover, which gives it both a deeper role in terms of the collagen storytelling, but it also helps with the surface renewal of your skin. And I'm going to show you guys SkinCeuticals 0.3%, 0.5%, and 1.0% because the most important lesson that I want to convey here is that percent Percentages are not what matter. It's not that the strongest is better. It's about which percentage can you tolerate consistently, especially after menopause when your skin is already drier, more reactive, more sensitive. Not because you're hopefully wiser in life means you're going to tolerate the 1.0. Your skin is going to ultimately decide the strength. And for me, it is about consistency over intensity, always. When you're thinking about a retinoid. And this is where I want to widen the conversation again, because the deeper dermis, the deeper part of your skin, is not the only thing that is aging in your skin. Your skin cell turnover is also slowing down. And I want you to think of the surface of your skin like a conveyor belt. When you're younger, those older cells move really fast and efficiently, and you're turning and turning and turning and turning. And that process, I'm going unfortunately slows down as you get older and things hang around longer and your skin starts to look duller, rougher, less reflective. So sometimes part of that feeling which of like my skin doesn't look as alive as it used to look is not just purely a collagen problem, it's also a surface problem of your skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin. And that is why exfoliating matters a lot here. And alpha hydroxy acids specifically help to loosen the bonds between those older surface cells so that you can shed them more efficiently. And this is literally why I made the Major Fade Flash Mask. By the way, Allure Best of Beauty 2026, I'm very proud. It uses 15% glycolic acid with 3% lactic acid to lift that buildup so you reveal a smoother, brighter, more reflective surface that feels like a baby's butt. There's also glycerin and panthenol in the formula because I didn't simply want to acid bomb your face, I also wanted to hydrate your face. So as turnover slows with age, exfoliation directly addresses what is happening at the surface level of your skin, and chemical exfoliants are the best way to achieve smoothness because you can also target collagen production and hydration. Texture-wise, it's a gel mask, but it's a rinse-off mask. You leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. If you really want, you can sleep in it overnight as long as you know you're not sensitive. I tend to sleep with it overnight and I do fine with it. If your skin is also on the drier side, especially after menopause, do not hear turnover slows down and decide you need to exfoliate every night. Okay, I want to make sure I'm very clear on that. You need to give an exfoliation night its own night. And I would suggest that you separate it from the retinol nights, especially if you're new to the game or if you're super sensitive, because more is never better. And like I said, consistency over intensity is the name of the game, not just with retinoids, but when you're looking at your routine over a week view. And now for the least glamorous part of this conversation, but arguably the one that makes everything else make more sense. Okay, if you are putting in all of this effort into supporting your collagen, your elasticity, your firmness, my question is, what are you doing to protect what you already have? UV exposure does not just tan us or burn our skin, it creates oxidative stress, okay, that turns on the enzymes that break down our collagen. So it also interferes with the pathways that are involved in making new collagen. So you don't want to be fighting yourself. You're essentially trying to build a new house while something else inside is quietly eating the bricks out of the wall. That's pretty much what's happening when you're going there. So the moral of the story is wear the damn sunscreen. And I love ISDIN's Eryphotona Actinica for menopausal skin because the main job that this thing is doing is 11% broad-spectrum zinc oxide mineral UV protection, okay? But it also has vitamin E support as an antioxidant support, and it very, very fluid. It is very, very lightweight. It is an emulsion rather than a thick white paste that people imagine when they hear zinc oxide. And so you can use it relatively easily throughout the day. The best sunscreen ultimately though is going to be the one that's going to protect your collagen and the one that you're willing to apply enough every single day in order to get that protection. So if we spend all day asking, how do I stimulate more collagen, but we're completely ignoring the things that are breaking down the that we have in the first place, we are missing half of our strategy. And so sunscreen is not sexy, but you want to protect what you already got. Okay, so before we go ahead and screenshot every single product that I held up in this video and turn it into an 8-step routine or 10-step routine, that's not the goal. In the morning, I want you to choose a targeted serum. I want you to moisturize adequately and finish it up with a sunscreen. And at night, you can use a same targeted serum or a different one Use your retinoid on select nights as tolerated, and then moisturize. Flash mask gets its own exfoliating night other than the night where you're using the retinoid, at least for the beginners. You are building a routine around your skin, okay? And we're not just trying to collect ingredients for the sake of just having them. So let's go back to the woman sitting in my office telling me that my skin doesn't feel like it has a bounce anymore. I personally, as a cosmetic dermatologist, do not hear that and immediately think she needs a collagen product. I think about the whole environment of her skin. And the way I look at this is, number one, can we support firmness and elasticity with targeted ingredients while keeping the skin hydrated and supple? 2, can we stimulate collagen and support skin renewal as these processes become less efficient? My light burnt. And three, are we protecting the collagen and elasticity that she already has? Those are the three pieces. And once you think about it this way, it becomes a much easier puzzle to take care about. And it's much less about chasing one miracle ingredient and a lot more about building a routine that makes biological sense. And this is why I really wanted to have this conversation. Knowing why your body is changing means you can be so much smarter about what you're actually doing about it. And I don't want you chasing every viral new product or new ingredient on the market, or just because it says collagen on the bottle, you think that this is the only thing that your skin is going to need right now, because ultimately it is one part of a much bigger picture. And I think that's such a great point. You want to not only support it, you want to stimulate what you can, and when you want to protect what you already have. And we go through so much as women that I think we truly deserve to understand what is actually happening to our bodies instead of quietly wondering why everything suddenly feels like shit. Okay, because that is the truth of the matter. And as I always say, The biggest takeaway from this is that aging is a privilege, because if you are not aging, you're dead. So I hope this video was helpful. I hope you have a beautiful Saturday, and I will see you guys next week.