Declining levels of the hormone estrogen during menopause can lead to skin concerns like dryness, dark under-eye circles, wrinkles, acne, facial hair and stretch marks. Less estrogen also affects the production of collagen – an essential structural part of the skin that maintains strength and elasticity. Here are some simple home recipes that’ll rejuvenate skin – while providing some much needed menopausal pampering at the same time!

• Dry skin. Low estrogen levels during menopause can decrease collagen production, leaving you with dry, itchy skin. Replenish your skin with this homemade toner and cream from holistic professionals at The Homemade Medicine.

• Essential oils toner

• Ingredients: 2 ounces aloe vera gel, 2 ounces orange-blossom water, 1 tsp. wine vinegar, 6 drops rose geranium essential oil, 4 drops sandalwood essential oil, 1 drop chamomile essential oil, 800 UI vitamin E oil

• Application: Stir ingredients together, and apply to your face with a cotton ball.

• Beeswax cream

• Ingredients: 3/4 ounces shaved beeswax, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup distilled water, 800 IU vitamin E, 24 drops rose geranium essential oil

• Application: Heat the beeswax and oil in a saucepan until the beeswax melts and is warm, but not too hot to touch. In a different saucepan, heat the water until it’s warm. Then, transfer the water to a blender and blend on high speed, slowly adding the oil and wax mixture. After it solidifies, use a spatula to remove the cream from the blender, and store in a sterile wide mouthed container. 

• Dark under-eye circles. A deficiency in estrogen can lead to thinning skin during menopause – and the already delicate skin under the eyes is the most susceptible. As the skin becomes thinner, the veins beneath become more visible, giving the unwanted appearance of shadowy dark circles. To soothe your eyes and keep dark circles at bay, make use of some common vegetables, along with tea leaves, in eye mask recipes from professionals at Health Guidance.

• Cucumber/potato eye mask. Cucumbers and potatoes are natural astringents, so a chilled slice of either one will instantly rejuvenate tired eyes.

• Tea bag eye mask. Natural tannins found in tea can help improve circulation in the eye area. Place a cool or warmed tea bag over your closed eyes for 10 minutes, and you’ll start to feel relaxed and replenished.

• Wrinkles. Decreased estrogen can weaken your skin’s elasticity, leaving you with more visible wrinkles. Smooth out wrinkles during menopause, especially the delicate area around your eyes, using these simple, natural recipes from the community at The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

• Skin serum

• Ingredients: 1 tbsp. grape seed oil, 2 tsp. apricot kernel oil, 1 tsp. cranberry seed oil, 1 tsp. carrot seed oil

• Application: Place grape seed oil in a small glass jar, and then add the remaining oils. Before bed, wash and dry your face. Using your finger, gently massage 1 drop of the mixture into the skin above and below your eye.

• Coconut eye cream

• Ingredients: 3 tbsp. petroleum jelly, 3 tbsp. coconut oil, 3 tbsp. cocoa butter

• Application: Combine the petroleum jelly, coconut oil and cocoa butter in a small saucepan and warm the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until the oils and petroleum jelly are smoothly melted together. Pour the cream into a glass container that’s been sterilized. Apply the cream around your eyes each night after washing your face. Store the jar in a cool, dry place.

• Acne. Acne is often triggered by changes in hormones, and some women experience hormonal breakouts during their periods. Similarly, the intense hormone fluctuations during menopause can often cause acne to rear its ugly head as well. Combat menopausal acne with these homemade masks from MyBeautyRecipes, to tighten skin and clear your pores.

• Baking soda mask

• Ingredients: Baking soda, water

• Application: After washing your face, mix some baking soda with water in your hands and gently coat your face with the mixture. Let the mask sit for 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

• Egg white mask

• Ingredients: 1 egg white

• Application: Separate the yolk from the egg and whip until it forms peaks. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

• Oatmeal mask

• Ingredients: Oatmeal, water

• Application: After washing your face, mix some oatmeal and water in a bowl and apply it to your skin. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes (until dry) and then wash off with warm water.

• Facial hair. Fluctuations in hormone levels, including less estrogen, can cause hair to grow in unwanted places during menopause. Get rid of excess hair with these homemade pastes from the community at The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

• Sugar paste

• Ingredients: 1/4 cup water, 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, flour

• Application: First, combine the water, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan and heat on medium to make a paste. When the mixture begins to bubble and has a smooth consistency, remove it from the heat. Apply flour to the area of skin that needs hair removal, which will absorb excess oil and help the paste to stick. Once the paste is cool enough to touch, spread it onto your skin in the direction of hair growth. Press a cotton strip smoothly over the paste. After the paste hardens, rip the strip away from your skin against the hair growth. If needed, place the strip back on your skin and pull it off again in the same direction one to two more times to remove all the hair. Cover any unused mixture and refrigerate.

• Flour and turmeric paste

• Ingredients: flour, turmeric, water

• Application: Mix equal parts of flour and turmeric together. Add spoonfuls of water and mix until the solution takes on a smooth, thick consistency. Apply the paste over the area that needs hair removal. Once dry, rub the mask off with your hands and warm water.

• Stretch marks. Most women experience stretch marks during pregnancy when their skin stretches so much that the collagen beneath loses strength. The decrease in collagen production during menopause can also lead to unwanted stretch marks. To lighten stretch marks, apply these vitamin-rich creams from AllAboutStretchMarks every night.

• Cocoa butter cream

• Ingredients: 1/2 cup cocoa butter, 1 tbsp. wheat germ oil, 1 tsp. apricot kernel oil, 1 tsp. vitamin E oil, 2 tsp. grated bees wax.

• Application: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan until the beeswax is just barely melted. Once it’s cool enough to touch, spread over the surface of your skin like a normal body lotion. Store in a sterile airtight container in the refrigerator. 

• Aloe vera cream

• Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, 4 capsules vitamin E oil, 2 capsules vitamin A liquid

• Application: Remove liquids from the capsules, then mix all ingredients and apply to your stretch marks. Store in a sterile airtight container in the refrigerator.

Bottom line: Pamper your skin

Although the effects of menopause on your skin might seem impossible to hide, these homemade recipes can combat dry skin, dark under-eye circles, wrinkles, acne, facial hair and stretch marks for healthy, more youthful skin from head to toe. And, not to mention, these sure-fire skin-boosting solutions go beyond replenishing your complexion to bring much-needed pampering during menopause and beyond.

See also:

Beyond Wrinkles: Changes in Aging Skin

Adult Acne: Easy Steps for Clear Skin at Skincare-news.com

Let's Face It: Facial Hair Removal

Stretch Marks: Skincare Causes and Treatments