Q: How does menopause affect my skin?

A: We all know that our skin changes as we age, but during menopause there is a sudden, dramatic drop in our powerhouse hormone, estrogen. Few of us are prepared for the dry, dehydrated, dull skin that follows. The cells in skin have estrogen receptors, and that means our cells react and respond to the loss of estrogen. The results of this dramatic change include:

• Loss of collagen, which provides the skin’s main structural support.
• A decrease in glucosaminglycans (GAG’S), which hold water and provide plumpness and moisture.
• A decrease in dermal thickness.
• Loss of elasticity, causing increased wrinkling.

Since hormone loss is responsible for these unwanted changes, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can prevent many of them, and has been proven effective in countless studies and clinical trials. Whether or not you decide to try HRT, there are a number of additional techniques for minimizing the effects of menopause on the skin:

• Be gentle with your skin! Gentle cleansing twice a day with gentle exfoliation twice a week will reduce the build-up of dry skin cells.
• Feed your skin! Use a serum to add moisture plus nurturing and supportive ingredients like peptides, botanicals and antioxidants. Antioxidants like vitamin C are extremely important in protecting the skin from further damage due to free radicals.
• Stimulate your skin! Another important factor is vitamin A (in the form of retinoids), which is well known for rebuilding and rejuvenating aging skin.
• Moisturize your skin! Lock in your serum with a good emollient moisturizer to maintain optimal hydration.
• Prevent further photo-aging! Use a good sun block every day with minimum SPF 30.
• Relax! Take ten minutes a day to meditate, reflect and relax. It will show in your skin!

Q: I feel great when I leave the house in the morning, but a few hours later, when I look in the mirror, my makeup seems to have practically disappeared! How can I ensure my makeup lasts all day (and all night) long?

A: Does your eye makeup crease and your foundation fade, and you find yourself having to touch up your makeup far too often during the day? Makeup products that last the longest are the formulas that are “long wearing” or “waterproof.” To start, top your moisturizer with a primer that will help your foundation go the distance. The best waterproofing primer is Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Use a long-wearing liquid foundation such as MAC Pro Long Wear Foundation, or a powder mineral foundation such as Bare Minerals Ready Foundation. If you are using a liquid foundation, always set it with a finishing powder, or a little of the powder mineral foundation. An important tip that helps your makeup look flawless is to always use a concealer under the eyes. This brightens the whole eye area and makes you look more awake and youthful. The key is finding one that doesn’t budge. I’ve tried many, and my favourite is Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer. Eye makeup tends to be what fades the most, so an eye primer is a must-have. Not only will it stop the creasing; it helps increase the vibrancy of the eye shadow applied on top of it. Two of the best eye primers are Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer and Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer. Lipsticks now come in long-wearing formulas that do not dry out your lips as they did in years past. Try Make Up Forever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Lip Color and Make Up Forever Aqua Lip pencils. Spend less time touching up your makeup, and more time looking fresh and fabulous all day long!