Menopause and Make Up – The Myths, Realities and (Hot) Tips Revealed
From the hot flushes, red facial blotches to the sweaty glaze and the skin sagging, it is little wonder there is an ounce of desire or motivation left to keep up or start a new makeup regime for women going through the menopausal maze.
While it may feel like an uphill battle with menopause, physically and emotionally, having a make up routine that works for you is such an important part of your daily routine, to look and feel great!
What’s happening to your skin?
A reduction in oestrogen associated with menopause can lead to changes in your skin.
Issues such as extreme dryness, redness, increased irritation or sensitivity and inflammation are common. In addition, your skin may feel less hydrated and thinner and hot flushes may exacerbate redness.
Oestrogen production assists your skin in holding onto oil and water, so increased dryness and the inevitable increase in lines and wrinkles are associated with a drop in oestrogen. As collagen production also reduces, many women notice a reduction in the plumpness and structure of their faces. As oil production changes, some women may also experience pimples for the first time in years. Menopause can create a minefield of changing skin issues for women!
Getting hot under the collar
If you are prone to hot flushes and don’t have very dry skin, powder foundation is a great option as it is sweatproof and non-comedogenic. The 100% mineral formulation is safe for even the most sensitive of skins and provides excellent coverage for redness, blemishes and pigmentation.
Rageism’s colour Correcting Moisturiser is fabulous at reducing inflammation and redness. The formulation is made from rose and witch hazel. It is soothing, calming and lightweight and has green pigments to counteract redness and mattify the complexion. It also hydrates and will prime your skin so can be used directly under foundation.
Rageism’s Finishing Spray is also a must have for hot flushes. It has the dual use of soothingly setting your makeup, so it won’t move if you have a hot flush, and is made with aloe vera juice, green tea extract, ginseng, lavender, neroli, and Bulgarian rose to soothe redness and calm irritation.
Liquid blush vs coloured powder
Cream Blush is definitely the way to go for maturing skin. It gives the skin a lovely fresh flush and its looks dewy and hydrated. Powder is dehydrating and can be cakey. The same with bronzer, cream bronzer adds warmth without being cakey like a powder bronzer can be.”
Avoiding the hard lines
As we age, harsh lines are not flattering, if you are considering eye makeup, smudging your eyeliner is a must. Using eyeshadow as an eyeliner is a great option as it’s easy to smudge both under the eye and on the lid and we recommend avoiding very dark eyeliner as it can make your eyes look smaller.
How to soften the tired look
Add colour to your face! Lipstick, blush, mascara and bronzer will wake you up and make you look ready for the day even if you are tired. A great concealer will disguise dark circles and blemishes, just be sure not to use too much and use one like Rageism’s Correcting Concealer that contains vitamin E. This keeps the area under the eye hydrated and prevent creasing and caking.
Let it glow!
Glow oil is fabulous for dry, menopausal skin as it contains jojoba, rosehip, avocado and other hydrating, gentle and nutritious ingredients. Menopause can wreak havoc on your skin so it’s also important to use a primer and foundation that hydrate and illuminate.
Jojoba oil (which is a wax) is excellent for dryness, redness, irritation and redness. It’s a highly absorbent oil that moisturises well, reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, is exceptionally gentle on irritated skin and softens, smooths and hydrates without clogging pores.
A hydrating concealer that contains vitamin E is also useful for the thin skin under the eye which will can be dry and sensitive. Sleep interruption can be a symptom of menopause and Ragism’s incredible award-winning Concealer provides great coverage for dark circles.
A creamy and hydrating blush is also important to add colour and dimension to the face. Even if you suffer from redness, a neutral blush over your foundation will place the colour in the most flattering area. Adding a soft creamy bronzer will also add some beautiful warmth to your complexion.
Prime me up!
Menopause can wreak havoc on your skin and a hydrating and illuminating primer will help your foundation look better and last longer.
Our Illuminating Primer contains pomegranate, sea buckthorn, kiwi and raspberry oils which will soothe and moisturise dry menopausal skin, the silky and mousy texture also smooths texture and blurs and diffuses lines and wrinkles.
Rageism’s colour correcting moisturiser, contains Damascena which is excellent for sensitive skin, and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and assists with skin regeneration and hydration – it can also be used as a mattifying primer and it also aids in treating rosacea and redness by calming redness and irritation and refreshing without stripping natural oils.
It’s beautiful rose and witch hazel formulation will soothe dryness and redness and works beautifully under either our illuminating liquid All Day Foundation or the fabulous loose mineral powder foundation.
If you want to go foundation free, a great combination is the Illuminating Primer and Correcting Concealer (for spot coverage) followed by a generous spritz of Finishing Spray, which boasts hydrating ingredients including aloe, green tea, ginseng and vitamin E. You will look and feel fresh and cool. The illuminating primer boasts sea buckthorn, kiwi, raspberry seed and pomegranate seed all are high in vitamins (especially Vitamin c) and nourish the skin. They help dry and dehydrated skin glow and repair, manage inflammation and are rich in antioxidants. It also contains Vitamin E.
Colour me this
Neutral colours are flattering for all mature complexions but having fun with makeup is also important. We love a neutral base for your eyes and a pop of colour to add drama and a bit of fun. We think a little bit of shimmer is also fabulous! A bright lip is also gorgeous. Dark, brown undertones can look harsh but pinks, corals and of course, scarlets look fresh and fabulous. Who doesn’t love a mature woman rocking a bold red lip?
It’s important to stress that makeup’s role with menopause is not only how it makes you look, but how it makes you feel. Menopause and perimenopause can be a time that women feel “unbalanced” as their hormones change and so do their bodies (and minds!). Makeup can help you feel better about the way you look and this in turn helps you feel more in control of your life and improve your self-esteem. Using products that are chockfull of clean ingredients that nurture and support your skin through menopause, help you look and feel your best during what can be a difficult time.
What our customers say
Rageism client, Nicole F. has noticed some skin changes on her face since menopause, especially with her skin becoming drier.
“The essential face oil has really helped alleviate dry skin and does not cause any redness as it seems to hydrate my skin. The illuminating primer by Rageism Beauty makes a lovely smooth base for the All Day Foundation. Both of these products suit my skin providing light coverage that stays on longer than any products I’ve used previously. My skin looks smoother and my complexion more even.”
Tracey H, has developed pigmentation on her cheek since going through menopause and her skin has become more of a combination of dry and oily skin.
“I have found using hydrating products have worked best and have also changed from powder based to cream, especially with my blush. I have also changed to having a more neutral look with my make up and use a concealer on my pigmentation. I have found the illuminating primer amazing and also love the all-day foundation. Both these products have helped with keeping my skin and makeup looking great all day long.”
