Periods and your skin
Ugh it’s that time of the month!
How bothersome is it to watch out for leaks, not being able to wear light coloured pants and having awful cramps? Other than these, did you know that our period can affect our skin as well? Actually, female skin changes all the time throughout the month - so you may need to treat your skin differently with different products. Using your product one day may not have the same effect as it did a few days before.
Oestrogen and progesterone are the two most important substances that regulate your cycle. These are called hormones and are very important in telling your body what it should be doing at a certain time. The levels of these hormones will be different in different stages of your bodily cycle. Your period has 4 different cycles - ovulation, menstruation, follicular phase and luteal phase. Because this can be super confusing, let’s go through each one together!
Here’s a breakdown of your hormones during the phases and how they can affect your skin :)
Day 1-6: Menstruation phase
AKA the bleeding phase, this is considered day 1 of your cycle. Oestrogen and progesterone levels become lower than normal. This signals to your body that it’s time for your friend to make their monthly visit. Oestrogen and progesterone also are in charge of regulating your sebum levels (think the oil in your pores and from your scalp, too). Since their levels are at their lowest during the menstrual phase, it means your skin doesn’t have as much sebum as normal. You might notice your skin could be slightly drier. Because of this, you could experience more sensitive, irritated and blemish-prone skin.
Menstrual phase skincare tips:
Stick to gentle, hydrating and moisturising products and ingredients. Focus on replenishing that moisture in your skin because your skin lacks sebum and could dry out. Try to avoid active ingredients and exfoliators during this time as they could potentially irritate your skin and cause some unwanted flare-up. If you haven’t already, try using our Super Nice Mānuka Honey and Vitamin E Moisturiser on the daily. It’s our superduper nourishing holy grail moisturiser - packed with antioxidants and mighty mānuka honey! It will protect against dryness, restore balance and give you a glow!
Days 7-11: Follicular phase
Oestrogen starts up again woohoo! This encourages your skin to shed itself and begin anew - so this is the time your skin tends to clog up. You might notice tiny little bumps or breakouts during this time. To prevent this from happening, make sure to use your exfoliator during this time. For a gentle one that won't strip out your skin - try our Our Time To Shine Raspberry & Almond Gentle Face Scrub. It will shed away any dead skin and impurities, revealing the glowing baby skin underneath. Hydrating, gentle and anti-inflammatory - this exfoliant really does the trick.
Days 12-16: Ovulation phase
Your oestrogen levels peak and you may find a spike in oil production. Your skin might feel oilier and look it, too! Oil is also responsible for that glowy look so don’t be surprised if your skin is looking super radiant! But of course more oils may lead to more pimples. Make sure to stick to a consistent cleansing routine and keep on using that exfoliator! You also still need to moisturise - so don’t think you can skip this step! One of our best-sellers, the Oh So Extra Pineapple & Coconut Face Cleanser is a cream-based cleanser that is worth all the hype! Gentle enough to use every day and chock-full of skin-hydrators, your skin will thank you for it. It also contains natural Vitamin C from pineapple extract - great for adding an added glow and it helps with skin regeneration.
Days 17-28: Luteal phase
Our buddy progesterone is at its peak now, which means your skin will be making even waaay more sebum than the ovulation phase. This is when that not-so-great hormonal acne can come to ruin the day. Ever notice it shows up in the weeks just before your period? Now you know why! This is a really great time to do a clay mask - every few days should help draw out excess oil and nasties. Our special It's A Vibe Kiwi & Avo Face Mud Mask clears our pores to prevent buildup and clogging. Kaolin clay and kiwifruit make for double the trouble - detoxifying and nourishing powers all in one go!
Keeping a consistent daily skincare routine will help your skin no matter which day of your cycle but it is always good to know that it may need different treatment at different times in your cycle!
