A gentle, science-meets-nature guide for women through different life phases
Your skin is deeply connected to your body’s inner rhythms, including hormones, cycles, and even your body changing with the seasons. These shifts influence how your skin looks, feels, and behaves throughout life.
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol affect hydration, elasticity, and oil balance in different ways. Rather than viewing these changes as challenges, we can see them as natural signals of what our skin needs.
At Sole Toscana, we believe that caring for your skin means moving with these rhythms, not against them, nurturing skin health through gentle, consistent care.
How Hormones Shape the Skin
Hormones influence nearly every aspect of skin health. Estrogen supports collagen and moisture. Progesterone affects oil production. Testosterone regulates firmness and sebum. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can trigger inflammation or sensitivity when levels rise.
These natural fluctuations happen not only as we age but also monthly throughout the menstrual cycle. Understanding these patterns helps you adapt your skincare, keeping your complexion calm, balanced, and radiant.
The Menstrual Cycle: How to Care for Skin Each Week
Your monthly cycle is a rhythm worth respecting. Each phase affects the skin differently, and small adjustments can make a big difference.
Week 1: Menstrual Phase
Estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and your skin may feel dry or more sensitive.
What to do: Focus on soothing and hydration. Cleanse gently, with a hydrating cleanser, and add an extra layer of cream or face oil if your skin feels tight.
Week 2: Follicular Phase
Estrogen rises, and your skin often feels balanced and refreshed.
What to do: This is a great week to gently exfoliate or use a hydrating mask to refresh your skin’s surface. Keep your routine simple and consistent.
Week 3: Ovulation Phase
Increased circulation gives your skin a natural glow.
What to do: Keep products light and breathable. Enjoy your natural radiance with a minimal routine of cleansing, serum, and cream.
Week 4: Luteal Phase
Progesterone peaks, which can lead to excess oil or small breakouts.
What to do: Balance is key. Stick to gentle hydration, and if skin feels congested, try a purifying clay-based mask to unclog pores without drying.
By tuning in to these small changes, you can support your skin intuitively, responding to its needs rather than fighting against them.
Early Adulthood: The Balancing Years
In your 20s and 30s, hormones are active and cycles are regular. Breakouts or shifts in oil production may appear during stress or hormonal changes.
What to do:
Keep a balanced routine of cleansing, hydration, and protection. Use lightweight hydration to maintain elasticity and keep pores clear. If your skin feels dull, gently exfoliate.
Nature’s support: Lean towards healthy, calming botanicals to provide the skin with natural care that protects its microbiome.
Midlife and Perimenopause: Shifting Rhythms
In your 40s and 50s, estrogen levels decline, slowing oil production and collagen renewal. Skin may start to feel drier or more delicate.
What to do:
Focus on consistent hydration, moisture retention, and barrier repair. Use hydrating and nourishing cleansers, serums, and creams daily. A few drops of facial oil can restore softness and strength to the skin barrier. A weekly hydrating mask gently renews the surface while restoring comfort.
Nature’s support: Rosehip, olive, calendula, and other oils replenish the skin’s natural lipids and bring back resilience.
Sole Toscana's products were formulated for midlife, menopause, and beyond!
Menopause and Beyond: Finding a New Balance
After menopause, hormone levels stabilize at new levels. Skin may lose some firmness and elasticity but can still look healthy and vibrant with proper care.
What to do:
Stick to consistent daily routines, morning and night. Cleanse gently, then layer hydration with serum and face cream to help restore softness and strength. Nourish the skin with natural oils to maintain comfort and suppleness. Facial massage or mindful application encourages circulation and enhances radiance.
Nature’s support:
Neroli, aloe vera, rosehip, olive oil, pomegranate, and jojoba work in harmony to soothe, replenish, and protect mature skin. These botanicals help restore calm, improve elasticity, and bring back a healthy, natural glow.
The Seasons and Cycles of Skin
Your hormones move in cycles, and your skin mirrors the world around you. Also remember to adjust your skincare with the seasons.
Spring and Summer: Focus on light, breathable layers of hydration and sun protection. Remember to consistently provide hydration and use soothing and protecting botanicals.
Autumn and Winter: Nourish deeper by using more product, as needed, adding in face oils to strengthen the skin barrier and prevent dryness, and gently exfoliating as needed.
No matter the season, consistent routines are key. By making small adaptations to seasonal and hormonal rhythms, you keep your skin comfortable and balanced year-round.
How to Support Hormonal Balance Naturally
At Sole Toscana, we believe skincare and self-care goes beyond your skincare products. Italian living offers simple ways to keep both hormones and skin in harmony.
-
Eat fresh, colorful foods rich in nuts, seasonal produce, and quality olive oil.
-
Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to stay hydrated.
-
Move gently, rest deeply, and make time for joy each day.
-
Practice slow, sensory skincare, noticing how your skin feels as you care for it.
Balance begins within, and your skin reflects it outwardly.
Embracing Change with Grace
Hormonal sifts are reminders of life’s natural movement and growth. Every phase brings new needs and new beauty.
By listening to your skin, adjusting gently, and embracing nature’s botanicals, your complexion will stay vibrant, strong, and full of life.
