Menopause Beauty Routine: What Black Women Need to Know

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## How Menopause Impacts Your Skin, Nails, and Eyes – and What You Can Do About it

Menopause brings about meaningful hormonal shifts that can affect various parts of your body, including your skin, nails, and eyes. Here’s a breakdown of the changes you might experience and how to address them.

### How Menopause Affects Your Skin

As estrogen levels decline during menopause, your skin undergoes several changes. “Estrogen is responsible for keeping skin hydrated and plump, and it also supports collagen production,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss in an interview with *Glamour*.”When estrogen declines, skin becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic.” This can lead to increased wrinkles, fine lines, and a loss of firmness.

Here’s how to combat these changes:

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: Switch to a richer, more emollient moisturizer. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, and shea butter. Consider layering a hydrating serum *under* your moisturizer.
2. Incorporate Retinoids: Retinoids (like retinol) can help boost collagen production and improve skin texture. Start with a low concentration and use it gradually to avoid irritation.
3. Don’t Forget Sunscreen: Sun exposure exacerbates the effects of aging. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher *every day*, even on cloudy days.
4. Consider Facial Oils: Oils can help lock in moisture and provide a protective barrier.Options like Bio-Oil Skincare Oil can help replenish the natural oils within the skin.

### How Menopause Affects Your Nails

Nails can also become brittle and grow more slowly during menopause due to decreased estrogen. This is because estrogen contributes to nail health and strength.

Here’s how to strengthen your nails:

1. Hydrate and Nourish: Just like your skin, your nails need hydration. Regularly apply a cuticle oil, such as OPI Nail & Cuticle Oil, to keep the nail bed moisturized.
2. Apply petroleum ointment: “If the nails become brittle, simply applying petroleum ointment to the nails nightly often does the trick,” says dermatologist Dana Kindred.

### how Will This Impact My Eye Health and Eye Makeup Routine?

While you may not have thought menopause can affect your eyes, it can. “Dry eye is a very common eye condition that affects 35.5 million Americans,” says board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Dagny Zhu. “The prevalence of dry eye disease increases exponentially during menopause and becomes a common cause of concern for menopausal women.” This is due to hormonal changes that decrease tear production and tear film stability.

Furthermore, certain eye diseases are more prevalent in some populations. Such as, glaucoma is more common in Black individuals and frequently enough requires multiple daily eye drops for management.

As of this, wearing fake lashes and extensions might potentially be less cozy than they used to be, or worse.

Here’s how to protect your eyes and adjust your makeup routine:

1. Replace lash extensions with mascara: Going natural with your lashes may mean skipping your lash appointment and using lash-lengthening mascara or switching to strip lashes, that way, if your eyes are irritated you can easily remove your lashes or makeup.
2. Build an eyelid and eyelash hygiene routine: Using warm compresses, heated eye masks