The Thief No One Talks About Until It's Stolen Your Complexion and Confidence
5 Common Skin Issues in Perimenopause — and How To Treat Them
By Jessica Falcone
Hi, I’m Jessica Falcone, a licensed esthetician, owner of Jessica Elizabeth Skincare, mom of two, and very much a woman in her 40s. I’ve spent nearly a decade helping women feel confident and empowered in their skin. But here’s the thing, even with all of my experience, perimenopause still caught me off guard.
One day, I'm moving through life just fine, juggling work, raising kids, trying to make time for myself and then almost without warning, things started to shift. I felt more tired than usual. My moods felt unpredictable. And most unexpectedly, my skin—something I thought I had completely figured out — started behaving differently.
Welcome to perimenopause, my friends! A hormonal roller coaster that most of us aren't really ever prepared for.
If you’re anything like me, you probably expected some changes in your 40s. We’ve all heard about hot flashes, weight gain and sleep troubles. But no one talks about what happens to your skin. How the reflection in the mirror can start to feel unfamiliar, how the products you loved suddenly don’t feel right, how it feels to lose the skin you were just starting to love.
Jessica Falcone - owner of Jessica Elizabeth Skincare
The Skin Shift No One Talks About
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, and during this time, your estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate — sometimes wildly. These shifts don’t just mess with your cycle or your sleep. They show up on your skin, too.
For most of my adult life, I had oily skin. I knew exactly how to manage it. But recently? My skin pulled a total 180. Practically overnight, it became dry and sensitive. The products I’d sworn by for years felt way too harsh. And then… came the grand finale: discoloration. Right above my upper lip. It was melasma. That sneaky little gift from our hormones. Some call it the “pregnancy mask,” which would be great — if I were pregnant. I’m not.
Even with all my training, even with years of helping other women through skin changes like this, I stood in the mirror thinking: “Wait… what just happened?”
That moment reminded me of something important: If I’m going through this with years of skincare knowledge behind me, I know so many women out there are struggling with the same thing without the tools, guidance, or support they need. You don’t have to go through it alone. That’s why I’m sharing this with you.
Before and After Treatment at Jessica Elizabeth Skincare
The Most Common Skin Changes During Perimenopause — and How We Treat Them
Here are the top skin concerns I see in women during this phase and what actually helps.
1. Dryness & Dehydration
As estrogen drops, so does your skin’s natural oil production. Skin that once felt balanced might now feel tight, flaky, or rough.
How we treat it:
• Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane
• Barrier-repair facials
• Gentle enzyme exfoliants to smooth without stripping
2. Sensitivity
Your skin barrier weakens, making you more reactive to ingredients that never bothered you before.
What helps:
• Calming ingredients like niacinamide, aloe, and green tea
• Skipping harsh actives and exfoliants
• Soothing, restorative treatments
3. Melasma & Hormonal Pigmentation
Dark patches usually on the cheeks, forehead, or upper lip are often triggered by hormone shifts and sun exposure.
How we treat it:
• Brightening facials with vitamin C, kojic acid, or licorice root, such as our Hydra-Glow
• Peels or enzymes for pigmentation
• A daily SPF that is reapplied every 2 1/2 hours
• Consistent home care specifically targeted for pigment and discoloration
4. Hormonal Acne
Cystic breakouts around the chin, jawline, and sometimes neck are common, even if you never had acne before.
What works:
• Mandelic or salicylic acid
• Blue LED light therapy
• Anti-inflammatory skincare that doesn’t dry you out
5. Loss of Firmness & Elasticity
Lower collagen and elastin levels can make skin appear looser or less plump.
Treatment options:
• Treatments to stimulate collagen such as microneedling, radio frequency, or peptides
• Targeting serums and products for anti-aging
• Rebuilding facials that hydrate and firm such as our Hydra-Revive targeted towards fine lines and sagging skin
Before and After Treatment at Jessica Elizabeth Skincare
You’re Not Doing Anything Wrong
If your skin has changed, it doesn’t mean your routine failed you. It just means your skin is asking for something new.
At Jessica Elizabeth Skincare, this is what we specialize in—guiding women through hormonal changes with personalized care and treatments that work.
Perimenopause isn’t the end, it’s a new beginning. Your skin isn’t betraying you; it’s evolving with you. And with the right support, it can look and feel more vibrant than ever.
So if you’re starting to feel the shifts in your skin, your mood, your energy, please know, I see you. I am you. This is just another chapter, and you don’t have to face it alone.
This content is sponsored by Jessica Elizabeth Skincare.
