Oh, Cyclical One!
If you go through a menstrual cycle, you may know (very well!), how difficult it is to keep a track of what is going on with your skincare routine! (Like WTH was adolescence?!)
As I spent year after year jumping from one product to another, never quite finishing the old products, struggling with constant breakouts and being told my only option was the oral contraceptive pill; I decided something needed to change.
To break it all down…
During each phase of the menstrual cycle, different hormones circulate the body.
The hormones in the body are constantly changing and are influenced by external factors as well. (So, no menstrual cycle you have will ever be the same!)
Hormones can be impacted by many factors but some of the main ones can be stress, food and exposure to toxic chemicals.
The reproductive sex hormones (in both men and women) cause changes to our skin.
For those of us that have a menstrual cycle, the changes in the ratio’s of the sex hormones throughout this cycle have sometimes a subtle, sometimes a more drastic, effect on the appearance of the skin.
This information MAY be too much for you to take in right now, and that’s okay! What is important is that you can start to understand how the skin is changing all the time and that we can accept our imperfections and flaws as a part of who we are and as a part of our natural cycles. If we can work ALONGSIDE our menstrual cycles (and learn a bit more about what’s happening to cause our skin to change), we become so much more empowered and better equipped to make the right choices for ourselves.
So, here we go!
Menstruation*: When the lining of the uterus sheds - aka. the Period. Levels of oestrogen and progesterone are low which can mean that our skin is dry and dull.
The Proliferative phase*: After the period and before ovulation, the uterine lining builds back up again. Our skin tends to be much more forgiving and happy at this time!
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The Follicular phase: The time between the first day of menstruation and ovulation. Oestrogen rises as an egg prepares to be released. As the oestrogen rises, our skin tends to become more elastic and firm.
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*Menstruation and the Proliferative Phase are collectively called the Follicular Phase. Both are oestrogen-dominant stages of the cycle.
Ovulation: The release of the egg from the ovary. Oestrogen peaks just beforehand, and then drops shortly afterwards. We can be super sociable, feel good and our skin can look good at this time of the month!
The Luteal phase**: The time between ovulation and before the start of menstruation, when the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. Progesterone is produced, peaks, and then drops. Progesterone generally means more oily skin but this is not always a “bad” thing!
**The Luteal Phase is a Progesterone-dominant stage of the menstrual cycle.
Now that you know more about how hormones influence your body, you can make more informed decisions about your skincare.
Yay to that!
Hart Skincare