A Solution For Menopausal Skin from Boots

We’re in the middle of a menopause revolution, thanks to a number of high-profile campaigners and doctors such as Dr Louise Newson, Davina McCall and Lisa Snowdon sharing their knowledge and experiences.

More beauty and wellness brands are stepping up to greet the ready market for menopause supplements as well skincare to serve the specific needs of menopausal skin.

Boots No7 has launched its first menopausal skincare range and it comes with the highest of recommendations from the highly trained staff in Boots, Church Street, Coleraine - all of whom have trialled the products personally.

The range comes with a no-nonsense name -  No7 Menopause Skincare and the tagline 'co-created with menopausal women'. It's a collection of four products; a serum, a cooling mist, an SPF day cream and a night cream – designed to tackle some of the most common menopausal skincare concerns: dryness, sensitivity and dullness.

This has been five years in the making and is the culmination of two things that Boots No7 does exceptionally well – its own clinical skin research (in conjunction with the University of Manchester) and quizzing consumers, in this case, 7,000 menopausal women, about what they wanted from their skincare.

Boots No7 staff members, Amanda Barr and Geeta Sihat-Evans are so passionate about the No7 Menopause Skincare range and they are more than happy to discuss the needs of any customers who call at the No7 counter.

Geeta Sihat-Evans explained: “Both Amanda and myself got to trial this which was absolutely brilliant and we both felt the results were excellent.

“These products are targeted at women who are are peri menopausal, menopausal and post menopause.  This can start when someone is in their 40s right through to late 50s and after but there are no exact ages and timings.

“What is important is now there is a product on the market available for someone who's on that journey - whether their skin is dry or fatigued or the oestrogen is starting to deplete, it will affect their skin and that's the first thing we hear when people sit down.

“Now we have the range and have all of these products and we can explain to the customers the benefits of them.”

Amanda added: “If a customer wishes we can carry out a consultation or you can go on the Boots app and book an appointment at any time.

“I have used the products myself and your skin looks refreshed and less fatigued. The serum is fantastic around the neck, it’s so firming.

“When customers come in to us they can relax in the knowledge that we totally understand what they are going through because we are at different stages of experiencing it ourselves and the fact that we have had the opportunity to try them out for ourselves means we can give a first hand experience of how the products work.

“For so many years menopause was something you didn’t talk about, women just put up with and suffered from the symptoms. It’s fantastic to see that things are changing and we are delighted with the No7 Menopause Skincare range.”

Boots, 26-28 Church St: Coleraine. Tel: 02870356666.

What did real women say their menopausal skin concerns were?

Armed with their research, No7 then reached out to thousands of menopausal women to learn how their skin had changed and what their main concerns were.

The most common issues they reported were dryness, sensitivity and dullness. This tallies with what Dr Sophie Shotter tells us about  how skin can change in menopause.

"During menopause, our skin produces fewer natural oils, which are what keeps our skin looking dewy and nourished and keep water in the skin," she said. "As our lipid (oil) barrier deteriorates, we suffer from transepidermal water loss so the skin gets much dryer than they were pre-menopause."

More than half of the women said they did not expect their skin to change during menopause and a similar number didn’t recognise their skin symptoms as part of menopause.

Many (41 per cent) felt that their current skincare routine wasn't working for them. Could No7 step in to fill that gap?

The brand came up with an ingredient combination to 'help skin behave as if oestrogen was still present' targeting the visual effects of a drop in collagen (ie sagging and wrinkles) and the dryness and dullness caused by lipids as well as the inflammation and skin barrier disruption which can cause spots and redness.

MEET THE PRODUCTS

No7 Menopause Instant Radiance Serum

With a cooling dome head applicator, this enlivening serum is a roll-on reliever. Its lipid restoration technology harnesses the power of ceramides, reinforcing your skin’s natural barrier and evening tone, while soy isoflavones get to work targeting the visible effects of collagen loss.

No7 Menopause Skincare Nourishing Overnight Cream

Wake up looking refreshed with this hydrating cocktail of hyaluronic acid, shea butter and antioxidant green tea, vitamin E, C and B5. Using the same Matrixyl 3000+ collagen peptide technology used in its Protect & Perfect Intense Serum, it  deeply  moisturises and rejuvenates the appearance of skin.

No7 Menopause Skincare Protect & Hydrate Day Cream

Suitable for sensitive skin, this SPF30 moisturiser is the perfect day-to-day support cream for menopausal dryness. Featuring soothing bisabolol, an active ingredient in chamomile, and balancing niacinamide, it not only boosts your skin’s hydration throughout the day but also protects it from environmental aggressors and UV damage.

No7 Menopause Skincare Instant Cooling Mist

The perfect calming companion for on-the-go relief, this refreshing mist hydrates is designed to soothe the skin during hot flushes and contains organic rose water, glycerin and balancing essential oils. The result? Hydrated, balanced skin in just a few spritzes.