14 Strategic Skincare Products That Have Totally Saved My Dry, Perimenopausal Skin

I’ve learned the hard way that my skin no longer tolerates foam cleansers (they tend to be drying, so they’re better for oily skin types, aka the “old” me), so I’ve turned to cleansing oils and hydrating gel cleansers. The new Pore Clarity Cleanser from Saint Jane couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only is it a gentle gel cleanser, but my pores also still get exfoliated without compromising hydration, thanks to a heavy dose of flower AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

I’ve had great luck with many of Saint Jane’s products, and I am excited to add this one to my list of faves.

If you want to splurge, may I introduce you to the La Mer Moisturizing Fresh Cream? This newer face cream from the legendary brand balances sebum levels in oilier skin (again, my real skin type), but doesn’t feel drying like other oily-skin moisturizers. In this house, we stan Miracle Broth.

I’m having a passionate affair with the serums from the new K-beauty brand OliviaUmma. Yes, they’re super cute, but they’re also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and niacinamide. I alternate between this strawberry and tangerine serum with the blueberry one.

When I tell you the Moisture Source essence has been my summer savior, I’m not exaggerating. It’s from Sarah Creal, a new beauty brand focusing on over-40 skin (yay!). I’ve been using this nonstop since I got it, and it’s helped bring back so much moisture to my skin. I love the two-in-one aspect: it moisturizes the skin and then seals it all in with squalane oil. My skin is in heaven every time I use it. I’m truly obsessed. Plus, a little goes a long way, so it will last you a while.

This formula almost feels like a lightweight moisturizer. Omorovicza’s Queen Serum (the perfect name for me) plumped my skin with hydration when I needed it the most. It also has anti-aging benefits and focuses on menopausal skin due to the presence of Mediterranean microalgae (has a similar effect as retinol), Chinese leaf extract (helps defend skin functionality), and Lithops stem cells (boosts vitamin D, strengthens and revitalizes the skin).

First of all, I love how the Outset’s Cool Cream mask is a take on old-school cold cream without all those questionable outdated ingredients like mineral oil. Aside from the brand’s signature hyaluronic-acid complex, it’s made with a combination of skin-loving botanical ingredients, including linseed, yerba mate, and arnica. But it also contains a floral plant called electric daisy, which fondly reminds me of my raver days (Electric Daisy Carnival is the name of a massive rave festival) and has some interesting benefits.

The plant is a powerful fighter against aging signs, as it enhances skin firmness and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, rough texture, and all-over stressed skin. And if you fall asleep with the mask on, no need to freak out. It can also be used as an overnight treatment. (I like using it as sort of a targeted spot treatment on my dry areas!)

Remember when I mentioned that AC could be another culprit for my dry summer skin? When I realized that, I was like, “Duh,” and quickly grabbed my Canopy portable humidifier. I use the larger one regularly during the winter, but this mini version is especially helpful when I’m at my desk and there’s a fan blowing at my face (while the AC is also blasting).

I love facial sprays, as they can feel super indulgent to use. They can be really good for your skin, especially when they contain the right ingredients. Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Hydrator Mist has everything to get your skin back in business, like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, kombu extract, and good ol’ glycerin.

If you ever deal with dry under-eyes, you might want an eye cream that focuses on hydration, like this fantastic one by Shani Darden. It features pea peptides, silk tree extract, squalene, ceramides, shea butter, and niacinamide. Aside from bringing moisture to the area, this eye cream firms and lifts the eyes while minimizing bags and fine lines.

If your skin isn’t just dry, but a little pissed off, then this serum by Joanna Czech is a must. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vitamin-rich ingredients which target redness on stressed and inflamed skin. Just gently pat a few drops of the serum into your skin post-cleansing and you’ll be gifted with hydrated, protected, and, of course, soothed skin.

Chanel’s signature flower for more than a century is the camellia, which is also a very beneficial skincare ingredient. Through an exclusive extraction process, Chanel teamed camellia extract with blue ginger extract to maintain and balance skin moisture levels and keep skin looking plump and rejuvenated.

Is it an essence or a moisturizer? It’s both! This luxurious-feeling Face Milk does a lot more than deliver hydration. It improves texture, strengthens the skin barrier, and decreases redness—the perfect antidote for dehydrated and stressed-out skin.

This moisturizer is special for many reasons, including that it is the product of some highly impressive science. Through an innovative fermentation process using deep-sea algae, the micro-size Blue Hyaluronic Acid is created, delivering insane moisture to the skin faster and deeper than ever before.