Hey Huetiful,
Can we talk about it? Because y'all… perimenopause is doing the most.
For me it started on my chin. Breakouts right along my chin like I'm 16 again. Then these random little hairs on my chin and neck that show up out of nowhere. And my body temperature? Hot. Cold. Hot again. Blanket on, blanket off. I'm driving everybody in my house nuts.
Turns out I'm not crazy. Dermatologists say when your hormones start dropping, teenage-style breakouts and hair under your chin and along your jaw are both really common. And it doesn't wait for menopause. It can start in your 40s, while you're still getting a period. So if perimenopause skin has you confused, you're not alone.
It hits us different
A study that followed women for 25 years found Black women deal with hot flashes and night sweats for about 10 years. White women? About six and a half. And we were about half as likely to get hormone therapy to help.
Ten years, girl. So if a doctor ever told you "that's just getting older" and sent you home, you're not crazy either.
All those years of hormones shifting show up somewhere. A lot of the time, it's our skin.
The good news
Black don't crack isn't just a T-shirt. One study found Black women going through menopause had fewer wrinkles than white women. The melanin is working overtime.
But collagen is collagen. Dermatologists say skin loses about 30% of it in the first five years of menopause. So if your jawline feels a little softer lately, that's what that is.
Dry and touchy, all at once
As hormones drop, skin holds less water, and you feel it most when the air gets dry. Hello, October. Skin gets more sensitive too, especially as we get closer to 50. Stuff you've used for years might suddenly sting. So now is not the time to scrub harder.
What I'm doing this year
Here's my routine right now, no fluff.
I double cleanse. Kalahari Melon + Guava Oil Cleanser first, then my Honey Agave Cleanser. When my skin feels dry, I use the Honey Agave as a mask.
Then facial oil. Facial oil. Facial oil. I'm not playing. Lumi Glow is my go-to.
And my mists stay close. In my bag, on my desk, by the bed. I go back and forth between my Honey Halo Skin Tonic, my everyday hydrating mist for a quick pick-me-up, and the Dragonfruit+Ceramide Bi-phase Veil Mist, a toner with serum benefits. Face feels tight? Mist. Need a minute? Mist.
And the basics still matter. Dermatologists say to swap bar soap for a mild cleanser, moisturize right after you wash, and wear sunscreen every day, SPF 30 or higher. Even in sweater weather. They say it, and honestly, so does my face.
The heat and the no-sleep? Bring it up at your next appointment. It's all connected, and girl, you deserve real answers.
We're grown. We made it through Jheri curls and dial-up. We'll make it through this too.
So tell me in the comments below: what's the first thing perimenopause did to your skin? Because I know I'm not the only one with a chin hair situation.
xo, Marla
Sources:
Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), Women's Midlife Health, 2022
Managing Menopausal Skin Changes (includes the KEEPS skin study), Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Caring for Your Skin in Menopause, American Academy of Dermatology
For information only, not medical advice.
