Let’s Talk Skin (and Hormones)
The best vegan skincare routine for perimenopausal skin focuses on hydration, gentle exfoliation, and barrier support – all with cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients.
Perimenopause is a ride, isn’t it?
Hot flushes, hormonal breakouts, dryness, and sudden irritation – sometimes all in the same week.
If you’ve noticed your skin behaving differently lately, you’re not imagining it. Hormonal changes during perimenopause can affect everything from hydration and elasticity to texture and glow.
As a vegan and cruelty-free makeup artist in Bristol, I’m passionate about skincare that supports real, changing skin. Especially when it’s done ethically. So, here’s a simple, kind, and completely vegan skincare routine that can help your skin stay balanced, hydrated, and radiant through perimenopause.
1. Gentle Cleansing (Without Stripping Your Skin)
Forget the squeaky-clean feeling (and the makeup wipes). That’s usually a sign you’ve gone too far. During perimenopause, skin tends to become drier and more sensitive, so gentle is the way forward.
Try:
Evolve Gentle Cleansing Melt – a soft balm that removes makeup and impurities while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
The Body Shop Aloe Calming Cream Cleanser – lovely for easily irritated skin. This has been one of my personal favourites for years.
Tip: Massage your cleanser into your face for a full minute. This boosts circulation and gives your skin a natural glow before you’ve even applied anything else.
2. Hydrating Tonic or Mist
Perimenopausal skin loves moisture – and lots of it. A vegan facial mist or toner can add an instant boost and prep your skin to absorb serums better.
Try:
Caudalie Beauty Elixir – gives hydration and a touch of glow (and smells divine).
Porebright Niacinamide Refining Toner– helps with texture while keeping skin balanced.
Superdrug Vitamin E spray – this one is always in my travel kit when I work away.
Tip: Keep a mist in your handbag or on your desk for a mid-day refresh (especially during those warm flushes!).
3. Serums with Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants
Your skin may start to lose some of its natural plumpness, and that’s where serums come in. Look for hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide – all vegan-friendly ingredients that hydrate and brighten.
Try:
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 – a simple, affordable hydration hero.
BYBI Day Glow Brightening Tonic – gentle and full of antioxidants.
Tip: Apply to damp skin to really lock in the moisture.
4. Nourishing Moisturiser
Think rich, soothing, and barrier-supporting. You don’t need to smother your skin, but you do need something that calms and protects.
Try:
UpCircle Face Moisturiser with Argan Powder – nourishing and sustainable. I love their eye cream too.
Tropic Skin Feast Nourishing Cream Concentrate – packed with plant extracts and omegas.
Tip: If your skin feels tight halfway through the day, it’s time to upgrade your moisturiser or add a facial oil at night.
5. Sunscreen – Every Day, No Excuses
UV damage accelerates collagen loss, and during perimenopause, our skin needs all the collagen it can get!
Try:
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50 – lightweight, hydrating, and vegan.
Green People Scent Free SPF 30 – great for sensitive skin.
Alruist – SPF 50. This one has been in my kit for years and is great for sensitive skin.
Tip: Make sunscreen the final step every single morning – yes, even when it’s cloudy and grey (this is Bristol, after all).
6. Optional Night Care: Facial Oils
If you want a little extra nourishment overnight, try adding a vegan facial oil a few evenings a week.
Try:
Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil – fantastic for calming redness and restoring glow. (I also use this as my last step in my makeup routine.) It gives me such a nice, healthy glow.)
BYBI Bakuchiol Booster – a natural, vegan alternative to retinol.
Tip: A few drops go a long way. Warm them in your palms and press into your skin for a luxurious end-of-day ritual.
Perimenopause isn’t the end of glowing skin – it’s just the start of a new relationship with it.
Be gentle with yourself. Your skin doesn’t need harsh products or 10-step routines. Just consistent, nourishing, vegan skincare that respects your body’s changes.
If you’d like to know which products sit best under makeup, I’m always happy to chat. Creating radiant skin prep routines for brides (and anyone who wants to feel beautiful in their own skin) is one of my favourite parts of my job.
FAQ:
Is vegan skincare suitable for perimenopausal skin? – Absolutely. Often, vegan skincare ranges are gentler on our skin than others, but always check the labels and stop using anything that irritates immediately.
What ingredients should I avoid during perimenopause? Try to steer clear of products with alcohol as this can thin your skin, synthetic fragrances and essential oils in large quantities and drying face masks such as charcoal or clay.
Can I use my bridal skincare routine during perimenopause? Yes, definitely. As long as nothing irritates your skin, it will be fine to use.
You can read more on vegan skincare and makeup over on my blog.
Evie x
Bristol Wedding Hair and Makeup Artist | Vegan & Cruelty-Free Beauty Specialist