Lifestyle & Wellness — Skin Care
You’re bloated, irritable, and to top it off, your skin is a mess. Welcome to the rollercoaster of your monthly cycle and how hormones affect your skin. Some days your complexion is radiant; other days you’re battling stubborn hormonal acne. Want to predict when your skin will be glowing or breaking out? Here’s how to track hormonal changes and care for your skin through the month.
Hormones 101
Three hormones affect your skin during your cycle: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Their levels rise and fall across the month, and those shifts change how your skin looks and feels.
Estrogen
Estrogen dominates the first half of your cycle. It boosts collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, helping your skin stay firm and hydrated. When estrogen is high, your skin looks plump, moisturized, and smoother.
Progesterone
In the second half of the cycle, progesterone rises. It increases oil (sebum) production and can make your skin swell, compressing pores. That compression can trap oil and lead to hormonal breakouts.
Testosterone
Testosterone stays fairly steady through the month and takes over when estrogen and progesterone drop during your period. Like progesterone, it turns on oil production, which can mean extra sebum and clogged pores — a common cause of period breakouts.
What To Expect During a 28-Day Cycle
Your skin’s ups and downs aren’t random — they often follow hormone patterns. Here’s what usually happens each phase.
Days 1–6
On day one of your period, most hormones are at their lowest. Sebum drops, and without estrogen your skin can struggle to hold moisture. Expect drier, duller skin. Your body also makes more prostaglandins, which can increase sensitivity and inflammation, so your skin may feel tender or reactive.
Skin Care Tip: Avoid painful treatments like waxing. Focus on rehydration with a serum or moisturizer rich in hyaluronic acid.
Days 7–11
Estrogen production picks up again. This jump helps build collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, so new, healthier skin cells form and your complexion starts to look plumper and fresher.
Skin Care Tip: This is a good time to exfoliate gently. Use a mild physical or chemical exfoliant to clear away dead skin and reveal healthier skin underneath.
Days 12–16
Right before ovulation, estrogen peaks and your skin often looks its best. Moisture is up, pores look smaller, and the boost in collagen and elastin brings real radiance.
Skin Care Tip: Take advantage of this glow. Use products that support collagen (like gentle retinol alternatives and botanical peptides) to help reduce signs of aging and keep skin bouncy.
Days 17–24
After ovulation, estrogen falls and progesterone rises. Progesterone increases oil and can make pores temporarily tighter, which traps oil and leads to buildup and breakouts.
Skin Care Tip: Add a clay mask to absorb extra oil and draw out impurities from your pores.
Days 25–28
This is full-on PMS for many people. Progesterone and estrogen drop below testosterone, which can cause bloating, puffiness, and excess oil. Pores may loosen and look larger, and trapped oil can mix with bacteria to cause breakouts, especially along the chin and jawline.
Skin Care Tip: Reach for salicylic acid. This BHA helps clear clogged pores, fights bacteria, and prevents future breakouts.
How To Fight Hormonal Acne
Hormonal acne affects more than half of women and often appears in adulthood, driven by the hormone swings of the menstrual cycle. These breakouts are usually deep, painful cysts on the lower face. You can fight them from the inside (diet) and the outside (skincare).
Diet
Cut back on inflammation-driving foods like sugar, dairy, and refined carbs. Add foods that help balance androgens: healthy fats, omega-3s, leafy greens, and zinc-rich foods.
Skin Care
If hormonal acne is a problem, pairing acne-targeted products with items that support skin balance can help. Look for treatments that include salicylic acid for clearing pores, and products with phytoestrogens or calming botanicals to soothe and balance skin. Together, they can help keep skin clearer throughout the month.
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What changes do you notice in your skin during your cycle? Share your concerns in the comments and join the conversation on social media.