MENOPAUSAL SKIN CARE 25
Redefining anti-ageing for the menopausal consumer
Sandra Catarino, Sophie Blanchet, Gaelle Bellemere – Innosya Cosmetic Ingredients ABSTRACT
Anti-ageing claims dominated 37% of facial skincare launches from March 2025 to February 2026.1
With 12% of global population
navigating menopause worldwide, this represents a turning point for hormonal ageing prevention in the beauty industry.2 The menopause represents a critical
The global beauty industry is experiencing an unprecedented shift. While anti-ageing has traditionally focused on chronological ageing, a new frontier has emerged: hormonal ageing. The menopause represents a distinct biological
event that significantly alters skin physiology. Consumer awareness has surged dramatically, with searches for ‘menopause skin care’ multiplying 17-fold in the last five years, peaking in early 2026.3
This demand is commercially potent,
yet market innovation lags, creating a significant opportunity for brands that can move beyond generic claims to address the specific biology of menopausal skin. This consumer momentum has translated
into a clear market signal. Products formulated for menopausal concerns achieve notable price premiums, often over 100% above standard face care products.4
organ and a major target of hormones such as estrogens.
The impacts of this decline have been largely described, notably decreased collagen and elastin synthesis resulting in wrinkling and skin thinning, impaired barrier function, decreased antioxidant function and wound healing. This results in accelerated ageing.5
Iron and oxidative stress at menopause While estrogen deficiency has traditionally been regarded as the main biological driver of post-menopausal skin changes, iron metabolism also changes markedly during the menopausal transition. Menopause coincides with a significant
This reflects a consumer willing to
invest in targeted, science-backed solutions. However, the supply of such products remains
limited, with menopause-related beauty claims growing by less than 10% annually and few truly novel launches. This gap between high-value demand and limited scientific supply represents a major strategic opportunity.
Alterations of the skin at menopause The permanent decline of reproductive hormones at menopause triggers a cascade of biological and clinical changes. The skin is an organ that is very affected by menopause, as it is an endocrine
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alteration in iron homeostasis with a progressive accumulation of iron, and this is particularly found in skin, as postmenopausal skin exhibits a significant increase in ferritin-bound iron compared to premenopausal skin.6 As an essential cofactor in numerous metabolic and enzymatic processes, iron supports vital functions in skin cells but in excess, it becomes a potent catalyst for oxidative stress via the Fenton reaction, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that directly damage cellular components. Disruption of the oxidative balance at menopause creates a microenvironment prone to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death.
inflection point in ageing, driven by hormonal shifts, where skin is under specific conditions: disrupted iron homeostasis, oxidative stress, and reduced antioxidant defenses. This creates a microenvironment prone to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent programmed cell death driven by lipid peroxidation. Targeting ferroptosis offers a promising strategy to promote skin resilience and longevity in the context of menopause. This article explores the efficacy of a new active S-Acetyl Glutathione (Skinosya™ SAG), developed by Innosya Cosmetic Ingredients, designed to restore cellular glutathione pools and to prevent lipid peroxidation related to ferroptosis in menopausal skin. In cell-based assays, the active improved intracellular glutathione levels, reduced lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation, preserved mitochondrial network integrity and modulated biomarkers associated with inflammation and matrix degradation. In a placebo-controlled study in post-menopausal women, topical application led to significant improvements in wrinkle appearance, radiance, skin tone evenness and perceived healthy glow after four weeks.
A distinct pathway to cellular decline Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death that becomes increasingly relevant in menopausal skin ageing. It is distinct from apoptosis and necrosis and leads to cell death by the toxic accumulation of peroxides in membrane lipids. At the molecular level, free iron fuels the Fenton reaction, generating ROS that initiate and propagate the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are abundant in skin cell membranes. Cells use two primary ferroptosis-suppressing
pathways. Firstly, the glutathione-dependent reduction of lipid hydroperoxides by glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); secondly, the production of
September 2026 PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE
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