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Less than a decade ago, very few people used the word perimenopause. Now it’s normal lunch date chatter among girlfriends (and a topic of conversation at our actress’ round table).
If you need a quick cheat sheet on perimenopause, it’s the years leading up to menopause (which is defined as the one-year mark following a woman’s last period), when a woman experiences a drop in hormones, which can lead to a host of unpleasant symptoms. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that this has or will affect half the population, which spurred beauty entrepreneurs to jump at an opportunity, not just to improve their bottom lines, but to serve a population that felt ignored. The perimenopausal retail category has arrived, with the sector — beauty and otherwise — expected to rake in $600 billion by the end of this year, per the Global Wellness Summit.
With women in the entertainment industry, including Naomi Watts, Tracee Ellis Ross and Gillian Anderson, being more vocal about the topic, it seems that Hollywood is finally ready to talk about menopause. Watts has been one of the trailblazers in the arena, founding perimenopausal brand Stripes Beauty in 2022 and releasing her book Dare I Say It earlier this year.
“For too long, menopause and aging have been treated like the end, when in reality, they’re just another chapter, and a really powerful one at that,” Watts exclusively tells The Hollywood Reporter, adding that the entertainment industry has made progress in recent years in acknowledging women in mid life. “Hollywood is finally starting to tell stories about women in midlife and show them as fully realized, dynamic characters, in all their complexities. In just the last year, we’ve seen incredible leading roles for women in this stage of life — Demi Moore in The Substance, Pamela Anderson in The Last Showgirl, Nicole Kidman in Babygirl, Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths — and those performances were some of the most exciting of the year.”
Chef and talk-show host Carla Hall, an ambassador for perimenopausal brand Caire, applauds the change in the entertainment industry as it spills into the mainstream. “By naming it, normalizing it, and sharing how it continues to shape who we are, we make it part of the bigger cultural conversation.”
But don’t expect women to buy into it just because Hollywood says it should. As Frances Shoemack, founder of fragrance label Abel, tells THR, “I don’t believe there will be space for hollow marketing claims; women of this age and stage demand integrity from brands and products.” In a market already getting saturated with perimenopausal products, these 11 stand out as the ones worth adding to your cart.
Abel Pause Eau de Parfum
This unisex scent features ingredients known for their therapeutic qualities aimed at alleviating perimenopausal complaints including fluctuating mood and poor sleep. This green floral includes luscious mimosa for its mood stabilizing properties, narcissus to support sleep, violet leaf to aid in stress reduction and hay to promote tranquility.
Brand founder and creator Frances Shoemack tells THR, “We wanted to be part of a changing dialogue around perimenopause and thought there was a place for using scent to do that.” Couple Rita Ora and Taika Waititi are fans of the brand.
Stripes Crown Pleaser Thickening and Hydrating Hair Mask for Thinning Hair
Industry fans of Watts’ brand include Ellis Ross, Sarah Paulson, Chelsea Handler and Jenna Lyons. Director and screenwriter Mrianda July likes the Crown Pleaser hair mask, designed to nourish thinning hair without leaving a greasy feeling on the scalp.
Alo Magnesium Reset Spray
Dr. Lara Briden, author of The Hormone Repair Manual, explains that, “Body pain is the number one symptom of perimenopause.” She tells us that joint pain in fingers, feet and shoulders is very common for women in their 40s. Magnesium levels decline with estrogen levels, which can lead to aches, moodiness and disrupted sleep.
This being said, taken as a supplement or topically, magnesium is a go-to. Alo’s Reset Spray can be spritzed directly onto sore areas, whereas Epsom-It Bath Bombs ($12.73 $13.99) are great to quickly add to a bath for a full-body dose of relief.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara
No, you’re not just imagining it: Your eyes do tend to water more in perimenopause and beyond, and yes, your eyelids are getting droopier. And again, yes, these things are likely causing your eye makeup to run. Clean beauty brand Thrive Causemetics has a solution with its best-selling tubing mascara. Julia Louis Dreyfus and Meghan Markle are fans of the brand’s award-winning mascara.
Caire Beauty Triple Lift Molecule Mask
Caire is another brand that has established itself as a top label in the perimenopause and menopause beauty category. Products are designed with super-hydrating ingredients (think hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides) that help replenish skin that gets dry as estrogen decreases. Carla Hall tells us she uses the Triple Lift Molecule Mask “at least once a week, and anytime I know I’ll be wearing heavy makeup. It doesn’t feel heavy, but leaves your skin feeling like healthy skin.”
Avara Face Restore Barrier Repair Moisturizer
Created by Santa Monica-based surgeon Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa, Avara’s products are designed with shifting hormones in mind. The brand’s hero moisturizer boasts squalane, glycerin and ceramides to protect the skin barrier, while arnica, calendula and aloe calm irritation and redness.
Lubify Luxe Lube Neroli
There are a number of lubes on the market now that are designed to improve comfort and pleasure for women going through peri and meno. Using lube also decreases the occurrence of UTIs, a common complaint for women at this stage. Lubify’s luxury offering boasts vitamin E to soften skin, hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration and silicone for an irritation-free glide.
Helight Sleep Red Light Therapy Sleep Device
Disturbed sleep is one of the biggest complaints for perimenopausal women. Dr. Briden recommends using red light therapy at night to help with this issue, while avoiding blue lights until morning. The Helight Sleep Red Light Therapy Sleep Device, small enough to easily carry anywhere, runs a 28-minute cycle using precise wavelengths to get your brain and body its needed beauty rest.
Arbonne HerCore Essentials Cooling Mist
Even if you haven’t experienced a hot flash, you’ve inevitably heard about them, as they are the symptom synonymous with menopause. This mist instantly delivers a cooling sensation, while using ginkgo stem cell extract and a proprietary skin-soothing complex to hydrate skin for longer-term benefits.
G.M. Collin Mature Perfection Collection: Day Cream, Night Cream, Serum
This trio of products, which includes the Mature Perfection Serum, the Mature Perfection Day Cream and the Mature Perfection Night Cream, addresses issues from a decrease in hormones, including skin laxity, hydration levels and cell turnover. Users report firmer, visibly plumped skin after use.
