You might have noticed that suddenly, your skin is drier. More sensitive. Perhaps patches of pigmentation appear where your skin used to be even-toned, and fine lines have begun to etch a deeper line across your face and neck. That lit-from-within glow? Missing in action, replaced with a dull, dehydrated look. What's going on?
Some call it The Oestrogen Effect – a way to describe the visible impact of declining oestrogen on the skin. It’s the beginning of menopause known as perimenopause and it’s one of the main reasons your skin starts to look and feel a bit lack-lustre during your mid 40s and beyond.
Once shrouded in mystery, menopause is finally being talked about – and that's a good thing. Because when the visible changes appear, they can feel unsettling.
As concerning as this time can be, here at Aesthetics Rx® we believe empowerment comes from understanding, and with the right care, you can help support your skin through these changes and bring back a visibly healthy, radiant-looking glow.
This isn't just visible ageing – it's a hormonal shift
So, what’s going on? Well, if you've felt a little caught off guard by what's happening with your skin as you approach menopause, you're not alone. These changes can feel confusing – especially when your usual skincare suddenly isn't cutting it.
From your early 40s, your oestrogen levels begin to drop, falling sharply around menopause. But oestrogen isn't just a reproductive hormone. It plays a major role in keeping your skin looking and feeling visibly firm, hydrated, and balanced.
When your hormones shift, your skin starts showing it. These visible signs – dryness, dullness, sensitivity, pigmentation and fine lines – are often the result of disrupted communication due to declining oestrogen, leaving receptors in the skin waiting for instructions that no longer arrive.
Think of oestrogen as the 'key' and the receptors in your skin as the 'locks'. When oestrogen levels fall, there simply aren't enough keys to unlock the functions that keep your skin visibly firm, hydrated, and even toned.
Without that hormonal support, skin renewal slows, repair mechanisms weaken, and your skin might not look or feel the way it used to, but with the right care, you can help restore your skin, so it looks and feels its best.
From cell to surface – how skin changes in menopause
Here’s what happens to your skin as oestrogen declines – leading to visible changes that seem to show up out of nowhere.
Thinning becomes more noticeable as fibroblasts – the cells responsible for collagen production – slow down, producing less collagen and elastin, which are essential for maintaining structure and firmness.
As collagen and fat pads diminish, skin loses volume and elasticity, making it appear less plump and more prone to visible lines and sagging.
Dryness and sensitivity increase because oestrogen decline weakens the skin barrier and reduces natural hyaluronic acid production, making skin less hydrated and more reactive.
Healing slows, and bruising becomes more common due to reduced microcirculation and sluggish cellular turnover.
Pigmentation becomes uneven as declining oestrogen disrupts the function of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, leading to patchiness and age spots.
These changes don't mean your skin is on a one-way downhill slide. They simply signal that now is the perfect time for a new kind of care – one that offers superior support for when changes occur, helping your skin remain resilient, visibly balanced, and hydrated as it responds to hormonal fluctuations.
Why your skincare routine might not perform as it once did
If it feels like your favourite skincare products just aren't working anymore, you're not imagining it. Most traditional anti-ageing skincare was not designed with hormonally ageing skin in mind.
You deserve skincare that evolves with you – that works with you through the topsy-turvy shifts of midlife hormonal changes. You'd be forgiven for thinking the answer is a richer cream or a more complicated routine. However, layering heavier products can sometimes weigh the skin down unnecessarily, resulting in underwhelming results.
What your skin really needs is targeted, bio-intelligent care that supports its changing needs, without overwhelming you or your skin.
Skincare that evolves with you – introducing our Biofemage® range
At Aesthetics Rx®, we've spent the past 10 years creating high-performance skincare backed by clinical science. But we knew something was missing: a solution for the 3.28 million Australian women aged 40–59 whose skin and confidence needed more support.
Enter Biofemage® Serum and Biofemage® Cream – a powerhouse duo formulated specifically for perimenopausal and menopausal skin. Clinically trialled high potency actives, with outstanding product trial feedback from aesthetic professionals, Biofemage® is uniquely designed for this pivotal stage of life.
Meet Biofemage® Serum – a cell-communicating skin reboot
This isn’t your traditional anti-ageing serum. Biofemage® Serum is a high-potency formula that understands the underlying causes of hormonally driven skin changes – from cellular slowdown to collagen loss.
What it does:
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Helps restore visible firmness and bounce with skin-supportive biotech actives
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Smooths texture and refines tone for a more radiant, even-looking complexion
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Strengthens the skin barrier for improved visible hydration and resilience
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Targets the appearance of pores – with 82.6% of users noticing a reduction after 28 days, and 91.3% after 56 days*
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Formulated with 3% CutiFine CLR™, clinically shown to improve skin texture and reduce the look of enlarged pores*
Hero ingredients:
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Cellynkage™ – biotech marine extract to visibly improve skin firmness••
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CutiFine CLR™ – clinically shown to visibly reduce pore appearance and improve skin texture*
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Niacinamide + Arbutin – visibly brighten and even out tone
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Multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid – hydrates and visibly plumps
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Myristoyl Tripeptide‐31 – a gentle, retinoid-like peptide that improves the appearance of skin firmness and resilience
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Botanical phytoestrogens – Red Clover, Pomegranate, Yam, and Black Cohosh
What our clinical team said: In professional trials, 90% of aesthetic nurses gave positive feedback — with many saying: “It’s the best serum I’ve ever used.”
Biofemage® Cream – your all-in-one solution for hydration, repair and comfort
This nourishing moisturiser works alongside the serum to visibly soothe, hydrate and support firmer-looking, hormonally shifting skin.
What it does:
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Formulated with 5% Cellynkage™, shown to visibly improve skin smoothness and firmness in just 28 days**
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Clinically tested to reduce the visible signs of mature skin – including sagging, fine lines, and uneven tone**
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Helps improve visible skin sagging and wrinkles after 28 days***
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Assists in enhancing the appearance of skin’s smoothness and even skin tone, as observed in clinical trials on mature skin**
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Supports a rejuvenated appearance, with clinical testing showing up to a 15% improvement in the appearance of epidermal thickness, a 2.4% improvement in visible skin density, and up to a 113% visible enhancement in skin smoothness and evenness compared to placebo**
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Promotes a visibly healthier and more even complexion, helping skin appear more balanced and radiant**
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Enriched with Phytogen – 15% visible reduction in wrinkle length after 56 days of use and 29% visible reduction in wrinkle depth after 56 days of use****
Hero ingredients:
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Multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid – visibly plumps and hydrates
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Red Clover Extract – rich in isoflavones and antioxidants
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Botanical complex – Pomegranate, Yam, Black Cohosh, and Jujube
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Baobab (Adansonia Digitata) Extract – rich in essential fatty acids
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Niacinamide – helps visibly brighten and strengthen the skin barrier
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Myristoyl Tripeptide‐31 – improves visible firmness and elasticity
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Cellynkage™ – marine-derived biotech active that improves the appearance of a more youthful radiant skin
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Phytogen – plant-based active for visibly reducing wrinkle depth and length****
Now is the perfect time to reimagine your daily skincare routine
You don't need to start from scratch, but you may like to tweak your routine to suit the changing needs of your skin.
If you're still using the same skincare, you were in your 30s, your skin might not be getting what it needs for optimal performance.
Here's how to update your regimen for this next chapter:
Start with hydration – seek out multi-weight hyaluronic acid and barrier-supportive ingredients, such as those found in our new range.
Additional support for firmer-looking skin – with retinoid-mimicking peptides and antioxidants such as Myristoyl Tripeptide‐31.
Even out tone – with specialised ingredients such as niacinamide and arbutin to visibly brighten the skin.
Target the cause, not just the symptom – look for botanical phytoestrogens and cell-supporting biotech ingredients that work with your skin, not against it.
The great news is you'll find all of this in the advanced hormone-smart duo: Biofemage® Serum and Biofemage® Cream from Aesthetic Rx®.
Let’s change the story around menopause and skincare
Just because your hormones are shifting doesn’t mean you have to accept unwanted changes in your skin. This is a time to reframe — to recognise menopause as a powerful new chapter, full of awareness, freedom, and choice. And with that comes a smarter, more responsive approach to skincare.
Biofemage® is skincare that evolves with you — supporting your skin as it changes, with advanced ingredients and purposeful care to help you feel confident, comfortable, and visibly radiant at every stage.
Skincare that meets you where you are – and adapts to change for healthier-looking skin
We’re thrilled to introduce the new skincare range, Biofemage® Serum and Cream – an exciting innovation from Aesthetics Rx®, thoughtfully developed through in-depth research that understands perimenopausal and menopausal skin.
Discover the difference for yourself – because this next stage of life deserves science, self-care, and skin that reflects youthful-looking vitality and the confidence that comes with age.
Clinical Support & References
Biofemage® Serum
* Based on a consumer questionnaire from an in vivo study using a serum containing 3% CutiFine CLR™. 23 female participants aged 45–65 were asked whether they agreed with the statement: “My facial pores are less visible” after 28 and 56 days of use.
Eiben-Nielson et al., Development and validation of a global photonumeric scale for evaluating skin quality of aged female facial skin, J Cosmet Dermatol 2021 Dec;20(12):4032–4039. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14058. Epub 2021 Mar 24.
Biofemage® Cream
** Based on a 28-day in vivo consumer study by Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. using 5% Cellynkage™ marine ingredient, with women aged 50–65.
*** Based on a 56-day instrumental in vivo study by Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. using 2% Cellynkage™ on hormonally aged skin.
**** Based on an 8-week in vivo study with 21 women aged 45–65 using a cream containing 2% Phytogen.
Test Instruments: Elasticity: MPA 580 (CK Electronic GmbH, Germany), Wrinkle depth and length: SILFLO (CuDerm, USA), Visioline VL650 (CK Electronic GmbH).