Go with the flow:
the skin cycle explained
So how do you know what to expect? It’s
actually fairly simple; map where you are in
your menstrual cycle and you’ll have a good
idea of your hormone levels.
Day 1-5: Menstruation
Oestrogen and progesterone are low and
you might feel it too. Skin may look lacklustre
and drab.
Day 6-13: Follicular Phase
Preparing for ovulation and things are
looking up, oestrogen and testosterone levels
are rising slowly and your skin should be
clearing up nicely.
Day 14-16: Ovulation
Oestrogen is at a high so you’re feeling
good and your skin is clear. This is when we
feel most positive about our appearance.
Day 17-28: Luteal Phase
Progesterone builds, soars and then comes
back down again. During this phase skin
swelling and pore tightening due to water
retention can lead to excess sebum and
clogged pores. In a word, acne.
Take down disruptors
In the UK, we’re wising up to the fact that
most plastic products, including water
bottles and food wraps, can release
chemicals that act like oestrogen. BPA is
one of the most widespread chemicals found
in things like plastic straws, the concern
being that this chemical can spread into
food and disrupt our hormonal balance.
Parabens used in beauty products to give
them a longer shelf life also expose the body
to BPA and are particularly prevalent in
synthetic perfumes. Switching to paraben-
free skincare and natural fragrances is
a good way to sidestep the risk.Order up!
Studies have shown that hormonal skin is
intrinsically linked to gut health, so in this
case you can absolutely eat yourself radiant.
Foods rich in vitamins B and C boost your
progesterone levels, so stock up on greens –
especially cauliflower, broccoli and kale –
and also egg yolks in the middle of your
cycle. However, if you find yourself a tadfulfilment
Laura Rudoe
Laura set up Good Ventures
(goodventures.co.uk) in
2008 with the mission
to create new organic
personal care brands that
make a difference. A former
Management Consultant
and Venture Capitalist, Laura
holds an MBA from Harvard
Business School and was
the founding employee of
NUDE skincare.Eat plenty of foods rich
in vitamins B and C in the
middle of your cycle for
glowing skin, like kale
cauliflower and broccoli.