HOW TO STOP HORMONAL ACNE. PERIOD.

For those of us who have them, a period brings with it uninvited guests. Yes, as if its presence alone wasn’t enough to endure we’re struck with its tag along blots and blotches. And although tracking and ovulation apps from brands such as Clue and Flo, and subscription services from the likes of Pink Parcel, have made navigating the pre- and post-menstrual funk easier over the last decade, skin has been largely overlooked – until now.

Sceptical? We get it. ‘Femtech’ is set to become worth over £50 million by 2025, and it’s long been levelled that the industry is pedalled by men and marketers, who unequivocally don't geddit. But according to Dr Kemi Fabusiwa, aesthetician and director of JoyFul Skin Clinic, there are merits to syncing your cycle to your skincare, which means it's not necessarily a gimmick. “We know, for example, that in order to combat hormonal acne, it’s imperative to manage sebum production”. But of course, lots of products can do this, not just ones designed around periods. Skin expert Michaella Bolder recommends incorporating “anything with salicylic acid (BHA) into your routine daily – this can be in a cleanser, serum or mask. And for those with cystic acne opt for an azelaic acid as it's much more gentle and helps to control bacteria levels”. 

So why do we get more spots on our period? “It's all down to fluctuating hormones,” says Dr Fabusiwa. “In the first half of your period oestrogen is more predominant, and in the second half it's progesterone. These both trigger sebaceous glands to create more sebum, an oily substance that can clog pores, and lead to inflammation and spots around the mouth and jawline”.

THE best BRANDS for HORMONAL ACNE

TYPOLOGY

WHAT TO TRY:

Typology’s Woman Periodic Serums, £44.90

HOW TO USE: This ultra-chic French skincare brand’s period-focussed line 'woman' was conceived when one woman told the brand that she scheduled important meetings in the second week of her cycle, to ensure her skin was at its best. In a bid to extend her – and every other woman's – good skin window, the brand came up with four serums, designed to be used during each week of your cycle. With hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, number 1 quenches thirsty skin and soothes it. To coax a post-period glow, number 2 supplies skin-brightening vitamin C. Number 3 is an astringent, formulated with sugar extracts, to counter the production of sebum. And finally number 4, uses seaweed extract and zinc to mattify skin, reduce blemishes and curb inflammation when progesterone is at its highest.