You’re in pain, you feel bloated, cranky and if that wasn’t enough your skin is a mess, that’s pretty much how you feel every month when Aunt Flo pays a visit. Did you know just like your menses, your skin too goes through a 28 – day cycle? So, isn’t it possible that your period cycle plays a vital role in how your skin looks throughout the month? We put our Sherlock hats on to get to the root of this and here is what we found...
Week 1
The dreadful day 1 of your period also marks the first day of your menstrual cycle. Your skin appears slightly clearer as acne and blemishes look like they’re fading. This is because of the decrease in progesterone and increase of estrogen levels in your body. Your skin produces less oil during this time making skin feel drier than usual, however this means no more breakouts during this week!
Week 2
Your periods are finally over, what a relief! During the second week your estrogen levels continue to rise while the progesterone and testosterone stay away from the limelight. These two hormones are actually responsible for causing acne and pimples on your skin. While it’s the best time to take selfies because your skin will be at its clear best, remember that during this time your pores will appear bigger.
Week 3
Your body is at the peak of ovulation making you feel a hundred emotions at once. This is the week where the male hormone progesterone starts to rise causing an increase in the production of oil and sebum. The pores that opened in week two are now closing trapping all the oil and bacteria along with it. This is a good time to use your clay masks and alcohol free toners to reduce the oil on your face and prevent breakouts.
Week 4
The week of crying for the silliest reason is here – PMS! We know how much you want to stock up on chocolates and junk food during this time but now is the time to run away from it. The bacteria, sebum and greasy skin are all working hard to gift you breakouts on the chin, jawline and around the nose. Load up on acne fighting products, exfoliate your skin and keep it as clean as possible.
Written by Sanya Hamdani on Dec 12, 2018
Sanya Hamdani is a skincare enthusiast and lipstick hoarder, she truly believes no two red lipsticks look exactly alike. With a Master's degree in Communication & Journalism and 5+ years of digital writing experience up her sleeve, Sanya has some of the biggest beauty experts in the country on her speed dial. When she's not swatching products or writing about the latest trends in beauty, you will find her watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.