Menopause in the Treatment Room – Reframing Aging & Honoring Skin
- Summer Murphy
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Reframe the way you care for your skin during menopause with holistic facials and expert guidance. This is your new approach to evolving skin—rooted in support, not “anti-aging.”
Aging is a Privilege
Your beauty is evolving. Aging brings wisdom, confidence, and deep self-awareness. It’s a reflection of the time we’ve spent getting to know ourselves. As we step into new seasons of life, we carry with us not only a deeper level of personal mastery, but also the opportunity to be tradition keepers in our communities and conscious stewards of our bodies.
And while aging is a gift, it’s also a time when things begin to shift—especially in our physical bodies. Changes in hormones affect our skin, our sleep, our hair, our mood—and it’s natural to want to feel like ourselves as we move through these transitions.
At my studio in San Rafael, California, I offer holistic, personalized facials designed to support women through all stages of hormonal change—including perimenopause and menopause. My goal is to create a space where acceptance and action can both exist: where you can honor your age and care for your skin with intention.
Reframing Aging
For years, the phrase “anti-aging” has dominated the skincare industry. But the truth is: aging isn’t something to fight—it’s something to reimagine. Menopausal skin is not just older skin. It’s biologically different, and it deserves a different conversation.
Let’s start there.
Menopause & Skin Physiology
The hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause—particularly the drop in estrogen and progesterone—trigger complex changes in the skin.
Estrogen supports collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production. When it declines, we may notice thinner skin, reduced firmness, increased dryness, and heightened sensitivity.
Progesterone also plays a role in cell turnover and hydration. Its decline contributes to dullness, slower healing, and more reactive skin.
This isn’t just aging. It’s hormonal aging—and it needs a different approach.
What Menopausal Skin Can Look Like:
Loss of volume and firmness in the lower face, neck, and jaw
Deepening of nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and crow’s feet
New onset dryness, rough texture, or rosacea-like flushing
Sensitivity to products that never caused issues before
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from previous treatments
Chin and jawline breakouts due to hormonal shifts
Slower healing and reduced response to aggressive treatments
The Shift: From Anti-Aging to Skin Support
In the treatment room, we intentionally shift away from aggressive modalities and harsh resurfacing treatments that may have worked well in the past but can now cause irritation or sensitivity. Instead, we embrace a supportive, barrier-first philosophy—prioritizing the health and resilience of your skin’s natural protective layer. We also are increasingly aware of the decrease in collagen production so we introduce ways we can safely stimulate our natural production of collagen.
Because menopausal skin often becomes thinner and more reactive, what your skin tolerated before might now feel uncomfortable or cause inflammation. This isn’t a setback; it’s simply a sign that your skin’s needs have evolved.
By focusing on rebuilding and strengthening the skin barrier, we reduce sensitivity, lock in hydration, and create a calm environment where the skin can heal and thrive. This thoughtful approach not only protects your skin in the present but also lays the foundation for healthier, more radiant skin as you age gracefully.
Evolving your routine with gentler, nourishing treatments helps you move away from the cycle of irritation and repair, giving your skin the support it truly needs during this transformative stage.
Holistic Home Rituals for Hormonal Skin
Support isn’t just topical. Here are some powerful ways to nourish menopausal skin from within:
Eat plenty of Omega-3s and colorful fruits + vegetables
Stay well hydrated - hydrated skin not only looks better but heals quicker
Incorporate hormone-supportive herbs and teas
Explore lymphatic drainage, acupuncture, or pelvic floor therapy
Regular gentle massage and movement to stimulate circulation
Work with a practitioner for herbs or HRT if desired
What I Offer
As your Esthetician, I have many tools and products to rejuvenate and support your skin—but more than that, I’m here to walk with you through the seasons of your skin. My approach is grounded in both science and soul, offering thoughtful, tailored care that evolves with you.
Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or the years that follow, my goal is always the same: to help you feel as beautiful as you look. If you leave the treatment room with glowing skin but still feel disconnected from your beauty, we’re not finished yet.
This is not a one-time fix. This is a long-term partnership rooted in consistency, intuition, and results-driven care.
Here’s what I bring to the table:
Barrier-repairing ingredients to soothe, hydrate, and rebuild skin depleted by hormonal changes.
Collagen-supportive services like Procell Microchanneling to stimulate fresh collagen and visibly improve texture, firmness, and tone. Or my signature 90 minute treatment, including collagen stimulating LED and/or muscle toning microcurrent.
Support for thinning hair—Procell Microchanneling Scalp Treatment is designed to awaken dormant follicles and support healthy scalp rejuvenation.
Quality Skincare: Ritual Skincare uses potent and targeted product lines in treatment and selectively recommended as part of a customized homecare plan to support skincare goals. Discover product lines here.
Therapeutic facial massage, including lymphatic drainage, sculpting lifting/firming massage, and acupressure, to lift and firm tired facial muscles, stimulate collagen production while calming the nervous system.
If you’re noticing changes in your skin—whether it’s sensitivity, dryness, sagging, or simply a shift in how you feel in your skin— you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Let’s take care of it—together.
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out. I’m here to guide you toward the right solution for your unique goals.
Meet Summer: As a licensed Esthetician and owner of Ritual Skincare by Summer in San Rafael, California, I specialize in guiding clients toward their skincare aspirations through personalized treatments and thoughtful regimen design. I believe that healthy, glowing skin begins with knowledge. I'm dedicated to sharing my insights and expertise, empowering you on your beautifying journey.
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