By Emily Guerin, Menopause Support Mentor and Skin & Wellbeing Therapist
Where My Story Began
My perimenopause journey started much earlier than I had expected.
In 2021, at just thirty-four, I began not feeling like myself. My mood was all over the show, I was anxious, and I was waking in the night with my heart racing and I just couldn’t switch off. My periods became heavier and more erratic, and I started feeling disconnected from myself, like I had lost myself.
Then there was my skin. It felt dry, sensitive, random breakouts appeared, and I had just lost my confidence.
At first, I blamed stress. We were still in the midst of Covid and I was running my business, not sure how things were going to turn out, raising two young children, and just felt so low and had lost joy in anything.
One evening, while watching a Channel 4 documentary with Davina McCall about perimenopause, everything Davina was talking about really resonated with me. I turned to my husband and said, “This is me.” I think what I am experiencing is perimenopause.
I started tracking my symptoms and made an appointment to see my GP. I was so nervous, because of my age I just thought I was going to be fobbed off. I was so wrong. My GP listened and referred me to a specialist. In 2022, I was told that what I was experiencing was early perimenopause. I felt seen, heard and just really overwhelmed with emotions that I was going crazy.
I started treatment, first for my heavy periods, which did help a little but not with the majority of my symptoms. Then I started using HRT and for the first time in years, I started to feel like myself again. Being listened to really changed everything.
Sadly, I know not every woman has that experience, and that realisation became the driving force behind my mission and why I trained to be a menopause support mentor.
How My Early Perimenopause Has Shaped My Work
At the time, I had already been working in the beauty industry for almost two decades.
My passion has always been helping women feel confident in their own skin, but once I began my own perimenopause journey, I started to see things differently within my own clients and how I worked with them.
Clients started opening up about their menopause experiences too. They’d share how their skin had changed, becoming drier, duller or more reactive, alongside other symptoms like fatigue, low mood, lack of sleep, low energy and confidence. We had lots of laughs about menopause and a few cries too.
So many of them said the same thing: “I just don’t feel like me anymore.”
Those conversations made me realise that my role was about much more than skincare and treatments. I was holding space for women to talk about how they were feeling physically, mentally and emotionally.
That’s when I began weaving together everything I knew about skin health, holistic wellbeing and menopause education to create a 360 approach that truly supported my clients through menopause. Most of all, I wanted them to feel safe.
The Women I See In My Salon Every Day
Every week, women walk into my salon feeling tired, overwhelmed and unsure of what’s happening to their bodies. They’ve noticed changes to their skin and their confidence, and they want to feel like themselves again.
They’ll say things like:
• “My skin feels so dry and tight.”
• “Everything I use suddenly irritates me.”
• “I’m getting spots again for the first time in years.”
• “My skin’s oily one week and flaky the next.”
What I’ve learned is that these conversations are never just about skin. They’re about identity, confidence, and the need to feel seen and supported.
Many of the women that come to me are often holding everything together: careers, families, everyday life, but inside, they’re running on empty. Their wellbeing is at the bottom of all their priorities and some days they can’t be bothered to cleanse their skin before bedtime, and that’s ok.
And that’s why I believe in treating not just the skin, but holistically too.
My Signature Approach
When my clients walk through my door, I start by asking them, “How are you really feeling?”
Because skin doesn’t just respond to what we put on it. It responds to stress, sleep, hormones and lifestyle.
I look at the whole picture: how she’s sleeping, what her energy is like, how she’s managing stress and whether she’s finding time to rest and have some time for herself. Once I understand that, we create a plan together.
I combine advanced skin treatments with holistic therapies and education on menopause, so they have a little more understanding of what’s going on. I use my signature technique of combining my 22 years as a therapist with my holistic approaches, experience of my own perimenopause journey and my menopause mentoring skills. It could be a combination of LED light therapy, cryotherapy, lymphatic massage, gua sha, microneedling or microcurrent. My signature facials are completely intuitive. I tailor each one in the moment, based on what my client needs that day.
Often, I’ll also include Reiki or guided breathwork to help calm the nervous system and deeply relax my client.
The Skin Changes I See Most
- Through my own journey and the women I work with, I’ve noticed some clear patterns in how skin changes during perimenopause and menopause.
- Sensitivity and redness become more common as the skin’s natural barrier weakens.
- Dryness and dehydration often appear because the skin loses moisture more easily.
- Breakouts and congestion can occur as hormone levels fluctuate.
- Oiliness may increase for some women, even if they’ve always had dry skin.
Every woman’s skin behaves differently, and that’s why a tailored, gentle approach is essential.
Barrier Support: The Foundation of Healthy Skin
Supporting the skin’s barrier is one of the most important steps during menopause. When the barrier is compromised, the skin can’t protect itself properly, which leads to irritation, redness and sensitivity.
My advice is simple:
- Keep your routine minimal and consistent.
- Use a mild, non-foaming cleanser.
- Look for ingredients such as ceramides, niacinamide and peptides.
- Avoid over-exfoliation.
- Always protect your skin with SPF and hydration.
Once the barrier is repaired, the skin becomes calmer, stronger and more resilient.
The Power of Connection and Care
Some of the most rewarding parts of my work are seeing the change in women as they start to slow down.
Many of my clients arrive feeling tired, overwhelmed and exhausted. By the time they reach menopause, they’ve often been looking after everyone else and just going through the motions of life, like we all do.
I often hear from my clients at the end of their treatment that they didn’t realise how much they needed that treatment, how much better they feel, and they thank me for listening. That means the world to me.
Why Menopause Awareness Month Really Matters To Me
For too long, women have been left to figure menopause out on their own, not feeling seen or heard. My own experience of early perimenopause showed me how powerful it is to be listened to, and that’s something I try to give every woman that I work with.
Every conversation matters. Whether it’s in my salon, in the workplace or over a cup of tea with friends, talking about menopause breaks down stigma and helps women understand what’s happening to their bodies.
When we feel informed and supported, we can navigate menopause with confidence rather than confusion.
Radiance Menopause Is My Motto
Perimenopause has taught me a lot: to slow down, to listen to my body, and to nurture myself in new ways. It reminded me that beauty isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, calm and confidence.
That’s what I now support women to rediscover in themselves.
Emily Guerin
Emily Guerin, Menopause Support Mentor and Skin & Wellbeing Therapist
wellbeing business. Her own perimenopause journey at 35 inspired by her mission: to empower busy women with the knowledge, tools, and treatments they need for healthy, radiant skin and enhanced wellbeing.
With over 20 years’ experience as a qualified skin and wellbeing therapist, Reiki Master, and educator, Emily takes a 360° holistic approach, nurturing body, mind and skin.
Her expertise includes:
– Skin barrier health & menopause skin solutions.
– Holistic wellbeing practices.
– Advanced skin treatments & micro-needling.
– Bespoke Radiance Rituals for women in perimenopause and menopause.
Alongside her salon treatments, Emiy offers menopause support through group programmes and 1:1 coaching.
