Somewhere in your forties or fifties, a patch of colour appears that was not there before. It might be a brownish shadow on the upper lip or cheeks, a scatter of freckles on the backs of your hands, or a spot you have never noticed. In Australia, where most of us grew up with a lot of sun, it is a common thing to see.
This guide covers what is behind uneven tone in midlife, how Australian sun guidance works in practice, and how to build sun protection into a menopause routine without it becoming a chore.
What is behind uneven tone
Two things are usually going on, and they overlap. One is accumulated sun: freckles, sun spots and general unevenness build up after years of UV, and they tend to show more as skin gets thinner and drier with age. The other is melasma, a patchy brown discolouration most often seen on the face.
DermNet explains that ultraviolet and visible light promote melanin production in melasma, and lists hormonal factors, including hormone replacement therapy and some contraceptives, among the contributors. It also notes that the pigment can come back with summer sun even after a good result. In its page on menopause and the skin, DermNet says melasma is more common before menopause but can be triggered by hormone therapy.
Put simply, hormones can influence pigment, but sun is the part you can do most about. For a wider picture of the other changes, the foundation guide to perimenopause skin changes is a good start.
How Australian sun guidance works
Cancer Council says to take extra care when the UV Index is 3 or above, and that UV is present every day of the year, even when it is cool or cloudy. The Bureau of Meteorology issues sun protection times when the index is forecast to reach 3 or above, and the SunSmart app shows them for your location.
For most of Australia, that means sun protection is part of an ordinary day for much of the year, not only on beach days. Checking the forecast once, the way you check the weather, is easier than guessing.
A face cream for daily moisture, a targeted eye cream, or both together. Compare the sizes, ingredients and prices before you choose.
The five habits that do the work
Cancer Council's approach has five parts, and sunscreen is only one of them. Sunscreen is described as the last line of defence, not the first.
- Slip on clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
- Slop on sunscreen. Cancer Council recommends SPF 50 or SPF 50+, broad-spectrum and water-resistant, applied 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied at least every two hours.
- Slap on a broad-brimmed or legionnaire style hat that protects the face, neck and ears.
- Seek shade.
- Slide on sunglasses that meet Australian Standards.
If you have melasma, DermNet recommends year-round sun protection with a broad-spectrum, very high protection sunscreen that contains iron oxides, together with a wide-brimmed hat.
Where sunscreen fits in your routine
Sunscreen goes last in the morning, after your moisturiser has absorbed. If you want the order laid out, see the simple morning routine for perimenopause and menopause, and the guide to layering if you use more than a couple of products.
Remember the places that get missed: the neck, the ears, the chest, and the backs of the hands. Our guide to neck and decolletage care covers the neck and chest in more detail.
At night, take sunscreen off properly. The evening routine explains how.
Where moisture and the eye cream fit
Skin that is comfortable and well moisturised looks more even, because dry patches scatter light. That is a modest effect, and it is not the same thing as treating pigmentation. The Peptide Cream is a face and neck cream for day and night, formulated for moisture and comfort, and it is applied before sunscreen in the morning. It is not a pigmentation treatment, and we do not claim it fades spots or melasma.
If you use The Eye Cream, note that it contains retinol. Introduce it gradually, follow the packaging directions, and use sunscreen during the day. Check with your treating professional if your skin is very reactive or you already use a retinoid. For anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a healthcare professional first. The Black Diamond Duo pairs the two for A$397.
Stubborn or worsening pigmentation is worth a conversation with a GP or dermatologist. Prescription lightening treatments are their call, not something to guess at.
Makeup and tinted products
If uneven tone bothers you, a light, well-blended base can even things out on days you want that. It does not replace sunscreen. Unless a product states that it is a sunscreen and you apply enough of it, treat it as cosmetic cover only, and put your sunscreen underneath.
On days you wear a hat and sunglasses, you still need sunscreen on the parts they do not cover. Think of each habit as a layer rather than a substitute for another.
Check your skin, not only your tone
Pigment changes are mostly harmless, but a few changes are not. Cancer Council describes melanoma as a new spot, or an existing spot that changes in colour, size or shape. It also lists moles that grow, develop a notched outline or change from brown to black, and spots that itch, tingle, bleed or weep. Its advice is plain: when in doubt, speak to your GP.
You cannot tell a harmless freckle from a problem by looking at it in the bathroom mirror, and a patch you assume is melasma could be something else. Have a GP look at anything new or changing, and ask whether you should be having regular skin checks.
Your next step
Pick the habit you are least consistent with, hat, sunscreen on the neck or reapplying, and fix that one first. Then book a skin check if you have not had one recently or if something has changed.
If you would like to test a new face cream along the way, trying a new face cream shows how to do it one step at a time. If you have questions about our products, the team is on the support page.