Collagen loss during and after menopause is one of the most significant - and least discussed - changes in a woman's skin health. Within the first five years following menopause, research indicates that women can lose up to 30% of their skin's collagen content. For context, the gradual age-related decline we experience from our mid-twenties onward is estimated at around 1-2% per year. Menopause does not simply continue that trajectory. It accelerates it, sharply and suddenly.

Understanding why this happens and what is actually occurring at a cellular level is the first step towards addressing it with the rigour it deserves.

This is a guide to what is happening in the skin during perimenopause and menopause, what the science says, and how to build a routine that works with skin at this stage - rather than against it.

What collagen does, and why it matters

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the skin, accounting for the majority of the dermis by dry weight. Type I collagen, in particular, provides the structural scaffolding that keeps skin firm, resilient and smooth. Alongside elastin - which gives skin its recoil - and hyaluronic acid, which holds water in the dermis, collagen forms the foundation of what is often described as “youthful-looking” skin.

Collagen production is not static. Fibroblasts, the cells responsible for making collagen, are constantly producing new fibres while older ones are broken down and recycled. In a well-functioning system, production keeps pace with breakdown, and the skin remains structurally sound.

That balance begins to shift with age. From the mid-twenties onward, collagen production gradually slows. But the sharpest, most visible change tends to arrive alongside menopause - and the reason is hormonal.

How menopause affects collagen: the science

The oestrogen connection

Oestrogen is one of the most influential regulators of skin health. It binds to receptors on fibroblasts, where it signals them to produce collagen, supports the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, and contributes to skin thickness, moisture and wound repair.

During perimenopause - the years leading up to menopause - oestrogen levels begin to fluctuate, then decline. By the time a person reaches menopause, oestrogen has dropped significantly. Post-menopause, it remains low.

When oestrogen falls, the signals that drive collagen production weaken. Fibroblast activity slows. At the same time, collagen-degrading enzymes in the skin become more active. The result is a widening gap between what the skin is building and what it is losing.

The numbers behind the shift

Research on skin changes after menopause is consistent on one striking point: the rate of collagen loss in the early post-menopausal years is significantly faster than in the years before. 

These changes are independent of chronological age - they correlate more closely with years since menopause than with the calendar. Two women of the same age may have very different skin profiles depending on where they are in the menopausal transition.

What this looks like on the skin

The biology translates into changes that are often felt before they are clinically measured. Common observations during and after menopause include:

• A loss of firmness, particularly along the jawline, neck and décolleté
• A softening of facial contours and a sense of reduced “structure”
• More visible fine lines and deeper lines that previously felt superficial
• Skin that feels thinner, drier or less resilient than it used to
• A general loss of bounce or elasticity

None of these changes indicates that anything is wrong with the skin. They reflect a natural biological shift - one that can be supported thoughtfully with the right approach.

What topical skincare can and cannot do

It is worth being honest about the limits of topical products, because the skincare market often is not.

Collagen molecules, on their own, are too large to pass through the epidermis and reach the dermis, where new collagen is produced. A cream that contains collagen cannot deposit that collagen into the skin's structural layer. What it can do is help the skin feel more hydrated and look temporarily smoother at the surface.

The more meaningful path is different. Rather than attempting to add collagen from the outside, skincare can work by supporting the skin's own ability to produce it - using ingredients that create the conditions fibroblasts need to function well.

This is the approach behind the Zelens Collagen Solution Firming Serum, and the approach Dr. Marko Lens has taken throughout his career.

“As a doctor, I’ve dedicated my career to understanding the intricate science of skin health. It’s a common misconception that simply applying topical creams or taking supplements can directly replenish collagen. The truth is, the production of our skin’s collagen network is governed by a complex interplay of biochemical pathways. Many products promise to add collagen, but the reality is far more nuanced. My philosophy, and the driving force behind our new formula, is that true collagen enhancement comes from within. We must support the skin’s innate ability to produce collagen faster and more efficiently.”

• Dr. Marko Lens, Founder and Formulator of Zelens

What to look for in skincare during menopause

A considered approach to menopausal skin does a few things at once: it supports the skin's own collagen production, reinforces the barrier, delivers moisture where it is needed, and protects against environmental stressors that accelerate collagen breakdown. The following ingredient categories are consistently relevant.

Ingredients that support the skin's collagen production

Certain botanicals and bio-actives are known for properties that help support the environment in which fibroblasts function - including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and photo-protective activity, all of which help preserve existing collagen while supporting the production of new fibres.

Peptides and skin-identical actives

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that serve as signalling molecules in the skin. Certain peptides, combined with skin-identical bio-actives, are used in modern formulations to communicate with fibroblasts.

Humectants and hydrators

Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and other humectants help replenish the water content in the skin, which declines in parallel with collagen after menopause. Well-hydrated skin also tends to appear plumper, smoother and more elastic.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help neutralise the free radicals that damage collagen fibres. Polyphenols, lycopene, vitamin E and similar compounds are studied for their protective activity.

Daily sun protection

UV exposure is the single largest accelerator of extrinsic collagen loss. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is non-negotiable at every stage of life, and especially relevant during menopause, when the skin's own defences are under additional pressure.

Introducing the Collagen Solution Firming Serum

The Collagen Solution Firming Serum was developed with exactly this context in mind - a generation of skin navigating collagen change. At its core is CM-5S™, a proprietary botanical complex personally developed by Dr. Marko Lens.

CM-5S™ is a hyperfermented blend of five Sicilian botanicals: Pantelleria Caper, Siccagno Tomato, Red Grape, Sicilian Manna and Prickly Pear. Each is selected for properties ranging from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity to the presence of copper, a cofactor essential for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin fibres.

In independent in-vitro testing, the CM-5S™ complex was shown to boost Type I collagen production by over 600% in only 10 days.

Alongside CM-5S™, the formula combines a skin-identical vegan collagen polypeptide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and a tripeptide, within a silky, lightweight base. The serum is designed to deliver four functions in a single application:

• Helps support the skin's natural collagen production for visibly firmer, smoother skin
• Promotes skin's natural barrier recovery
• Replenishes skin's moisture
• Strengthens skin's resilience to environmental stressors through the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of active molecules

A clinical trial designed with menopausal skin in mind

The testing behind the Collagen Solution was a deliberate choice. Rather than running trials on younger skin - where collagen is still abundant, and results are easier to achieve - Dr. Lens directed the clinical study to include women aged 57–70, precisely the group most affected by menopausal and post-menopausal collagen change.

“We always do extensive testing on all of our products on many volunteers, but this particular type of product has been tested on menopausal women. These women are experiencing loss of collagen and loss of firmness, and I wanted to see how the Collagen Solution can help menopausal women with problems associated with collagen loss.”

- Dr. Marko Lens

The results of that independent clinical trial, conducted with 30 participants aged 57–70 over 28 days, showed measurable improvement across three key parameters: Decrease in wrinkle depth (crow’s feet area) up to 49.0%, decrease in wrinkle depth (nasolabial fold) up to 25%, and lifting of the jawline up to 3.71 mm.

The Collagen Solution Firming Serum is suitable for all skin types and fragrance-free. It is formulated for daily use, morning and evening, applied before moisturiser to the face, neck and décolleté.

Frequently asked questions

At what age does menopausal collagen loss typically begin?

Changes often begin during perimenopause, which for many starts in the mid-forties, though it varies. The sharpest shift tends to occur in the first few years after the final menstrual period. The correlation is with years since menopause rather than chronological age.

Can topical skincare reverse menopausal collagen loss?

No product can rebuild the dermis to a pre-menopausal state. What well-formulated skincare can do is help support the skin's own collagen production, reinforce the barrier, replenish moisture and help protect against environmental stressors that accelerate breakdown - which, over time, can visibly improve firmness, smoothness and hydration.

When will I see results from the Collagen Solution Firming Serum?

In the independent clinical trial, measurable improvements in hydration, firmness and elasticity were recorded over 10 days of twice-daily use. As with any skincare, results build with consistent use over time.

Can I use the Collagen Solution Firming Serum alongside other Zelens products?

Yes. The serum is designed to integrate into a wider routine. It is applied after cleansing and before moisturiser, and layers comfortably with other serums, treatments and creams. We recommend combining with our Peptide Complex and Power A for an optimised anti-ageing routine.

Menopause changes skin because it changes the biology beneath it. Oestrogen decline slows fibroblast activity, accelerates collagen degradation and thins the dermis - in ways that are measurable, well-documented and not the result of anything done wrong. Understanding this shift makes it easier to respond to it with care rather than alarm.

The most useful skincare during this stage is not skincare that promises to turn back time. It is skincare that works with the skin's own biology - supporting its natural collagen production, reinforcing its barrier, replenishing moisture and protecting against the environmental stressors that accelerate breakdown.

The Collagen Solution Firming Serum was developed with exactly that skin in mind.

Shop the Collagen Solution Firming Serum