HRT Skin Before and After: My 12-Month Results and Experience
Personal Review Note: This post reflects my personal experience, individual setup, and skin response over 12 months. Hormone therapy affects everyone differently depending on dosage, delivery method, starting skin baseline, and individual biology. Consult a medical provider for personalized healthcare advice.
This blog is a personal reflection of my seven years on Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy. For the first few years, I relied solely on systemic, whole-body HRT.
Then a few years ago, a telehealth provider I was using introduced an estriol face cream, followed by an estrogen-based eye cream. Out of curiosity, I decided to opt in—I wanted to see firsthand whether topical estrogen face creams could deliver results that traditional skincare simply couldn't match.
My Journey from Age 52 to 59
Looking back, HRT wasn't the only major change I made during this period—but it was definitely the catalyst. The positive impact that hormone therapy had on my mind, body, and overall well-being helped me feel better than I had in years. That renewed energy empowered me to lose 40 pounds, which you can clearly see in the close-up photos above (more on my weight loss journey below).
While HRT transformed my skin and energy, it didn't make much of a difference for my hair. So in 2024, I began experimenting with alternative hair. Today, I choose to wear a wig every single day. While some women find wigs frustrating, I find them empowering. My full-time corporate role in sales demands confidence, and since I started wearing wigs, my performance numbers have soared. Looking good and feeling confident changes how you carry yourself—and honestly, people respond to that energy.
If you’ve followed my site, you know I’ve tested several online telehealth HRT providers over the years. I originally started my HRT journey back in December 2019 with a physician I fondly refer to as my "diet doc," and I’ve never looked back. So when these same telehealth platforms began offering prescription estrogen skincare, I jumped right on board to put those creams to the test.
Do You Age Quicker Without HRT?
Looking at my photos today compared to 7 to 10 years ago, I honestly feel like I’ve aged in reverse. Combining systemic HRT with topical estriol (E3) skincare unlocked a whole new level of skin rejuvenation for me.
Not every product was a home run, though. When Alloy released their M4 Estriol Eye Cream, I gave it a try, but to be completely candid, I didn't see a noticeable difference. However, when I switched to Musely’s prescription-grade eye serum, everything changed. That was the breakthrough moment for smoothing out the fine lines and crow’s feet that naturally creep up as we age.
Combining HRT and a GLP-1: Did Hormone Therapy Protect My Skin from Ozempic Face?
Systemic HRT helped me lose nearly 30 pounds, but I won't pretend it was easy. I was constantly battling hunger and pushing through strict intermittent fasting. Eventually, my progress stalled, leaving me with 10 to 15 stubborn pounds I still wanted to drop.
That’s when my HRT clinician at Joi Women’s Wellness suggested a GLP-1. I remember thinking, "Wait, is that something I can actually take?" Combining a GLP-1 with HRT turned out to be the ultimate game-changer. While the GLP-1 unlocked effortless weight loss, hormone therapy protected my skin and collagen.
Pairing HRT with a GLP-1 is honestly one of the best health decisions I’ve ever made. The proof is in the data: my recent lab work showed an A1C was a 5.0—down from over 7.0 before starting the GLP-1.
What Does Estrogen Do for Women? Understanding Its Impact on Skin and Aging
Estrogen plays a central role in maintaining skin structure, hydration, and overall elasticity. As estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, skin undergoes noticeable changes—studies published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology 1 show that women can lose up to 30% of their skin’s dermal collagen in the first five years following menopause, with an additional 2.1% loss each year thereafter.
Estrogen stimulates collagen production, supports natural hyaluronic acid levels, and maintains skin thickness. When estrogen declines, the dermal layer thins, moisture retention drops, and deep fine lines, dry texture, and loss of firmness become much more pronounced.
Integrating estrogen back into your routine—whether through systemic hormone therapy or targeted topical estriol (E3) creams—helps offset this natural drop by directly supporting dermal repair mechanisms.
Clinical research from the Archives of Dermatolog 2 indicates that topical estrogen formulations significantly increase collagen synthesis, improve elastic fiber structure, and boost skin moisture content without altering systemic hormone balances.
For women combining whole-body HRT with prescription topical creams, this double-pronged approach addresses both the internal metabolic shifts of menopause and the localized structural needs of the skin, creating a noticeable revitalizing effect on texture, plumpness, and hydration over time.
HRT Skin Before and After: My 12-Month Results and Experience
Now, I’m not saying any of this to brag—I didn't invent Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone; God did! But I can tell you that at least every other week, someone looks at me and says, "There is no way you are almost 60."
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not always as consistent as I should be with diet and exercise, but I am fiercely diligent about three things: my weekly GLP-1 injection, my morning and evening skincare routines every single day, and my daily HRT application (unless I plain forget my Oestra by Inner Balance!).
For me, this trio has made all the difference, and I’m deeply grateful I found them when I did. When I look back at late 2019—when I felt so unhappy, fat, and insecure—I realize I am a completely transformed woman today. Finding the right balance of systemic and topical HRT, GLP-1 therapy, and my go-to Raquel Welch wig collection didn't just change my appearance; it gave me my life and confidence back.
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