Episode Overview

Podcast: ASCP Esty Talk
Episode: Ep 382 – Perimenopause in the Treatment Room
Date: March 25, 2026
Hosts: Maggie Stasik (ASCP Program Director), Ella Cressman (Licensed Esthetician, Organic Formulator)

Theme:
This episode offers an in-depth discussion of perimenopause and how it appears in the esthetic treatment room. The conversation examines the cultural and commercial rise of perimenopause awareness, its impact on clients’ skin, and the necessity for estheticians to provide adaptive, personalized care and education for clients navigating hormonal changes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Cultural Shift: Perimenopause in the Spotlight

• Rising Awareness & Demand

  • Perimenopause-related search interests have surged (over 50% YoY in some reports); the global market around perimenopausal health and beauty is booming—expected to grow from $9B (2024) to over $12B by 2030.
    • "This definitely isn't a niche whisper anymore. It's a multi billion dollar conversation intersecting beauty, wellness and healthcare. And estheticians are right there in the middle of it." – Maggie [03:44]

• Client Demographics

  • The clients most consistently investing in professional services are women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond, i.e., perimenopausal and menopausal clients.
    • “That’s the group asking about dryness, fluctuating oil levels, sensitivity, hormonal breakouts, pigmentation, [and] aging concerns.” – Maggie [05:47]

Recognizing Perimenopause in the Consultation & Treatment Room

• Consultation is Key

  • Perimenopausal signs often emerge in the consultation; practitioners must open conversations around symptoms and lifestyle, guiding treatment choices from there.
    • “It happens in the consultation...which opens the conversation with the clients on potential causes...that then shifts what we do in the treatment room.” – Ella [04:00]

• Holistic Approach and Education

  • Clients are seeking answers and guidance for symptoms that can change day-to-day: “Things change day to day. I had oily skin yesterday. Today I have like parched skin.” – Ella [06:12]

Treatment Planning: Adaptive & Customized Care

• Simplicity & Flexibility

  • Simplify routines; create a core group of products, then add specialty items as needed for shifting conditions.
    • “Have a core group of products that are kind of like your wave riders...and then you bring in specialties later and explain when and how to use them one at a time.” – Ella [07:04]

• Education Builds Trust

  • Listening, validating, and educating clients is crucial to building long-term trust.
    • “Take the time to first of all, listen...and then explain why this is happening and then explain how to ride with it. It creates trust.” – Ella [09:02]

• Products and Protocols

  • Use every-day “neutral” products, supplement as needed. Encourage clients to get to know their skin's fluctuations.
    • “At home, I have the basic neutral products...today my skin needs X, I can pull that from the cabinet.” – Maggie [08:22]

Holistic Health & Lifestyle Conversations

• Beyond Skin Care

  • Clients inquire about sleep, stress, gut health, intimacy, and wellness practices—all impact the skin and treatment approach.
    • “Clients are asking about routines that support these fluctuating skin conditions...Sleep patterns, stress response, gut health, even intimacy changes—all of which can impact the skin indirectly.” – Maggie [09:40]

• Hormone Therapies Impact

  • Many clients use hormone replacement or adjustment therapies (creams, pills, shots, pellets), which can trigger skin changes and require careful consultation.
    • “If they’re on a hormone therapy, understanding, is it a cream, is it a pill, is it a shot, or is it these pellets? Because you’ll have a spike and then a decline...” – Ella [10:49]

Structured Protocols vs. Adaptability

• Adaptive Expertise is Essential

  • While structure creates consistency, perimenopausal skin requires adaptability; estheticians must be comfortable adjusting protocols in real time.
    • “A client discharged from the same protocol two weeks apart may present completely different skin needs based on sleep patterns, stress or hormone fluctuations.” – Maggie [11:58]
    • “I don’t like the word structured protocols...you need to be able to substitute and fix and keep it completely customizable.” – Ella [12:55]

• Protocol Example

  • Treatments can deviate based on client need (e.g., a post-blepharoplasty client received gentle hydration and lymphatic work, not a ‘standard’ facial).
    • “Her skin was completely different...what we did was just purely hydrating and just gently doing some lymphatic movements.” – Ella [14:23]

Empowerment Over “Fixing” the Problem

• Realistic Goals

  • Estheticians’ role is not to ‘fix’ hormonal skin issues, but to empower clients with adaptable routines, knowledge, and support as symptoms fluctuate.
    • “Honestly, holding their hand while they’re riding the wave. Because you can fix something one day that’s gonna break the next...So holding their hand and saying, this is going to happen, you’re gonna get a pimple, you’re gonna be okay.” – Ella [17:19]

• Basic Routine Recommendations

  • Emphasize a good cleanser, a universal (not too heavy, not too light) moisturizer, skin-brightening agents, and a night cream—clients should be taught when to use which based on their skin’s daily needs.
    • “Explaining this is when you’re going to feel dry...when you feel oily, you know, don’t use that that day.” – Ella [17:19]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the industry shift:

  • “This definitely isn't a niche whisper anymore. It's a multi billion dollar conversation intersecting beauty, wellness and healthcare. And estheticians are right there in the middle of it.” – Maggie [03:44]

• On understanding clients’ daily changes:

  • “Things change day to day. I had oily skin yesterday. Today I have like parched skin.” – Ella [06:12]

• On protocol rigidity:

  • “It's TJ Maxx at my place—it's never the same place twice, you know.” – Ella [13:45]

• On the esthetician’s role:

  • “Honestly, holding their hand while they're riding the wave? Because you can fix something one day that's gonna break the next. It just is. It is what it is.” – Ella [17:19]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:31 – Show intro, topic announcement
• 03:44 – Perimenopause’s cultural/commercial moment
• 04:00 – How perimenopause presents in consultation
• 05:25 – Core client demographic in treatment room
• 07:04 – Treatment design: core products & education
• 09:40 – Clients seek holistic support, not just product advice
• 10:49 – Navigating hormone therapies and their skin impact
• 11:58 – Structure vs. adaptability in protocols
• 14:23 – Real-life protocol adaptation example
• 17:19 – Empowering vs. “fixing” hormonal skin shifts

Conclusion

This episode underscores how perimenopause has moved center stage in skin care, urging estheticians to provide adaptive, holistic solutions. Success lies not in rigid protocols or promises to ‘fix’ ever-changing hormones, but in empowering clients through education, flexibility, and compassionate support—“holding their hand while they ride the wave.”