Two Ingredients Your Skin Needs Right Now
- Natalian Williams
- Dec 29, 2025
- 2 min read
If you’re in your 40s and noticing your skin feels drier, thinner, or less resilient, you’re not imagining it.
Two ingredients stand out for being science-backed, gentle, and incredibly effective:
During perimenopause, subtle hormonal shifts — especially changes in estrogen — can affect how well your skin holds onto moisture, repairs itself, and maintains thickness. The good news? You don’t need hormone creams or complicated routines to support your skin at this stage.
Urea and niacinamide.
What’s Happening to Skin in Perimenopause?
As estrogen gradually fluctuates, skin may:
Lose moisture more easily
Feel thinner or “papery”
Become more sensitive
Recover more slowly from dryness or irritation
At this stage, the goal isn’t to “fight aging” — it’s to support the skin barrier, improve hydration, and encourage resilience.
Why Urea Is a Game-Changer for Dry Skin
Urea is a naturally occurring compound already present in healthy skin. When used in skincare (at the right concentration), it:
Draws water into the skin (deep hydration)
Softens rough, dry texture
Helps strengthen the skin barrier
Improves the feel of thinning or crepey skin
💡 Best concentration for face & body: 5–10%
(Higher percentages are better reserved for feet or very thick skin.)
Why Niacinamide Complements Urea Perfectly
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) works differently — and that’s why it pairs so well with urea.
It helps:
Boost ceramide production (skin’s natural lipids)
Improve skin thickness and elasticity
Calm sensitivity and redness
Strengthen the barrier over time
💡 Ideal concentration: 2–5%
(Higher isn’t better for sensitive or hormonally shifting skin.)
Why Using Them Together Works So Well
Urea hydrates and softens, while niacinamide strengthens and fortifies.
Together, they:
Reduce dryness
Improve texture
Help skin feel more resilient and “supported”
Work beautifully for full-body use
This is especially helpful during perimenopause, when skin needs consistency and barrier repair, not aggressive treatments.
Recommended Body Lotions with BOTH Urea + Niacinamide
Prequel Urea Advanced Relief Moisturizing Milk
10% urea + niacinamide
Deep hydration without heaviness
Suitable for face and body
Excellent for dry, thinning, or sensitive skin
Best for: All-over daily use if dryness is your main concern.
BYOMA Brightening Body Lotion
Urea + niacinamide in a lightweight texture
Absorbs quickly
Helps smooth and gently brighten skin
Best for: Everyday body hydration with a lighter, silky feel.
La Roche‑Posay Lipikar Urea 10% Smoothing Lotion – Classic urea-rich body lotion with intense hydration (up to 48 h) for rough, dry skin
How to Use for Best Results
✔ Apply right after showering while skin is still slightly damp
✔ Use once daily (twice if very dry)
✔ Be consistent — results build over weeks, not days
For extra dry areas (arms, thighs, lower legs), you can apply a slightly thicker layer or seal with a few drops of oil on top.
What You
Don’t
Need Right Now
Hormone creams (for mild skin changes)
“Hormone-balancing” topical products
Strong exfoliants or retinoids on the body
At this stage, support > stimulation.
The Takeaway
Perimenopause skin doesn’t need extremes — it needs hydration, barrier support, and consistency.
Urea + niacinamide deliver exactly that:
Gentle
Effective
Non-hormonal
Suitable for daily, full-body use
Supporting your skin now helps it stay stronger, calmer, and more resilient for years to come.
