Breaking Out Again? Here’s the Real Reason (and What Helps)

Apr 2, 2025

That breakout that shows up like clockwork before your period? It’s not random—it’s hormonal. Your body’s in its luteal phase, which means estrogen is dipping, progesterone is rising, and your skin is feeling all of it. Oil production ramps up, pores clog more easily, and inflammation levels rise—creating the perfect little storm for those annoying chin spots or surprise jawline clusters. But before you reach for every acid on your shelf, take a breath. Your skin isn’t betraying you. It’s just responding to your internal rhythm.

🔍 What’s Actually Going On

During the week or so before your period, hormonal shifts can:

  • Increase sebum (oil) production

  • Slow skin cell turnover (hello, clogged pores)

  • Shift your skin’s pH, making it more breakout-prone

  • Spark inflammation, especially if stress or poor sleep are also in the mix

It’s a lot. But the answer isn’t to fight your skin—it’s to support it.

🌿 Skin-Soothing Steps That Actually Help

This is the time to simplify, not go into panic mode. Your skin is already in a delicate state—it needs calm, not chaos.

Try this gentle routine:

  • Cleanse softly, once or twice a day, with a non-stripping, creamy or gel cleanser

  • Apply a calming serum with niacinamide, green tea, or chamomile

  • Don’t skip moisturizer—even if your skin feels oily. A light, hydrating formula can actually help rebalance oil production

  • Spot treat only where needed (a little salicylic acid or sulfur is plenty)

  • And seriously, resist the urge to pop, scrub, or over-mask

🚫 Don’t Overdo It

Your skin doesn’t need to be “fixed.” It needs to be understood. Over-cleansing or loading up on actives like retinoids, acids, and strong exfoliants can do more harm than good right now. Think support, not stress.

Consistency and kindness will take you so much further than aggressive treatments ever could.

💛 Your Skin Is Talking—Not Misbehaving

That breakout isn’t here to ruin your glow. It’s here to remind you: your body is shifting, cycling, recalibrating. And your skin? It’s just reflecting that internal dance.

So instead of fighting it, meet it with grace. Hydrate. Sleep. Breathe. Dab on a little tea tree oil if it feels right. And know that your glow isn’t gone—it’s just taking a soft little pause.

Balance always comes back. And in the meantime, so can your confidence.