So what exactly is it about menopause and ageing that makes women feel this way?

In our survey, we also asked women what the hardest aspects of being 50+ are, and some of the most compelling answers went beyond skin deep. We received sentiments such as:

• “Looking at a face that doesn’t represent how I feel inside.”

• “Losing a certain amount of self-confidence and acquiring older looking skin.”

• “Not being seen as valuable by the younger generation.”

• “Being less visible.”

• “I’m struggling with the way I am seen as a ‘thing’, a stereotype - a middle-aged woman, rather than just a woman.”

These women also listed concerns such as feeling young but looking older, changes to their skin, body and hair due to menopause and their overall appearance as the hardest aspects of being 50+.

92% of all the women in the research admitted that they worried about the physical effects of ageing on their skin, and 80% noticing changes to their skin during menopause. Some of these changes were identified as sagging skin, more wrinkles, enlarged pores and dullness, but the biggest culprit, affecting more than three quarters of women, was hydration.

Here’s why: perimenopausal (the stage before menopause) and menopausal skin experience a significant imbalance to hormones and a decline of estrogen – a powerhouse hormone that stimulates collagen production and oils in the skin that help to retain moisture. Estrogen is vital for maintaining skin hydration, but studies show that a woman is likely to lose 30% of her collagen in the first 5 years of menopause, often causing noticeable appearance of wrinkles and dehydrated skin.

In her book, “This Changes Everything”, an honest guide to menopause and perimenopause, author Niki Bezzant says the changes in our skin when we age come down to a combination of lifestyle and genetics, compounded by hormonal change: “We have oestrogen receptors all over our bodies, from our brains to our little toe joints. That includes our skin. So it’s no surprise we see skin changes happening in midlife and beyond.”

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The women surveyed were asked what the best thing was about being 50+. It was found that Kiwi women also embrace this new stage of life with wisdom, clarity and a sense of liberation. Over the years, it seems women 50+ have developed the ability to not sweat the small stuff and learnt to identify what truly brought joy to carve out more precious time with family.

Niki imparts this wisdom to her readers; “Lastly, we can re-frame how we see ourselves as we get older. We’re conditioned to believe that youthful = beautiful; most of us have grown up with that narrative, reinforced by endless marketing messages and social and cultural norms. Learning to accept our changing faces might be hard, but it will make us feel better. Think of the older women in your life who you love; I bet you think they are beautiful just as they are. You are beautiful, too.”

There’s also a growing number of recognisable Kiwi women who resonate Age Fearless within this age bracket. Survey participants identified the likes of Hillary Barry, Robyn Malcolm, Petra Bagust and Rachel Hunter who are inspirational for how they embrace the journey of ageing.