(And Why It Works From the Inside Out)

If you’re in your 40s, 50s or beyond and you’ve noticed your skin suddenly feels drier, thinner, itchier, or slower to heal, you’re not imagining it.

Menopause brings real physiological changes to the skin - and many of them start from the inside, not the outside.

One of the most overlooked (yet powerful) tools for supporting menopausal skin is something very simple, very old-fashioned, and very effective:

Gelatin.

What Changes in Skin During Menopause?

As hormones decline, several things happen that directly affect how your skin looks and feels:

Collagen production drops
Skin becomes thinner and less elastic
Moisture retention decreases
Wound healing slows
Inflammation tends to increase
Cortisol (the stress hormone) often runs higher

This is why so many women say:

“My skin suddenly feels like it belongs to someone else.”

Most skincare products try to address this from the outside only - often with ingredients the skin doesn’t recognise or use very well.

Gelatin works differently.

It supports the raw materials your skin is made from.

What Exactly Is Gelatin?

Gelatin is derived from collagen-rich animal tissues - things like bones, skin, and connective tissue. Traditionally, humans consumed gelatin regularly through:

Bone broth
Slow-cooked stews
Jellies and aspics

Modern diets, however, are often heavy in muscle meats and very low in connective tissue - which creates an imbalance in amino acids.

And that imbalance matters, especially for menopausal women.

Gelatin Provides the Exact Building Blocks Skin Needs

Your skin is largely made of collagen, and collagen is built from specific amino acids - particularly:

Glycine
Proline
Hydroxyproline

Gelatin is rich in all three.

These amino acids are essential for:

Skin firmness and elasticity
Structural integrity of the dermis
Faster repair and regeneration
Stronger nails and hair

When collagen production drops during menopause, supplying these building blocks becomes even more important.

Think of gelatin as nutritional scaffolding for your skin.

Glycine: The Unsung Hero for Menopausal Skin

One of gelatin’s most powerful components is glycine - and it deserves special attention.

Glycine:

Supports collagen synthesis
Helps reduce inflammation
Calms the nervous system
Lowers excess cortisol
Improves sleep quality

Why does this matter for skin?

Because high cortisol breaks down collagen.

Many menopausal women are unknowingly stuck in a stress-dominant state - poor sleep, blood sugar dips, anxiety, over-exercise, under-eating. Glycine helps gently counteract that.

Better sleep + lower stress hormones = better skin repair overnight.

Gelatin Helps Balance a High-Protein Diet

A lot of women are encouraged to “eat more protein” as they age - but this advice is often incomplete.

Muscle meats are high in inflammatory amino acids like methionine and cysteine. Without balancing amino acids like glycine, this can actually increase stress and accelerate ageing.

Gelatin balances muscle meat intake, making protein more supportive rather than stressful - especially for menopausal metabolism.

This balance shows up visibly in the skin.

Supports Gut Health (Which Directly Affects Skin)

If you’ve ever noticed that your skin flares when your digestion is off, there’s a reason for that.

Gelatin helps:

Strengthen the gut lining
Support intestinal repair
Reduce gut-derived inflammation

A calmer, healthier gut means:

Better nutrient absorption
Less systemic inflammation
Fewer skin flare-ups (itching, redness, dryness)

Skin health truly begins in the gut.

Gelatin Supports Skin Hydration From Within

Topical moisturisers can help seal moisture in - but they don’t create hydration.

Gelatin helps your body:

Improve water retention in tissues
Strengthen the extracellular matrix
Maintain skin plumpness and resilience

This is particularly important during menopause, when skin often feels “crepey” or papery rather than simply dry.

Works Beautifully Alongside Topical Skincare

This is where inside-out care really shines.

Gelatin provides the internal raw materials, while a high-quality body butter (made with skin-compatible fats) supports the external barrier.

When your skin has:

Enough collagen building blocks internally
Enough saturated, stable fats externally

You get better results than either approach alone.

This is why so many women notice the biggest changes when they combine nutrition with thoughtful skincare.

Easy Ways to Add Gelatin to Your Routine

You don’t need to overhaul your life to benefit from gelatin. Simple options include:

Homemade gelatin gummies
Gelatin stirred into warm drinks
Gelatin-rich soups and stews
Bone broth (with enough gelatin to set when cooled)

Consistency matters more than quantity.

Small amounts, regularly, can make a noticeable difference over time.

The Takeaway

Menopausal skin doesn’t need harsher treatments, stronger actives, or more synthetic ingredients.

It needs:

Support
Nourishment
Familiar building blocks

Gelatin provides exactly that.

It’s not a quick fix - it’s a foundational nutrient that helps your skin function as it was designed to.

When you support your skin from the inside, the outside finally has something to work with.

And that’s when real change happens.

Want Help Getting Started With Gelatin?

If you’re reading this and thinking “That sounds great, but I don’t really know how to use gelatin day-to-day” - I’ve got you covered.

When you sign up on my website, you’ll receive my free Gelatin Recipe Ebook, created especially with skin health (and menopausal metabolism) in mind.

Inside, you’ll find:

Simple gelatin gummies
Comforting puddings and desserts
Easy ways to add gelatin to everyday meals
Recipes designed to support skin, joints, digestion, and sleep

They’re gentle, nourishing, and easy to fit into real life - no complicated prep or obscure ingredients.

If you want to support your skin from the inside out, this is a lovely place to start.

👉 Sign up on the website to receive your free Gelatin Recipe Ebook “Glow From Within” straight to your inbox.

Why Gelatin Is So Good for Menopausal Women’s Skin