Your skin changes with age, hormones, stress, and life. Your skincare may need to change, too. 

By Kasia Bookmiller 

Have you ever wondered why a moisturizer or serum that worked beautifully for years suddenly doesn’t seem to work anymore? The answer may be simple: Your skin has changed. More than age, factors like hormonal changes, stress, medications, health conditions, weather, sun exposure, diet, and lifestyle affect how skin looks and feels. That means the skincare routine that worked at 35 may not be what your skin needs at 45, 55, or 65. 

As a medicinal chemist and skincare formulator, I have spent more than 15 years studying ingredients and how they interact with the skin. One of the most important lessons I have learned is that no single formula is right for everyone. That understanding led me to create Beauty Biology, a personalized approach to determining what is happening with a person’s skin now—and what may help.

For example, someone who suddenly develops dry, sensitive skin may assume she simply needs a heavier moisturizer. But dryness can have many causes. The skin’s natural protective barrier may be weakened. Hormonal changes may be reducing natural oil production. Stress, health changes, or environmental conditions may also be contributing. Understanding what may be behind the change helps determine which ingredients and products make the most sense. 

During an in-person Beauty Biology consultation, I discuss each client’s concerns, current products, lifestyle, health factors, and the changes she has noticed. I also use digital skin analysis to gather additional information. From there, I develop recommendations for a practical morning and evening skincare routine. 

For women seeking an even more individualized approach, Beauty Biology Formulary takes personalization a step further. Each client begins with an in-depth skin assessment. I personally review the information and create an individualized serum, selecting the base, botanicals, and active ingredients based on how that person’s skin is functioning now. In other words, instead of standing in front of a shelf filled with serums and trying to guess which one is right for you, your formula can be created specifically for your skin.  

This individualized approach can be especially helpful during perimenopause and menopause, when hormonal changes can affect moisture, sensitivity, texture, and how skin responds to familiar products. It can also help women who buy product after product without understanding why their skin isn’t responding as expected. 

Most importantly, changes in skin don’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Skin evolves throughout our lives. Understanding those changes can ease much of the confusion and frustration of caring for it—and help women make better choices about what they put on their skin. 

Beauty Biology consultations are available in person at Spa 400 in Williamsville and virtually. Personalized Beauty Biology Formulary skincare is also available through BGO Beauty. 

Kasia Bookmiller is a medicinal chemist, formulator, Holistic Skincare Educator, founder of Buffalo Gal Organics, and creator of Beauty Biology. Learn more at BGOBeauty.com or call her at 585-689-4956.