Is it Safe to Put Estrogen On Your Face? The Science Behind It

2 minute read

By: Anne Fulenwider|Last updated: January 21, 2026|Medically reviewed by: Dr. Michelle Montville
Blue-eyed woman with towel turban and bathrobe holding skin cream in one hand, while applying cream to her face. AW557

Summary

Estriol face cream replenishes estrogen lost during menopause, which can reach 30% in five years. Topical estriol increases collagen production, firmness, and elasticity while reducing wrinkles and pore size. Studies confirm it does not increase systemic estrogen levels, making it safe to use alone or with menopausal hormone therapy. Additional ingredients include glycerin and vitamin E.

Here’s why our revolutionary face cream works

Did you know…

Up to 30% of dermal collagen is lost during the first 5 years of menopause?

It decreases by an additional 2.1% every year after that.

Studies have shown that estrogen deficiency is associated with a dramatic reduction in skin health and wellness.

That’s where estriol cream comes in.

The solution to losing estrogen is replenishing it. And the benefits of MHT on skin aging are well-documented. Research has shown that topical estriol can help maintain skin health by increasing collagen production, retaining and restoring skin moisture, increasing skin firmness and elasticity, and decreasing pore size and wrinkle depth. 

In one study, after 6 months of topical estrogen use, skin elasticity and firmness had improved and wrinkle depth and pore size had decreased by 61-100%.

Is it safe to put estriol on your face?

YES. Even if you’re not a candidate for MHT, you can use estriol face cream. Studies have confirmed that like local, topical vaginal estradiol, topical facial estriol does not increase systemic serum levels of estrogen. There are no hormonal side effects.

Can I combine M4 with my MHT?

YES. Because studies have confirmed that local, topical vaginal estradiol, does not increase systemic serum levels of estrogen, you can use M4 cream alone or with other MHT.

Tretinoin bottle

What else is in M4?

Glycerin: It’s an excellent humectant. It attracts moisture and locks it into the top layer of your skin, leaving it hydrated.

Vitamin E: Stops skin from losing moisture, protects cells from UV damage, and softens skin.

Citations

  1. Lephart, E. D., & Naftolin, F. (2020). Menopause and the Skin: Old Favorites and New Innovations in Cosmeceuticals for Estrogen-Deficient Skin. Dermatology and Therapy, 11(1), 53–69.

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  2. Stevenson, S., & Thornton, J. (2007). Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2(3), 283–297.

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  3. Schmidt, J. B., Binder, M., Demschik, G., Bieglmayer, C., & Reiner, A. (1996). Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens. International Journal of Dermatology, 35(9), 669–674

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