As the industry leans into Menopause Month, the conversation around women’s health is louder than ever. However, it’s crucial that the dialogue continues well beyond October. The impact of menopause on skin physiology remains too often overlooked in professional skincare. That is until now. Enter Emepelle – the first and only cosmeceutical clinically proven to address the visible effects of menopause.
Below, we catch up with Dr David Kosenko, Head of Medical and Clinical Training at Dermocosmètica—the distributor of Emepelle®—to unpack the science behind MEP Technology®, the growing momentum around menopause-specific skincare, and how Emepelle® is helping clinics lead a more informed, empowering conversation with women through every life stage.
Emepelle is positioned as the first and only cosmeceutical clinically proven to address skin changes of menopause. From a clinical perspective, what does this mean?
Oestrogen deficiency has a dramatic effect on the skin, but it is only recently that the impact has been fully recognised. Emepelle is formulated to specifically address the effects of oestrogen deficiency. This is a new way to address the skin changes that occur as a result of menopause.
Why do you think menopause skin health has been overlooked in professional skincare for so long?
Skin changes associated with menopause have traditionally been attributed to ageing without too much thought going into the underlying changes that cause these changes. The management of menopause symptoms was put in the ‘too hard basket’ as a result of the Women’s Health Initiative Study in 2002, and as a result there was not much research that went into menopause skin health until recently.
How important is it to connect Emepelle to the broader global conversation around normalising menopause?
Very important. Emepelle is a menopause-specific skincare range that targets the oestrogen receptors in the skin. Addressing oestrogen deficiency and targeting these receptors has been largely overlooked in the past with traditional skincare.
Can you explain how MEP Technology® works for oestrogen-deficient skin in practical terms?
Methyl estradiol propionate (MEP) is a non-hormonal molecule that has an oestrogen-like effect when it binds to the oestrogen receptors in the skin.
What makes MEP Technology® different from hormone-based therapies or other anti-ageing actives like retinol and peptides?
MEP is different to hormone-based therapies and other anti-ageing actives in several ways. It stimulates the oestrogen receptors in the skin but has no effect on the rest of the body. MEP is converted to an inactive metabolite when it enters the bloodstream. Other anti-ageing actives like retinol and peptides do not have a direct effect on the oestrogen receptors in the skin.
The Emepelle range is compact but highly targeted. Was that deliberate or are there plans to expand it?
Whilst the Emepelle range is compact, consisting of three products, it is a comprehensive skincare package for the menopausal woman. In addition to MEP, the various products in the range contain antioxidants, niacinamide, peptides and retinol.
How do you advise professionals to best integrate Emepelle into treatment protocols?
Emepelle can be introduced as soon as the earliest symptoms of menopause develop. It can be used synergistically and in combination with a woman’s existing skincare routine. It is also never too late to start Emepelle. Studies have shown beneficial effects in postmenopausal women.
What’s the feedback been like from practitioners who have introduced their patients to Emepelle?
The feedback has been very positive. Practitioners are very happy that they have a skincare range to specifically target peri- and menopausal skin changes. This has been lacking in our market.
Emepelle has rapidly grown across hundreds of clinics in Australia and New Zealand. What do you think has driven that uptake?
The main driver for the growth in Emepelle uptake has been the recognition that oestrogen-deficient skin can be treated and the wider conversation around menopause. It is no longer taboo to talk about.
What do you look for in an ideal stockist, and how do you support clinics once they come on board?
Emepelle is a high-potency, therapeutic skincare range. Any stockist should have a sound understanding of skin and how to choose appropriate therapies. Dermocosmètica prides itself on providing comprehensive product training and support. This is offered to all clinics who choose to stock Emepelle.
Do you ever see menopause skincare becoming a standard category in professional clinics the way acne and anti-ageing have?
Aesthetic treatments and skincare evolve continuously. Advancements in knowledge and access to new products mean that our approach to skincare is becoming ever more nuanced and sophisticated. I definitely regard menopause-specific skincare as being a standard option for women as they approach the menopause.
What advice would you give clinics or brands looking to better serve women through life stages like perimenopause and menopause?
Skin is in. Everyone loves to be told that they have beautiful skin. The Emepelle range gives clinics a new way to treat the changes that occur in the skin leading up to and following menopause. The advice I have is that if you are not offering treatment options for oestrogen-deficient skin, you are not offering a complete range of products or treatments.
What’s next for Emepelle? Any developments or research we can look forward to in 2026?
There are always developments. You will have to watch this space!
To learn more visit dermocosmetica.com.au
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