Vaginal estrogen cream for the face
No, this isn’t a Goop editorial, but we can see why you’d mistake it for one. The idea of using an estrogen cream, historically used to restore vaginal tissue, on your face isn’t quite as wild sounding as, say, using bee venom to treat scarring, which Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow described as “pretty incredible”, but it’s a bit out there. And, as more and more beauty influencers endorse vaginal estrogen cream as an anti-aging go-to, it’s gaining steam as a trend, typically targeting menopausal and postmenopausal women.
But is putting estrogen cream on your face beneficial? To back up a bit: Is it safe? What are the pros and cons? The truths and myths? The accessibility and cost?
HealthyWomen talked to two dermatologists to get the lowdown on the latest glow up sensation.
The powers of estrogen cream for vaginal rejuvenation in menopause
Vaginal estrogen cream has long been prescribed to menopausal women to treat vaginal dryness, thinning vaginal skin, itching and burning, which are extremely common symptoms of menopause — and it can work wonders.
“I’m 48 and entering the perimenopausal sphere,” said Melanie Palm, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Art of Skin MD. “And I see how vaginal estrogen cream transforms patients’ bodies.”
Vaginal estrogen cream helps rejuvenate vaginal skin and improve dryness by feeding the skin estrogen, which permanently drops in menopause.
“When we stop having monthly periods, it affects the estrogen receptors on our skin,” Palm said. “We lose collagen. Areas that are estrogen dependent, like genitals, change a lot. These creams help with that.”
Vaginal estrogen cream can also help prevent UTIs, which Palm pointed out is a leading reason for acute care needs in older women.
“UTIs can lead to sepsis, which is common in elderly patients, particularly those suffering from dementia or urinary incontinence,” Palm said.
Facial skin is very different from vaginal skin
If estrogen cream is so effective in rejuvenating vaginal skin, why wouldn’t it also do wonders for the skin on our face when it too dries with age? This is the line of thought that’s led to some skincare enthusiasts turning to estrogen cream as an anti-wrinkle agent. But it’s really not that simple because the skin on the face just isn’t the same as the skin down there.
In 2025, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology published research about the use of estrogen cream for facial rejuvenation. The study found that estrogen creams provide anti-inflammatory measures and support your blood vessels and collagen production. But it found it only did so in areas not exposed to sunlight.
“With photoexposed areas of the skin — areas that see the sun — estrogen had no effect,” Palm said.
Scientific research on using vaginal estrogen on your face is weak and mixed
Now, can we say that this one study proved once and for all that it’s a waste of time to apply estrogen cream to your face for anti-aging effects? Not quite, because this study, like every other study done on estrogen creams as facial skincare products to date, was small.
“The challenge is that these are all small studies with mixed results,” Palm said. “Some studies show mild effects. But nothing huge.”
If you’re the right candidate, it’s not a bad idea to try it
Though we don’t have enough data to prove any clear benefits, facial estrogen creams (which typically use estriol, the gentlest form of estrogen) could still play a role in your nightly skincare routine, provided you’re a candidate (we’ll get to that in a bit).
“There is an argument for using it, if appropriately selected one, as of the items in your skincare regimen,” Palm said. “There’s a case to be made that estrogen creams restore tissue. We see these effects when it is applied to the genital area. And we know that the skin on your face becomes dryer as it ages.”
It’s possible that estrogen cream could help make your skin a bit fuller and softer too.
“We can infer, based on what we know from what it does to mucosa in the vaginal area and based on the science behind hormones, that if you’re applying estriol directly to your face you could get smoother skin, possibly,” said Hannah Kopelman, D.O., dermatologist at Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery. “It could look more hydrated and plumper, but we can’t yet say for sure.”
Who can use estrogen facial cream — and who must avoid it
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Estrogen cream products are a no-no for women with any history of estrogen-dependent cancers or a history or risk of blood clots.
“The theoretical risk is this would be like putting gasoline on a potential fire,” Palm said.
And though you can technically use facial estrogen cream if you’re nowhere near perimenopause or menopause, it would be a total waste.
“If you’re adequately making estrogen, you do not need estrogen creams,” Palm said.
This stuff isn’t cheap — and you need a prescription
A few things to know if you’re thinking about trying an estrogen cream for your face:
- You can only get authentic and safe estrogen creams by prescription from a healthcare provider (consult with an educated and open-minded dermatologist who knows your history)
- Absolutely do not use an estrogen cream prescribed for vaginal use on your face (remember, different types of skin!)
- Be ready to shell out some cash
“It’s like $340-$450 for brand name estrogen cream,” Palm said. “Maybe $35-$100 for generic. I am a little picky with some products like retinoids … but with this, you don’t have to get the brand name. That said, don’t get the worst of the worst generics, either.”
Vaginal estrogen face cream is not a miracle product — and we know other stuff works better
There may be no reason not to explore facial estrogen creams as prescribed by your dermatologist, but consider this fact for both your time and your wallet: We know other tried and true skincare products work better.
“There is stronger evidence that topical retinoids, ascorbic acids, alpha hydroxy acids and small proteins have a more rejuvenative effect on the face,” Palm said, adding that the best skincare ingredient is something we should all be using every day, no matter your age or sex: sunscreen.
“Broad spectrum against UVA and UVB sunscreen 30 or above is fine,” Palm said. “I like a physical sunscreen agent. I favor zinc oxide and titanium oxide. It’s not sexy, but wearing sunscreen is your No. 1 anti-aging tip.”
What would Goop’s Gwyneth say about all this? Well, she’s said in the past that she only uses mineral sunscreen “kind of on my nose and the area where the sun really hits,” which is definitely not the right way to do it. You have to slather it all over and reapply throughout the day, so maybe it’s best we listen to the experts — and not the beauty influencers — on this one.
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