Estrogen Cream for Face: What Estriol and Estradiol Studies Show

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Estrogen cream for face, usually a prescription estriol or estradiol cream, may improve dryness, elasticity and fine wrinkles in menopausal skin. The evidence is thin, though. The facial wrinkle studies are small (18 to 59 women), mostly from the 1990s and had no placebo group, and no study has measured long-term safety on the face. Evidence: Limited.

Key takeaways

• In a 1996 study of 59 women, wrinkle depth and pore size "decreased by 61 to 100%" after 6 months of estradiol or estriol cream. The study had no placebo group (Schmidt et al., 1996).
• In a 2008 vehicle-controlled study of 70 older adults, 2 weeks of estradiol raised collagen in sun-protected hip skin but caused "no significant changes" in photoaged face skin (Rittié et al., 2008).
• In a 24-week randomized trial in 36 women, estradiol raised facial epidermal thickness by 75%, compared with 20% for an isoflavone (plant compound) cream (Moraes et al., 2009).
• A 1994 pilot study of 18 women found estriol "slightly superior" to estradiol. Its authors said concentration and application area "should be limited" to reduce the risk of whole-body hormone effects (Schmidt et al., 1994).
• A 2025 review says topical retinoids and estrogens are mainly the hormones that have reached clinical practice as anti-aging treatments (Böhm et al., 2025).

Estrogen is one of several factors behind dry, thinning skin after menopause. For the basics of how skin holds water, see our guide to the skin barrier and hydration.

Does estrogen cream for face actually work?

Estrogen cream for face may soften fine wrinkles and improve moisture and elasticity, based on small studies. None of these studies compared it with a placebo, so we can't say how much of the change came from the hormone.

The 2 best-known face studies come from the same Austrian research group in the 1990s (Schmidt et al., 1994; Schmidt et al., 1996). Both compared estradiol with estriol rather than with a plain cream. The only randomized facial trial compared estradiol with an isoflavone cream and measured skin samples under a microscope, not wrinkles (Moraes et al., 2009).

The one study that tested estradiol against an inactive cream on the face looked only at collagen. It found no significant change after 2 weeks (Rittié et al., 2008). Evidence: Limited.

Why does menopause change your skin?

Falling estrogen speeds up several visible skin changes. A 2019 review says estrogen loss after menopause accelerates "dryness, atrophy, fine wrinkling, and poor wound healing." Atrophy here means thinning of the skin (Rzepecki et al., 2019).

The same review calls low estrogen "an important endogenous cause" of skin aging in women, meaning a cause from inside the body rather than from sun or pollution. It also notes that topical treatments targeting these changes "are limited." A 2021 review lists loss of collagen, elastin, fibroblast function and blood vessels as part of the picture (Lephart and Naftolin, 2021). One author of that review is affiliated with e-Bio Corp.

A 2025 review in Endocrine Reviews says that, of the many hormones that act on skin, "mainly topical retinoids and estrogens" have reached clinical practice as anti-aging treatments (Böhm et al., 2025). Evidence: Review. For the wider picture beyond hormone creams, see our guide to menopause skin care. For midlife breakouts, see perimenopause acne.

What do the estrogen cream for face studies show?

The facial studies point toward improvement, but each is small and uncontrolled or compared 2 active creams. Strengths below are only what each study used, not a guide to products.

The 1996 study is the most quoted. Its 59 women were preclimacteric, meaning approaching menopause. After 6 months, elasticity and firmness "markedly improved" and skin moisture increased. Measurements of the skin surface (profilometry) showed significant drops in wrinkle depth in both groups (Schmidt et al., 1996). The 61 to 100% figure is wide, and without a placebo group some of it may reflect moisturizing alone.

The 2009 trial is the only randomized facial study. It was conducted at the Federal University of São Paulo, and the chart below shows how the 2 creams compared on skin biopsies (Moraes et al., 2009).

Thicker skin under a microscope isn't the same as fewer visible wrinkles, and this trial didn't measure wrinkles. Evidence: Early / preliminary.

Is estriol face cream different?

Estriol face cream may work at least as well as estradiol, but the evidence rests on a single pilot study of 18 women. Estriol and estradiol are both forms of estrogen. In the US, estriol face creams are prescription or compounded products.

In the 1994 pilot, 8 women used estriol and 10 used estradiol on facial skin for 6 months. Both groups improved, and the estriol group's results were "slightly superior with regard to their extent and onset" (Schmidt et al., 1994). With groups that small, that difference could easily be chance.

The 1996 study reported "significant, or even highly significant" drops in wrinkle depth in the estradiol and estriol groups respectively, which also hints at a slight edge for estriol (Schmidt et al., 1996). We found no larger trial comparing the 2 head to head. We also found no study of the compounded estriol creams sold through online services. Evidence: Early / preliminary.

Does estrogen cream boost collagen in facial skin?

On body skin, yes, in small studies. On sun-damaged facial skin, the one study that checked found no significant collagen change after 2 weeks.

Most collagen data come from skin that rarely sees the sun:

• Abdomen. In 12 postmenopausal women aged 52 to 76, estradiol on one side of the lower abdomen and an inactive cream on the other for 3 months raised hydroxyproline, a marker of collagen content, from 11.8 to 16.3 µg (38%, P = 0.012) (Varila et al., 1995). The authors concluded estradiol affects the amount of collagen more than its quality. Funding was not reported in the abstract.
• Buttock. In 13 adults aged 68 to 82 (8 women, 5 men), 2 weeks of estradiol under a covering dressing raised type 1 procollagen, a collagen building block. It also lowered MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks down collagen, and increased epidermal thickness compared with vehicle (Son et al., 2005). Authors were from the Amorepacific Corp. R&D Center. Part of that paper used cultured cells, which is lab-only evidence.

The face result is the surprise. In the 2008 vehicle-controlled study of 70 older adults, estradiol raised collagen in sun-protected hip skin but caused "no significant changes" in photoaged forearm or face skin (Rittié et al., 2008). The cream reached all 3 sites, since an estrogen-responsive gene switched on in each. The authors concluded that long-term sun damage hinders estradiol's ability to stimulate collagen over 2 weeks. Whether longer use changes that is untested.

Oral collagen is a separate question; see our guide to collagen supplements. Evidence: Early / preliminary.

Is estrogen cream for face safe?

Short studies of up to 6 months reported no hormonal side effects, but no study has tested long-term facial use. That makes safety a question for your doctor, not something the research settles.

What the studies did and didn't measure:

• The 1996 study checked estradiol, FSH and prolactin monthly. "Only those of PRL had increased significantly," meaning prolactin, a pituitary hormone, and "no systemic hormonal side effects were noted" (Schmidt et al., 1996).
• The 1994 pilot added breast, cervical and vaginal checks at 3 and 6 months and noted no hormonal side effects. Still, its authors wrote that concentrations and the size of the area treated "should be limited" to reduce the risk of whole-body hormone effects (Schmidt et al., 1994).
• No study in our sources followed facial users beyond 6 months or tracked outcomes such as breast or uterine health over years.

Systemic absorption, endometrial (uterine lining) questions and hormone-sensitive conditions are expert-opinion territory here, because our sources don't test them for facial use. If you have a history of a hormone-sensitive condition, or you already use hormone therapy, raise it with your doctor. Don't start, stop or change any hormone therapy on your own. Evidence: Limited (short-term only).

Can you use vaginal estrogen cream on your face?

No. Don't put vaginal estrogen cream on your face. It's a prescription drug made for a different use, and no study in our sources tested it on facial skin.

A recurring question online is whether an existing vaginal prescription can do double duty as a face cream. The facial studies above used their own study formulas, so their results don't transfer to other products. Use any hormone product only as your prescriber directs. Evidence: no studies (clinic convention).

Prescription estrogen cream for face vs OTC "estrogen" creams: what's the difference?

Prescription creams contain estrogen hormones. Many over-the-counter "estrogen" or menopause creams rely instead on phytoestrogens, plant compounds that act on estrogen receptors. In the one trial comparing the two, the plant compound did less.

A 2021 review notes that phytoestrogens "have become major active ingredients for skin care products," especially those aimed at estrogen-deficient skin (Lephart and Naftolin, 2021). It highlights 2 compounds, equol and 4'-acetoxy resveratrol, and one author is affiliated with e-Bio Corp. A 2025 review of phytoestrogen bioactives calls the area promising but says "more investigations are needed" (Lephart, 2025). That author declares no conflict of interest and sits on the journal's editorial board.

Isoflavones are soy-derived compounds that interact with estrogen receptors (Rzepecki et al., 2019). We didn't review individual product labels. If a label says "estrogen," check the ingredient list for what's actually in it, or ask a pharmacist. No study in our sources tests any specific OTC "estrogen" face cream. Evidence: Early / preliminary.

What is the best estrogen face cream?

We can't name a best estrogen face cream, because no study compares products. The research tested study formulas only, and prescription hormones aren't something to choose from a ranking.

What the evidence does allow is a comparison of types. Estriol edged out estradiol in an 18-woman pilot (Schmidt et al., 1994). Estradiol beat an isoflavone cream on biopsies in a 36-woman trial (Moraes et al., 2009). Whether a prescription cream suits you is a decision for your doctor.

Any "results in X weeks" promise from a seller is a brand claim. Study check-ins are the only timings with data behind them:

Evidence: Early / preliminary.

What about progesterone cream?

Progesterone is a different hormone from estrogen, but it has the only placebo-style randomized trial on facial aging signs in our sources. That trial doesn't tell you anything about estrogen creams.

In a 2005 double-blind trial, 40 peri- and postmenopausal women used a 2% progesterone cream or a vehicle cream for 16 weeks (Holzer et al., 2005). Elasticity rose significantly in the progesterone group only. Wrinkle counts around the eye fell 29.10% versus 16.50% with vehicle, and firmness rose 23.61% versus 13.24%.

The hormone did reach the bloodstream. Blood progesterone rose by 0.53 ng/mL, a small but significant change (P = 0.001), and no serious side effects were seen. Funding was not reported in the abstract. Like estrogen, progesterone is a hormone drug, so it's a doctor's decision. Evidence: Early / preliminary.

Hormone therapy and skin: what systemic HRT studies show

Unlike estrogen cream, hormone therapy (pills, patches or gels) works through the whole body and is prescribed for symptoms like hot flashes, not skin.

• Pooled studies: a 2023 meta-analysis of 15 studies (1,589 women) found higher elasticity, thickness and collagen with hormone therapy, but no significant change in dryness (Pivazyan et al., 2023). Evidence: Moderate.
• The largest trial: KEEPS gave 727 recently postmenopausal women one of two hormone treatments or placebo for 4 years. Neither significantly changed skin wrinkling. Several authors report drug-company ties: TherapeuticsMD, Bayer, Mithra and Menogenix stock options (Miller et al., 2019). Evidence: Moderate.
• Small biopsy trials: in 41 women, upper-arm collagen rose 6.49% after 6 months; nothing else changed (Sauerbronn et al., 2000). A 118-woman trial used belly skin (Castelo-Branco et al., 1992). An 8-woman study is very small (Kaatz et al., 2008). Evidence: Limited / Early.
• Skin cancer signal: a meta-analysis of observational studies linked hormone therapy with a slightly higher risk of melanoma (HR 1.11) and basal cell carcinoma (HR 1.22). It's an association, not proof (Lallas et al., 2023). Expert opinion.

Reviews say hormone therapy isn't indicated for skin alone (Zouboulis et al., 2022; one author is affiliated with Laboratoires Vichy, a L'Oréal brand). A 2025 review agrees. It was funded by Merz Aesthetics, an aesthetics company; its authors declare no conflicts, and one is in private aesthetic practice (Viscomi et al., 2025). In the studies we reviewed, two placebo-controlled trials looked at facial wrinkles: a 48-week low-dose hormone therapy trial in 485 women (wrinkles the main outcome) and a KEEPS add-on study (KEEPS mainly studied heart health). Neither found a significant benefit (Phillips et al., 2008; Viscomi et al., 2025). If you're considering hormone therapy, ask your clinician how it fits your health history. See our menopause skin care guide.

What non-hormonal options have better evidence?

Topical retinoids are the main non-hormonal choice. The 2025 Endocrine Reviews paper names retinoids alongside estrogens as the anti-aging treatments that have reached clinical practice (Böhm et al., 2025).

• Tretinoin and other retinoids: see does tretinoin help with wrinkles.
• Peptides: see how they stack up in our peptides-or-retinol comparison, and our peptides for menopause guide for menopause-specific evidence.
• Sunscreen: daily use is standard dermatology advice (clinic convention). No study in our sources tests it together with estrogen cream, although the 2008 study suggests sun damage may blunt estrogen's collagen effect (Rittié et al., 2008).

We found no head-to-head trial of estrogen cream against any of these. Evidence: Review.

Where the evidence stops

• No placebo-controlled trial measuring facial wrinkles with estrogen cream in our sources.
• No long-term facial safety data. The longest facial study ran 6 months.
• Small, old samples. The facial wrinkle studies enrolled 18 to 59 women, mostly in the 1990s, and funding wasn't reported in their abstracts.
• Collagen gains are mostly on body skin. The one facial test found no significant change at 2 weeks.
• Estriol vs estradiol rests on an 18-woman pilot.
• No data on compounded telehealth formulas, specific OTC products or cost.
• No head-to-head trials against tretinoin, peptides or other non-hormonal options.

FAQ

References

1. Schmidt JB, et al. Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens. Int J Dermatol. 1996. Controlled comparative trial (estradiol vs estriol, no placebo), n=59, 6 months; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8876303/
2. Schmidt JB, et al. Treatment of skin ageing symptoms in perimenopausal females with estrogen compounds. A pilot study. Maturitas. 1994. Pilot study, n=18 (8 estriol, 10 estradiol), 6 months, no placebo; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7877517/
3. Son ED, et al. Topical application of 17beta-estradiol increases extracellular matrix protein synthesis by stimulating tgf-Beta signaling in aged human skin in vivo. J Invest Dermatol. 2005. Vehicle comparison on buttock skin, n=13, 2 weeks, plus cultured-cell work; authors affiliated with Amorepacific Corp. R&D Center. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15955089/
4. Varila E, et al. The effect of topical oestradiol on skin collagen of postmenopausal women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1995. Contralateral vehicle comparison on abdominal skin, n=12, 3 months; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8652490/
5. Moraes AB, et al. The effects of topical isoflavones on postmenopausal skin: double-blind and randomized clinical trial of efficacy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2009. Double-blind RCT, estradiol vs isoflavones (no placebo), n=36, 24 weeks, facial skin; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19450919/
6. Rittié L, et al. Induction of collagen by estradiol: difference between sun-protected and photodamaged human skin in vivo. Arch Dermatol. 2008. Vehicle-controlled study, n=70 (40 women, 30 men), 2 weeks; non-US government support; NCT00113100. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18794456/
7. Böhm M, et al. Endocrine Controls of Skin Aging. Endocr Rev. 2025. Review; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39998423/
8. Rzepecki AK, et al. Estrogen-deficient skin: The role of topical therapy. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019. Review; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30997378/
9. Lephart ED, Naftolin F. Menopause and the Skin: Old Favorites and New Innovations in Cosmeceuticals for Estrogen-Deficient Skin. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021. Review; one author affiliated with e-Bio Corp. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33242128/
10. Lephart ED. Bioactives for Estrogen-Deficient Skin: Topical and Oral Supplement Clinical Studies. A Narrative Review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2025. Narrative review; author declares no conflict of interest and is a journal editorial board member. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40329055/
11. Holzer G, et al. Effects and side-effects of 2% progesterone cream on the skin of peri- and postmenopausal women: results from a double-blind, vehicle-controlled, randomized study. Br J Dermatol. 2005. Double-blind vehicle-controlled RCT of progesterone (not estrogen), n=40, 16 weeks; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16120154/
12. Pivazyan L, et al. Skin Rejuvenation in Women using Menopausal Hormone Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Menopausal Med. 2023. Systematic review and meta-analysis, 15 studies, 1,589 women; no conflicts reported. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38230593/
13. Miller VM, et al. The Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS): what have we learned? Menopause. 2019. Review of a randomized placebo-controlled trial, n=727, 4 years; funded by the Aurora Foundation via the Kronos Longevity Research Institute, with study drugs supplied in part by Bayer HealthCare and Abbott; NIH funded ancillary studies; several authors report drug-company ties (TherapeuticsMD, Bayer, Mithra, Menogenix stock options). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31453973/
14. Sauerbronn AV, et al. The effects of systemic hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2000. Double-blind RCT, n=41, 6 months, upper-arm biopsy; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10687834/
15. Castelo-Branco C, et al. Skin collagen changes related to age and hormone replacement therapy. Maturitas. 1992. Randomized study, n=118 postmenopausal women, abdominal skin, 12 months; collagen rose with all HRT regimens and fell in the controls; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1345134/
16. Kaatz M, et al. Changes in skin topography during hormone therapy. Menopause. 2008. Small study, n=8; skin roughness fell about 15% over 12 months; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18725866/
17. Lallas K, et al. The effect of menopausal hormone therapy on the risk of melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Maturitas. 2023. Meta-analysis of observational studies; authors declare no competing interests. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36372010/
18. Zouboulis CC, et al. Skin, hair and beyond: the impact of menopause. Climacteric. 2022. Narrative review; one author affiliated with Laboratoires Vichy; funding and conflicts not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35377827/
19. Viscomi B, et al. Managing Menopausal Skin Changes: A Narrative Review of Skin Quality Changes, Their Aesthetic Impact, and the Actual Role of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Improvement. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025. Narrative review; funded by Merz Aesthetics (supplement funded by Merz North America); authors declare no conflicts; one author is in private aesthetic practice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40847905/
20. Phillips TJ, Symons J, Menon S; HT Study Group. Does hormone therapy improve age-related skin changes in postmenopausal women? A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled multicenter study assessing the effects of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol in the improvement of mild to moderate age-related skin changes in postmenopausal women. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; n=485, 48 weeks; facial wrinkling primary outcome; no significant difference from placebo; funding and conflicts not stated in the PubMed abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18625536/

Disclosure: This article is for general information only. It is not medical advice. Peptide Skincare has no affiliate links in this article and received no payment from any manufacturer mentioned. Estrogen creams are prescription drugs. This article is not medical advice; talk to a doctor before using any hormone product, and never start, stop or change hormone therapy on your own.

For educational purposes only; not medical advice. See our disclaimer and research method.