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Expert Session
Looking Back on the Oak Essentials x Jenni Kayne x Perelel Tour
December 20, 2025
Photos by: Bliss Kaufman
DID YOU KNOW?
There are 1.2 million studies conducted on pregnancy, with fewer than 9,000 studies on perimenopause.
What do most women misunderstand about perimenopause?
“Nearly 80% of women in their mid-40s are in perimenopause, and most don’t even know it. This is when hormonal fluctuations create symptoms like brain fog, cognitive issues, hot flashes, and exhaustion. Perimenopause lasts an average of about 4 years. So imagine 4 years of not knowing what’s going on in your body—and you may be prescribed an antidepressant by one doctor and an autoimmune medication by another.” –Dr. Sarah de la Torre, OB-GYN & Head of Medical at Respin
For women approaching perimenopause, what everyday habits make the biggest difference?
“If you can support your cardiovascular and brain health before estrogen starts to decline, then your other systems can step in and pick up that slack. Essentially, they'll know how to care for you before your system is depleted.
The good news is, we already know how to do this—and it’s by eating well and exercising. It’s not easy, but it is simple. Start with three days a week for thirty minutes. If you’re already active, you can bump the intensity. You don’t need a 50-step morning routine. You can do it if you love it, but it’s not required. The key is to start now, so as estrogen drops, your body is ready for the new normal.” –Elizabeth Knight, Head of Science at Respin
The good news is, we already know how to do this—and it’s by eating well and exercising. It’s not easy, but it is simple. Start with three days a week for thirty minutes. If you’re already active, you can bump the intensity. You don’t need a 50-step morning routine. You can do it if you love it, but it’s not required. The key is to start now, so as estrogen drops, your body is ready for the new normal.” –Elizabeth Knight, Head of Science at Respin
If someone only has 10 minutes a day to invest in themselves, what should they be doing?
“With 10 minutes, you can reset your body with mindful movement. Sync your pelvic floor movement with your breath—fully contracting, then full releasing. We can’t see our pelvic floor, like other muscles in our body, so how do we know if we need to do kegels or not? Connecting with your pelvic floor everyday helps point you in the direction of what your body needs. I also love a brief self-touch practice, whether that’s lymphatic massage or abdominal massage. That also helps create a mind-body connection and facilitate self check-in. It’s important to ask yourself—how am I really feeling?” –Dr. Allison Oswald, Pelvic Floor PT, DPT, WCS
As hormones change, what should women prioritize in their skincare routines?
“Collagen depletion is something we all notice as we get older. Our skin is 70% collagen, and starting in our 20s, we lose roughly 1% of that collagen per year. When we hit menopause, we lose about 30% of that collagen. Preventative measures can help minimize that decline, but there are things we can do to help build more collagen reserves. Like using a topical vitamin A, taking collagen and protein supplements, and prioritizing a protein-rich diet.” –Julia Barna, Oak Essentials Global Skincare Ambassador
DID YOU KNOW?
90% of women don’t feel informed about perimenopause. 70% don’t even know what it is.
How does Oak Essentials approach ingredient safety and transparency?
“We vet every raw material that goes into our products. The FDA doesn’t regulate cosmetic ingredients—there’s basically zero oversight—so, in the U.S., you can put almost anything in skincare. At Oak, we follow EU standards, then go a step further. For example, if a harsh preservative is restricted in the EU, I know their scientific advisory committee has flagged it. If they say “no more than 1%,” that tells me it’s potentially dangerous, so we choose not to use it at all.
We also list all incidental ingredients. We break down every raw material to see what’s actually in it. Sometimes a beautiful essential oil is preserved with something “dirty.” If you’re a U.S.–only brand that doesn’t follow EU regulatory practice, you don’t have to disclose that.
My advice would be that any time you’re purchasing skincare, go the extra mile—ask the brand if they follow EU rules, and if they disclose all incidentals in their formulas. That way, you can dig deeper and really know what you’re putting on your skin.” –Kim Price, COO and Head of Product Development at Oak Essentials
We also list all incidental ingredients. We break down every raw material to see what’s actually in it. Sometimes a beautiful essential oil is preserved with something “dirty.” If you’re a U.S.–only brand that doesn’t follow EU regulatory practice, you don’t have to disclose that.
My advice would be that any time you’re purchasing skincare, go the extra mile—ask the brand if they follow EU rules, and if they disclose all incidentals in their formulas. That way, you can dig deeper and really know what you’re putting on your skin.” –Kim Price, COO and Head of Product Development at Oak Essentials
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