The Menopause Hour with Winona: Lunchtime Skincare with Jo: Age-Defying Essentials: What Actually Works - Episode #21

Published: September, 2025

Host

Jo Cullen & Madi Baldwin

Episode #21 of The Menopause Hour with Winona: “Lunchtime Skincare with Jo: Age-Defying Essentials: What Actually Works” was part of Winona’s Lunchtime Skincare series hosted by Madi Baldwin and featuring Winona’s dermatology nurse practitioner Jo Cullen.

Jo guided listeners through how to identify their skin type and primary dermatological concerns. She emphasized the three pillars of a healthy skincare routine (cleanse, protect, restore), highlighting which ingredients offer the greatest clinical benefit. This episode provides practical, budget-conscious guidance for building an effective skincare routine during the menopause transition without overcomplicating it.

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Episode Details

Podcast: The Menopause Hour with Winona
Episode Number: 21
Episode Title: Episode #21: Lunchtime Skincare with Jo: Age-Defying Essentials: What Actually Works
Host: Madi Baldwin
Presenter: Jo Cullen (Winona Dermatology Nurse Practitioner)
Published Date: September 15, 2025
Episode Duration: 55 min 2 sec
Format: Jo's Skincare
Main Topics: Skincare routine basics, Retinol & tretinoin use, Sunscreen types

About The Menopause Hour with Winona Podcast

The Menopause Hour with Winona is a health and wellness podcast featuring Winona Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Green and Medical Director Dr. Cathleen Brown, sometimes joined by other Winona practitioners. Each episode brings listeners candid, expert-led conversations about perimenopause and menopause.

The show blends live Q&A sessions, doctor dialogues, skincare discussions, and patient stories to cover the full range of the menopause transition. By having honest conversations about symptoms, treatment options, and the underlying science, the podcast aims to help women feel informed and confident rather than confused or dismissed during this stage of life.

Visit The Menopause Hour on Buzzsprout.

About This Episode

Kicking off a week-long Lunchtime Skincare series, Winona’s dermatology nurse practitioner Jo Cullen broke down how to choose skincare products tailored to individual skin types (dry, oily, combination, sensitive) and specific dermatological concerns instead of relying on packaging or social media hype. She introduced her three essential pillars of an effective skincare routine: cleanse, protect, and restore.

Jo went on to cover the clinical benefits of specific ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. She also addressed the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens and why the latter may be better suited for sensitive or melasma-prone skin. Throughout the episode, Jo emphasized that a consistent routine with four or five core products is far more effective than an elaborate, multi-step regimen used sporadically. She also answered listener questions about in-office treatments, including radiofrequency microneedling and red light therapy.

Learn more about skincare during menopause.

Topics Covered

How to determine your skin type: dry, oily, combination, or sensitive
Why marketing, packaging, and influencer recommendations shouldn't dictate your skincare choices
The three pillars of an effective skincare routine: cleanse, protect, and restore
Choosing the right cleanser (creamy, foamy, or gel) based on your skin type
Vitamin C's role in skin protection and addressing discoloration
Chemical vs. physical (mineral) sunscreen and why physical blockers suit sensitive or melasma-prone skin
Retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides: what each ingredient actually does
Why starting a retinol regimen slowly prevents irritation and dryness
The importance of a daily eye cream, even without immediate visible results
Why consistency matters more than product count in a skincare routine
Winona's estriol-tretinoin face cream and who is and isn't eligible to use it
In-office treatments like radiofrequency microneedling and red light therapy

Key Takeaways

Skin type and dermatological concerns should drive product choices, not marketing

Jo explained that packaging, shelf placement, and influencer recommendations are designed to capture attention rather than address people's individual skin health needs. She encouraged listeners to start with their skin type (dry, oily, combination, or sensitive) and specific concerns like fine lines or discoloration as a more reliable way to choose products.

A skincare routine comes down to three pillars: cleanse, protect, and restore

Jo outlined cleansing, protecting (with antioxidants and sunscreen), and restoring (or moisturizing) as the three foundational pillars essential to any skincare routine. She recommended women start with these basics before adding more targeted products.

Physical sunscreens are gentler for sensitive or discoloration-prone skin

Jo explained that physical (mineral) sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin. This distinction matters for people with melasma or sensitive skin, since heat absorbed by chemical formulas can worsen discoloration.

Retinol and tretinoin work best when introduced slowly

Jo cautioned that starting a retinol or tretinoin routine too aggressively often causes redness, dryness, and flaking that leads people to quit before seeing benefits. Easing these products gradually into your skincare routine, starting at just a couple of nights a week, helps the skin adjust without irritation.

Consistency matters more than the number of products in a routine

Jo emphasized that a simple skincare routine involving four or five foundational products used consistently will outperform an elaborate regimen used sporadically. She pointed to products like eye creams, which show their benefit only with long-term, twice-daily use.