Estrogen face cream is a skin cream that contains estradiol or estriol, and the companies selling it present it as a prescription product. The small studies behind it, mostly in women around or after menopause, found increases in skin thickness, collagen and moisture. Whether it suits you depends on your health history, so bring the questions below to a prescriber before you decide.
Here is what the research, the clinical guides and the sellers each say, side by side.
Why is estrogen face cream in the news?
The coverage mixes up products that are different. Keep these apart and most of the confusion goes away.
- Two hormones. The studies summarized below used estradiol. The cream Evernow sells contains estriol, at 0.25% according to its page.
- Prescription, compounded and over-the-counter. The two face products described here are both prescription-based. The compounding pharmacy's page is written for prescribers, and Evernow sells its cream after a provider visit.
- Face and vaginal products. The face studies and Evernow's page concern facial skin. Hot flash and vaginal products are a separate group, covered in the sections below.
Do I need a prescription for estradiol face cream?
Evernow's page says you can “Access prescription face creams online, like facial estriol,” after a personalized care plan. The compounding pharmacy's page says it makes “individualized pharmaceutical therapies” as a 503A pharmacy, and it asks prescribers to open an account. Both point to a prescription, so treat it as one. This is information, not legal advice. A pharmacist or prescriber can explain how prescribing rules apply to the exact product, so ask them before you buy.
Can I buy estrogen cream over the counter?
For facial skin, the two products described here are both prescription-based. For vaginal symptoms, a pharmacist or prescriber can explain which over-the-counter and prescription vaginal options exist. Ask a pharmacist which over-the-counter products, if any, contain estrogen before you buy one.
What do the studies say about estrogen face cream?
A compounding pharmacy's page dated November 14, 2024 summarizes five studies on estrogen face cream, from 1993 to 2013. The studies are small, and the figures below are the pharmacy's own description of them. Ask for the full papers before you rely on any number.
| Study (as cited by the pharmacy) | Women and product | What it measured and what the summary reports |
|---|---|---|
| Schmidt et al., Maturitas, 1994 (pilot) | 10 women, 0.01% estradiol cream for six months. The summary says postmenopausal; the citation title says perimenopausal. | Skin ageing symptoms. No hormonal side effects, clinically or by hormone monitoring. |
| Fuchs et al., Cutis, 2003 (randomized, double-blind) | 0.01% estradiol cream, alone or with 15% glycolic acid cream. | Facial skin structure. 23% more epidermal thickness with estradiol; 38% more with glycolic acid added. |
| Patriarca et al., Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 2007 (pilot) | 15 postmenopausal women, 0.01% estrogen cream for 16 weeks. The title says they were also on oral hormone therapy. | Epithelial and dermal thickness and collagen rose. Estrogen levels did not significantly increase. |
| Patriarca et al., Menopause, 2013 (double-blind randomized trial) | 40 postmenopausal women; 15 used 0.01% 17β-estradiol gel on the face for 24 weeks. | Hyaluronic acid in facial skin was higher after 24 weeks. The title also names genistein. |
| Kainz et al., Arch Gynecol Obstet, 1993 | Women aged 46 to 66; one gram of 0.01% estradiol ointment applied to the face. | Hormone and vaginal-smear checks. No significant change in serum hormone levels or vaginal smears during treatment. |
The newest of these is from 2013, and the largest group is 40 women, 15 of whom used the cream. The pharmacy's page says the studies found more collagen and thicker skin, and that one study found improved elasticity and fewer fine lines over several months. Ask the pharmacy for the citation of that study before you weigh it.
What are the benefits of estradiol cream for face aging and wrinkles?
The makers describe the cream as improving skin structure and moisture. The compounding pharmacy says estrogen affects collagen, skin thickness, hydration and elasticity, and that the cream may help the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Evernow says its 0.25% estriol formulation “helps stimulate synthesis of collagen & elastin, improving skin elasticity and firmness.” Its aloe vera and vitamin E base, it says, helps “moisturize skin and restore the skin barrier.” Its page frames the cream as a way to “Tackle signs of menopausal aging,” and one customer writes “It looks younger!” Those are the makers' words, not measurements.
The wrinkle claim comes from the one unnamed study above. Ask Evernow for any study behind its estriol cream. To judge any maker's claim, a guide on telling ingredient research from advertising shows what to look for.
Do before-and-after photos of estriol face cream prove it works?
Photos cannot show what caused a change. Lighting, time, sun and other skin care all shift how a face looks. A company also chooses which photos to show. Treat them as stories, and judge the cream by the studies above and by your prescriber's read of your history.
Is estrogen face cream safe on the face?
The main worry with any estrogen is that it reaches the body and changes hormone levels. The pharmacy's summaries say the small studies found little of that, and the newer ones describe no significant rise in estrogen levels.
| Concern | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Hormones reaching the body | Kainz 1993 reports no significant change in serum hormone levels, and Patriarca 2007 reports no significant rise in estrogen levels, as the pharmacy summarizes them. |
| Hormone side effects | In the 1994 pilot of 10 women, none were noted, clinically or by hormone monitoring. |
| Breast cancer and blood clots | The pharmacy's page says some studies have raised questions about these risks. A prescriber must weigh your history. |
| Dose | Dose and strength are a prescriber's decision. |
Who should skip it is a decision for your prescriber. Your prescriber should review your risks and benefits with you. Bring your full history to that conversation.
What is the best estrogen face cream?
No single product is best for everyone. The options differ in what they are, who prescribes them and what they are studied for. The table sets them side by side.
| Option | What it is | What the research shows | Who it may suit | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded estradiol face cream | A compounded cream from a 503A pharmacy, ordered through a prescriber | Small studies on skin thickness and collagen, as the pharmacy summarizes them | People whose prescriber orders it | Strength and cost come from the prescriber and pharmacy; the studies are small |
| Estriol 0.25% face cream (Evernow) | A prescription face cream ordered after a virtual visit | Evernow presents these as its own claims; ask the company for any study behind it | People who want a virtual visit and have insurance listed for video visits | Estriol, not the estradiol in the studies; see the cost section |
| Prescription systemic hormone therapy | Estrogen pills or patches for menopause symptoms | Facial skin studies on this page test local creams, not systemic hormone therapy. Ask your prescriber about its uses and risks. | Women with hot flashes or sleep and mood symptoms, after a risk talk | Works through the whole body, so your prescriber weighs wider risks |
| Prescription vaginal estrogen | Local estrogen cream, ring or tablet | Ask your prescriber which studies apply to your symptoms | Women with vaginal dryness or pain during sex | Made for vaginal tissue, not facial skin |
| Ospemifene | A prescription pill that is not estrogen | Check the current label for approval status on the FDA website | Ask your prescriber whether it fits your history | Not a face product |
| Over-the-counter moisturizers and lubricants | Non-hormonal products | Ask a pharmacist which products suit milder symptoms | Milder symptoms | Not an estrogen product |
| Lifestyle routes | Diet, exercise, sleep habits, a cooler room, less alcohol and caffeine, no tobacco | Lifestyle changes are general advice and do not replace a clinician's assessment | Anyone | Aimed at hot flashes, mood and sleep, not skin |
| Oral collagen | A supplement, not a hormone | Not covered by the evidence reviewed here. | Those wanting a non-prescription skin route | Not an estrogen; a different product |
What is still being studied?
The face studies above are small and date from 1993 to 2013. Ask your prescriber how the newer treatments compare for your symptoms. Local estrogen is also being studied for skin healing in another setting: a Phase 3 ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01370798 tests estrogen on penile skin before hypospadias surgery. A registration describes a study; it is not a result.
Is there a natural alternative to estrogen face cream?
Natural options are everyday routes, not estrogen replacements. Eating well, moving regularly, sleeping well and not smoking are general habits, and they do not replace a clinician's assessment. The collagen human studies page explains what clinical studies show about collagen and skin. For the science of collagen in hair and skin care, read collagen biotin or keratin. If you are reading about oral collagen products, the yourbiology collagen+ testing write-up is another page to read.
Can I use estrogen cream with retinol?
Ask your prescriber or pharmacist before you layer estrogen cream and retinol, since they know your prescription and your skin. The combinations in the studies above were estrogen with glycolic acid (Fuchs 2003) and estrogen with genistein (Patriarca 2013). Retinol was not one of them.
Should a 70-year-old woman use estrogen face cream, or is it too late?
Age alone is not the test. The age at which menopause and perimenopause occur varies, and a clinician can explain how it applies to you. The one age range given in the studies above is 46 to 66. A prescriber can discuss whether treatment is appropriate at your age. Whether a 70-year-old should use it turns on her history, including breast cancer and blood clots, and it belongs with her prescriber.
Can a dermatologist prescribe estrogen face cream?
Whether a dermatologist will prescribe it is their call. Ask directly, and bring the study list above and the 2015 review. The compounding pharmacy's page is written for prescribers, so a clinician who orders compounded products is the route it describes.
How often should you use estradiol cream on your face?
Strength and schedule are a prescriber's decision, so do not copy one from a study or a seller page. The studies above ran for 16 weeks, 24 weeks or six months. If you want to know how long before changes show, that is the window researchers measured. It is not a promise of results.
What does estrogen face cream cost?
Evernow's pages show a membership that “Starts at $35/month” and a pay-per-visit option. The company says its facial estriol is “50% cheaper than other brands.” Prices as of October 22, 2026. Prices and bundles change, so check today's price directly with the company. Evernow says most medications are covered by insurance and lists BlueCross BlueShield, Anthem, UnitedHealth and Aetna for video visits.
Before you order: questions to bring to your prescriber
- Which hormone and strength the product contains: estradiol at 0.01% in the studies, and estriol at 0.25% on Evernow's page.
- Whether this product needs a prescription, and what “compounded” means for it.
- Your history: any estrogen-sensitive cancer, any blood clots, and any other hormone therapy, since the 2007 study used oral hormone therapy alongside the cream.
- Retinol and any other face products you already use.
- The full cost, including visit and membership fees, and whether your insurance covers the visit.
- The refund and cancellation terms in writing before you pay. A membership is ongoing, so ask how to stop it.
Products named on this page are described so you can check them. This page recommends none of them. Your next step is small: write down your history and bring it to one prescriber visit.
By SterlingMedicalCenter.org Editorial Team
Read next