Estera is sold in numbered phases, and the numbers are the problem. Nothing on the bottle tells you whether you are a Phase II or a Phase III, and the names — Transitions, Maintenance — only help if you already know which stage of life they refer to. This page answers that in plain English, using Nu Skin's own descriptions rather than our interpretation of them.
The short answer
- Phase II — Transitions Formula. Nu Skin describes this one as being for the perimenopausal years.
- Phase III — Maintenance Formula. Nu Skin describes this one as being for the postmenopausal years.
- Phase I — Balance Formula. No longer listed on Nu Skin's US site. See below.
If you are still having periods but they have become unpredictable, Phase II is the one Nu Skin points at. If your periods stopped more than twelve months ago, Phase III is.
What Nu Skin says each phase is for
We do not paraphrase claims about what a supplement does. Here is Nu Skin's own wording for each formula, quoted as they print it on their US site.
Estera Phase II — Women's Transitions Formula
"Estera Phase II Transition Formula is designed for women during perimenopausal years. Transition Formula ingredients work with the liver to promote a healthy ratio of estrogen metabolites and to help relieve menopause symptoms."*
— Nu Skin, US product page for Pharmanex® Estera® Phase II (SKU 01003637)
Estera Phase III — Women's Maintenance Formula
"Estera Phase III is for women in their postmenopausal years. Maintenance Formula is designed to help promote healthy estrogen metabolites and support healthy cardiovascular, bones, cognitive function, and a normal lipid profile."*
— Nu Skin, US product page for Pharmanex® Estera® Phase III (SKU 01003638)
That is the whole of what the manufacturer asserts. Anything beyond those sentences — a percentage, a timeframe, a promise about how you will feel in six weeks — is somebody's marketing, not Nu Skin's claim, and you should treat it accordingly wherever you see it.
What happened to Estera Phase I?
Phase I, the Women's Balance Formula, was the formula aimed at younger women. As of September 2026 it returns no result on Nu Skin's US site, which means it is not currently available in the United States. We have delisted it here rather than leave a page up for something that cannot be bought — a discontinued listing wastes your time and ours.
If you were taking Phase I, there is no direct replacement in the range. Phase II is the next formula up, but it is described for a different stage of life, so it is worth a conversation with your own doctor rather than a straight swap on our say-so.
What is actually in each one
The ingredient lists are the real difference between the two formulas, and they are quite far apart.
- Phase II is built around soy and red clover isoflavones, together with black cohosh, DIM (diindolylmethane), flaxseed lignans and chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus).
- Phase III is built around calcium citrate, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, soy isoflavones and methylfolate.
Phase II is largely a botanical and isoflavone blend. Phase III keeps the soy isoflavones but adds the bone and cardiovascular nutrients — calcium, D3, K2 — which is consistent with it being the postmenopausal formula. Full supplement facts are on each product label and product page; we have not reproduced the per-serving amounts here because the label is the authoritative source for those.
See Estera Phase II →
See Estera Phase III →
How to work out which stage you are in
This is the part nobody writes down clearly, so here it is. Perimenopause is the run-up: periods still happen but the timing and the flow change, often for several years. Menopause itself is a single point — twelve consecutive months without a period. Everything after that point is postmenopause, which is the rest of your life.
So the practical test is simply whether your periods have stopped for a full year. Before that, Nu Skin's description points to Phase II. After it, Phase III.
Two honest caveats. A hysterectomy, an IUD, or hormone therapy can remove the signal entirely, in which case the twelve-month rule tells you nothing. And this is a supplement decision, not a medical one — if you take prescribed medication, particularly anything hormonal or a blood thinner alongside the vitamin K2 in Phase III, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start. We sell these; we are not in a position to advise you on your own health.
Can you buy Estera without joining Nu Skin?
Yes. You do not need a membership, a distributor, an account, or a monthly commitment to buy Estera from us. Both formulas are 100% authentic Pharmanex product, they ship from the United States, and they are covered by our 90-day money-back guarantee — ours, not the manufacturer's, and longer than the standard one.
That is the whole of our pitch. We are not going to tell you which phase you need; the two sentences above from Nu Skin do that better than we could.
Common questions
Which is better, Estera Phase II or Phase III?
Neither is better. They are described for different stages — Phase II for the perimenopausal years, Phase III for the postmenopausal years — and their ingredient lists reflect that.
Can I take Phase II and Phase III together?
They are not designed to be stacked; each is a complete daily formula for its own stage. If you are unsure which applies to you, that is a question for a healthcare professional rather than a reason to take both.
Is Estera hormone replacement therapy?
No. Estera Phase III contains no synthetic estrogens and no progestins. It is a supplement, not a prescription hormone therapy, and it is not a substitute for one.
Where can I still buy Estera Phase I?
Nu Skin's US site returns no result for it as of September 2026, so we do not stock it. We would rather tell you that than take an order we cannot fill.
Do I need a distributor to order?
No. Order directly from this site. No membership, no account with Nu Skin, no distributor ID.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Quoted claims are Nu Skin's own, taken verbatim from their US product pages in September 2026.