Menopause and women’s health in general has always been a bit of a taboo subject, as October is World Menopause Month and World Menopause Day on 18th October, we thought it was a good time to keep the conversation rolling. With some fabulous role models sharing their knowledge and experience including the lovely Davina McCall who started an event tour called Menopausing which is a revolution for women.

Menopause VS Perimenopause

In a nutshell, Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 but can start sooner and later. This results in the body producing less oestrogen which causes the body to behave differently, and a wide variety of symptoms can be experienced. 85% of menopausal women look for alternative support during this time by means of non-hormonal means.

Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.

What are the symptoms of Menopause and perimenopause?

Perimenopause symptoms will start months or even years before your period stops, then once your period has stopped for 12 months you have reached menopause.

The main symptoms of both are mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes, feeling irritated, having anxiety and irregular periods. When our hormones are out of sync, it can be overwhelming and frustrating.

You can expect big impacts on your daily life, this can include work, family life, relationships and social life. Saying this, symptoms can be very different for everyone, and you may experience none whatsoever.

Ways you can help your side effects

There are lots of things you can do to help with your side effects, these include exercise, eating healthy, regular sleep routine, relaxing activities like yoga and meditation and very importantly talking to friends and family that may be going through the same.

If you’re looking for some skincare and wellbeing products that can help support women through the Menopause, we’ve got you!

Skincare tips for menopausal skin  

Dermalogica

Studies show that women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. There are many skincare products that can help with menopausal skin, which hopefully will boost confidence and your mood.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser is a light and creamy cleanser enhanced with BioReplenish Complex™ removes impurities while actively nourishing dry, depleted skin. With Coconut and Murumuru Seed Butter which helps protect barrier lipids and preserve the skin’s natural resilience for a smoother feel after cleansing.

Dermalogica AGE Smart® Renewal Lip Complex uses patented polypeptide technology and scientifically advanced ingredients to restore the delicate tissue around the mouth along with mimimizing contour lines.

Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient in Dermalogica AGE Smart® Renewal Lip Complex which provides increased hydration and improved elasticity, and as we all know by now, collagen is decreasing in menopasue and collagen is the protein responsible for skin elasticity.

Solgar

Solgar offer premium food supplements for all different health and wellbeing concerns, Solgar Menoprime is a daily tablet that provides whole-body, hormone-free, plant-based support for women.

With carefully selected ingredients are clinically suggested to have bioactive compounds that support calm and relaxation, perfect for a stressful and confusing time!

Did you know that flaxseeds can be a fantastic addition to your diet during the menopause? With antioxidant properties, they can help support symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats.

Whilst you can buy flaxseeds at the supermarket and add these powerhouse beauties to your smoothie or top up your porridge, you could also try supplements to compliment your diet.

Solgar Omega 3-6-9 60 Tablets are a premium blend of three essential fats derived from fish, flaxseed and borage oils, a perfect supplement to boost your hormonal and overall health!

DECLÉOR

As you age your collagen production slows way down, you loose volume in the skin and as we all know a few more lines and wrinkles appear. DECLÉOR White Magnolia age defying products help to boost your collagen by +112%! That’s HUGE!

Formulated with Magnolia and Ginger essential oils along with Jojoba, designed to create a youthful concentrate for the skin promoting a plumper and firmed complexion.

Essential Oils of:
Magnolia: Stimulates collagen No.1 
Geranium: Stimulates stem cells 
Rose Damascena: Powerfully protects

Balance Me

As you know, during this time your Oestrogen drops, if you want to keep your skin plump and bouncy, Balance Me Collagen Boost Moisturiser helps your skin to bounce back. With powerful and innovative natural peptide complex works to help boost collagen and elastin production, resulting in smoother, plumper and more rejuvenated looking skin.

Hormone change can affect our skin in a huge way, as we know from those annoying pre-period breakouts, keeping your skin clean and healthy is vital to avoid blemishes and a dull looking complexion.

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum is enriched in a powerful anti-oxidant, kanuka oil, which helps to calm and soothe the skin and hide imperfections. With it’s 99% natural formula, this luxurious serum will fight hard to diminish inflammation without causing redness or dry skin.

Hyaluronic Acid decreases as your get older, this is why the skin gets drier as we age, sometimes feeling rough, and itchy. Hyaluronic Acid is key for our skin to look healthy and radiant.

Balance Me Beauty Sleep Hyaluronic Mist is a targeted treatment spray to help promote a good night’s sleep with sleep-supporting essential oils Chamomile, Lavender and Clary Sage to relieve stress and anxiety.

Key Ingredients

St John’s Wort: A natural herbal aid for depression; also, anti-inflammatory.

Clary Sage: Relaxing, soothing, and balancing, this herbaceous oil caters to sensitive skin and over-active minds.

Valerian: Used in traditional Chinese medicine, this plant helps to relieve the symptoms of anxiety and aid a good night’s sleep.

Hyaluronic Acid: This super hydrator is best known for its unique ability to hold 1000x its weight in water, making it the ultimate hydrating hero.

Sleep-supporting super-blend: Lavender, Chamomile and Frankincense essential oils prepare you for a good night’s sleep.

Tisserand

Tisserand have just brought out a new blend of wellbeing solutions designed to help harmonise your inner emotions, from relaxing body washes, oils for your body or diffuser, to a mist to balance the whole room.

Take back your power and balance your emotional changes that are associated with perimenopause and menopause….and breathe.

Brain Fog

Forgetting the milk? Forgetting a birthday? Forgetting to pick the kids up from school? Ok maybe too far, but brain fog is real. A lot of factors can make it worse, but you can also help your little brain be slightly less foggy!

So, how can you help? Well, first things first you want to make sure that you’re getting some good quality sleep, sleep deprivation is not a nice thing, you can see why it was used as a form of torture! New mums, we salute you! IYKYK

If you’re struggling with sleep then we would recommend trying Tisserand Aromatherapy Sleep Better products, their body oil is elite, it’s formulated with a soothing blend of lavender, sandalwood and jasmine, for ultimate relation and will nourish your skin for a silky-soft feel in the morning. Wake up refreshed after a good night’s sleep with softer than soft skin, what could be better!

Daily exercise will do wonders for your body and mind, some people are scared of the word, but this doesn’t have to mean a full-blown weights session at the gym, a simple walk to start your day is perfect, if you want to add in some yoga or meditation then it would help like you wouldn’t believe!