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I’m not naïve. I expected my skin to change when I hit menopause, and I knew I’d hit it early, as my mother and grandmother had. But somehow, it was still a shock when the products I had relied on for a few decades stopped working for me. Wrinkle creams that used to be my favorites now seem a little useless, whereas super-thick moisturizers give me my glow back. My go-to drugstore shampoo and conditioner do nothing for me, and I find myself paying more for brands that restore my hair. It seems just when you no longer need tampons; you have to find new washes, serums, and haircare.
I feel lucky, though, that we’re entering a golden era of menopause beauty. Brands — some started by or backed by A-list celebrities, including Naomi Watts and Judy Greer — are popping up that target not just “aging” but very specific menopausal issues such as hot flashes and thinning hair. Menopause-related beauty issues that used to feel embarrassing to mention are now being openly addressed, lessening the stigma and also, of course, helping us actually tackle them.
Behold, here are 10 shining examples of beauty brands that are modernizing menopause — and the specific products to look into when your body is changing, thanks to menopause.
Pause Well Aging Hydrating Cleanser, $32
I’m starting with my favorite, this facial cleanser that, for me, works almost like a makeup primer. That’s because my old, reliable liquid face soap started stripping my skin and making my foundation go on a little crazy. (Can you tell I’m not an official beauty editor? I don’t know how to describe the state of the foundation not going on smoothly.) Pause Hydrating Cleanser leaves my skin surface even, and now my foundation glides on again.
Womaness Let’s Neck, $25
It’s been a bad joke for years, the “chicken neck” that happens as our skin gets less firm and more crepey. This brand finally has the moxie to address it with a cream that offers some immediate help and more results when used over time. Let’s Neck goes on with a built-in roller, you just squeeze the tube and then glide it along your neck so that the cooling cream can help tighten skin. Read the rave reviews that users leave!
Caire Beauty Theorem Serum Boost, $56
Now we’re getting to the serious stuff: serums you put on your face before you put on anything else. This particular miracle worker targets skin that’s lost the boost of those monthly hormones, and it gets insane reviews. I have not used it yet but considering Caire Beauty claims that one hundred percent of women who tried it saw visibly firmer and softer skin after a month…I think I need to order it immediately.
Stripes The Crown Pleaser, $40
My thinning hair makes me mad. Sometimes I daydream of getting extensions except that everyone who knows me would call me on it and also, extensions would probably ultimately leave me with even less hair. What makes me feel better is that Naomi Watts maybe suffers from thinning hair too, because her brand Stripes makes this amazing hair-thickening mask to use in the shower as a conditioner. This is a better way to get healthier hair!
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, $27
I am sneaking this one in here even if Elizabeth Arden is not, strictly speaking, a menopause brand. It may as well be, as far as I’m concerned, because it’s always been good at formulating products for women who have seen some things. This particular balm is a slick and sticky mask that I let soak in overnight while I sleep. I put it on when my husband is away traveling because it looks like I’ve rubbed jelly on my face. But! The next morning I wake with glowing skin.
(And it’s a staple in Carmen Electra’s beauty routine!)
Better Not Younger Superpower Hair & Scalp Duo, $76
I just started using a scalp serum this year and let me tell you, the difference in how my hair lays is bananas. Scalp serum is also a perfect example of something that wouldn’t have worked before menopause, it would have made my hair greasy. But now, my scalp drinks a serum right up and my hair feels thicker at the roots. This set, from Better Not Younger, is brilliant because it also includes a massaging applicator. Load in the serum, then work it onto your head evenly.
Wile Un-Anger Tincture, $25
Wile targets the peri-menopause symptoms that, for many women, creep in during their late 30s, especially feelings like anxiety and general frustration with the world. Un-Anger Tincture is a fan-favorite supplement, with ingredients such as lavender and kava to calm you down and mellow you out. Add one or two drops to water or tea, or just put them under your tongue.
Stella Via SuperBotanical Hot Flash Spritz, $20
I went through hot flashes for years leading up to actual menopause. I wore layers of clothes, like cardigans, that I could strip off when a flush came on. It would have been nice to keep a spritz like this at my desk, to mist on my face when I felt it getting hot and red. It’s got cooling aloe leaf juice and perspiration-fighting witch hazel.
Kindra Soothe Bath Soak, $30
I do not (yet) have the “dryness down there” issue, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming for me eventually. Kindra addresses it with plenty of products, but a fave seems to be this bath soak made specially to soothe vaginal discomfort. It’s got chamomile to help you wind down when you bathe in it before bedtime.
Joylux VFit Gold Device, $395
This is the Joylux product everyone talks about. I have not had personal experience with it but the five-star reviews say plenty: improved dryness, less incontinence, stronger pelvic floor. From what I understand it uses LED light, vibration and warmth to stimulate tissue. The device connects to an app that provides you with all the information and advice that your ob/gyn does not have time to give you.
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