Are you falling prey to Menopause products?

Reports this week are acknowledging the symptoms of menopause but come with a warning that women are being bombarded with products claiming to help them with little or no scientific basis. 

Doctors are concerned with self diagnosing, and self ‘medicating’ without first consulting medication professionals.  Some patients, looking for solutions and in despair, are purchasing products that are ineffective or had unwanted side effects when they we sold the ‘solution’.  Doctors recommend women consult with them to discuss any supplements or products they are considering before spending £’s.  Their added advice is – read the labels. 

Just like many well marketed products, the ingredients are often no different to standard products – the only difference is the marketing.Not everyone needs HRT, and there are many other options available via your GP, some people cannot take it, and some simply don’t want to.  But is enormously beneficial to many.  Again, have that conversation with a medical professional. By all means gather information from other sources and make your own choices, whilst remembering that many symptoms can be eased with other options such as exercise, diet, avoiding alcohol, all helping with weight control, sleep, hot flushes, and night sweats. HRT should not be considered as the sole remedy, and is better used when we improve our lifestyle overall.

Skin concerns can be issue in menopause. The obvious ones as we age are fine lines and wrinkles (incidentally I love that a good wine is described as ‘fine’), and we are constantly fed a stream of adverts on collagen. This is an area where good routines and the use of the right products work for all ages, and are not menopause specific.  Although you will find products on the market that are labelled for menopause.  These are often bumped up in price simply because of the ‘M’ word.  Check your ingredients.  For example, did you know there is a readily available ingredient that gives much better and faster results that collagen for your skin?

If you are concerned about dehydration, and have a desire for fresh firmer skin, you would be better off picking skincare products containing hyaluronic acid – giving you instant results. 

Collagen, which is mentioned all over the socials, works more as an internal nourishment, working slowing and improvements will take at least 8-12 weeks… and there is no guarantee.

Whereas hyaluronic acid gives an external glow that is visible almost immediately, making it a vital ingredient in your skincare.

To help you build a ritual in improving your skin, I suggest the following:

• Start with the non negotiables to improve hydration: the water you drink and add skincare that contains hyaluronic acid.

  
  

• Then add in Vitamin C and retinoids, as these stimulate your natural collagen production.  Eat good quality protein, and boost this with protein powders (if you like them, personally I don’t so I aim to get mine all from my diet).

  
  

• Then the optional one, use collagen supplements, but these are not essential and should be considered as an adding bonus if you have the budget and patience to wait for them to work.A little more detail on Hyaluronic Acid. 

The word acid sounds a little scary, but its not.  We already have it in our body, as it is a little molecule that holds 1000x its own weigh in water, making it super plumpy, bouncy and hydrated. Imagine them like the bouncy berries in the advert for a famous blackcurrant drink.

Sadly, as we age, we have less of these natural molecules hence the dehydration and our skin become naturally drier, thinner, and less plump. ( An ageing berry ;-( )

In the Radiance facials, many of the products I use contain hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinols – all plant derived.  From serums, to exfoliators, moisturisers, cleansers, and masks.  You cant really over do it on the Hyaluronic Acid, and each stage of the facial can include it. It’s always best to apply HA to dampened skin and then use your moisturiser as the final ‘lock in’.

If the appearance and feel of your skin is an issue for you, think of it as 3 simple ways to improve its hydration and the appearance.:

• Hydrate: Hyaluronic in skincare products

• Protect: use SPF in your daily products

• Stimulate production: with treatments and home care – regular massage helps boost circulation and encourages the natural production of collagen.

Additional tip:  look out for products containing sodium hyaluronate, its smaller in practical size than hyaluronic acid which helps it to sink in lower layers of the skin, attracting moisture, reducing dryness and increasing hydration.  This can be found in a variety of products including one for the body – great for that pre summer preparation before you ‘get the legs out’.

If you need individual help or tips to improve your skin - face or body, get in touch.