Perimenopause Beauty - Skincare Favorites
My skincare favorites for Perimenopause
Here is Part 2 of my Perimenopause Beauty Series: My favorite haircare products.
(Read Part 2: Skincare Favorites)
This post may include affiliate links* and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I use myself or that I believe my readers would enjoy. Thank you!
I am not someone who spends a lot on high end anything. Most of these items can be found in your local drugstore or at Wal-Mart. I think the most important aspect of good skin care during perimenopause (or really any time in life) is maintaining a consistent routine.
Please note - I am not a skin-care expert or a medical provider. This is just what works for me.
My Skin Care
I’ll preface this list with the fact that I have fairly low maintenance skincare needs at the moment. I may get an occasional pimple, but for the most part my skin is clear. As I’ve aged (I’m 47) I notice that my skin tends to be really dry as soon as the weather turns cold (I live in Maine). Currently my biggest skin care issue is redness and some discoloration. I never wore sunscreen when I was younger. So part of my skin-care routine is trying to prevent any more age spots from showing up.
In addition to the products listed below, I drink a lot of water every day. Not to stay hydrated per se, but more because I genuinely love water. It’s my favorite drink. I also limit my caffeine to a few cups of plain black tea in the morning, on most days.
The List
Ponds Cold Cream Cleanser - I love make-up and wear it most days and Ponds Cold Cream is the holy grail (IMO) for removing make-up. It’s also Step 1 of my double cleansing evening routine. This is one of the few products I used in my twenties that I still use today. Even if I haven’t worn any make up during the day, I will still use this at night before my cleanser. This product has a light scent, but if you prefer there is also an unscented version available.
Pond’s Dry Skin Cream - Like the cleanser, I’ve been using Pond’s Dry Skin Cream since my 20s. I used to only apply it during winter. Now I use it all year round - except for the hottest, most humid days of summertime in Maine. I use Ponds Dry Skin Cream in both my morning and evening skin care routines.
Face Oil - I started using face oil a few years ago and it has been a game changer. In the winter I apply it both in the morning and the evening. The rest of the year I usually just use it as part of my evening routine only. Pearlessence has a number of different face oils. I especially like the Rose Hip with Vitamin C. I can’t find this brand in any of my local stores, so I usually buy it on Amazon or I’ll occasionally score a discounted bottle at TJ Maxx.
ELF Suntouchable Sunscreen - Remember when I said I never wore sunscreen when I was younger. Full disclosure - I only started wearing sunscreen daily THIS YEAR. Because, every brand of sunscreen irritated my face. I tried zinc based, mineral, natural, etc… I think I tried every brand on the shelf. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact I would have to wear wide brimmed hats outside, year round if I wanted to protect my face. But then…I heard about ELF Whoa Glow. This is a sunscreen and make up primer in one. It gives my skin a dewy sheen before I even apply any foundation. And I think it works great even on *cough, cough* mature skin.
Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser - I started using this cleanser about a year ago, because again, my skin is feeling drier and drier. Plus I felt like I needed a more gentle product. This cleanser contains hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Hyaluronic acid helps skin stretch and flex and reduces skin wrinkles and lines, while ceramides help keep the skin hydrated. I use this cleanser in the both the morning and night. Because it is so gentle, it does not remove make up very well (hence my Ponds Cold Cream).
A little trick I’ve found that makes this product more effective (IMO) is to apply it to dry skin. I just add a little bit of the cleanser to my palm with some water, rub my hands together and then wash my face with my hands. I’m not sure how to explain it, but grips onto the skin better this way and feels like it is doing a more thorough job, while still being gentle. There is a foam version of this as well, but I definitely prefer the non-foaming formula.
Hyaluronic Face Serum - I started adding face serums into my morning and evening skin care routine a few years ago. I always select one that contains Hyaluronic Acid (see above). Fun fact about face serums, even in the drug store or at Wal-Mart, they can run up to $20-$30! In this economy?! I think not. I’ve used several different brands of serums and honestly, I don’t think any are better than the other. I find Neutrogena products to be reliable, well priced and easy to find.
Neutrogena Retinol Cream - Have you ever heard of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon? It’s the idea of encountering something for the first time and then very soon after, you encounter it again and again. Like if you have a red car, or even just want a red car, suddenly you’ll see red cars everywhere. This is how it was for me and retinol. I was searching videos online for perimenopause skin care routines and Retinol was in every. single. one. And then when I went shopping for products, everything seemed to have retinol in it - cleansers, lotions, serums, make-up. Everything.
The reason retinol is so popular is because it is multi-functional. It can help with acne, reduce redness, age spots, and wrinkles. Using retinol is a long-game. I didn’t notice any difference until I had used it for a few months. Then all of a sudden my skin was smoother, less red and had no new age spots. Because of it’s effectiveness, you need to work your way up to using retinol on a regular basis. AND you need to wear sunscreen, because retinol makes you more vulnerable to UV rays. I heard it best described as once you start using retinol, you need to treat yourself like you have sensitive skin - even if you’ve never had sensitive skin before.
I use retinol every other day in the morning and a two times a week in the evening. If I use any more than that my skin starts to dry out. Like Face Serums, Retinol products run the gamut of price points. I’ve only ever used the Neutrogena Regenerating Cream (night) and the Neutrogena Dark Spot Corrector with Vitamin C (daytime).
Loreal Dermo- Expertise Eye Defense Eye Cream - Even thought the name is ridiculously long, I LOVE this eye cream and have used it for about 10 years. It comes in a cute little glass container, which lasts me about six weeks. I apply it in the morning and the evening.
And those are some of my favorites when it comes to my perimenopause skincare routine. Do you have any favorites that you’d recommend?
How I Follow the Wheel of the Year for a Peaceful (ish) Life
This post may include affiliate links* and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I use myself or that I believe my readers would enjoy. Thank you!
I recently started listening to Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. It got me thinking about the role that seasons and the Wheel of the Year are play in my own life. Like many of you, I don’t identify with any particular spiritual or religious group, nature-based or otherwise. But I take great comfort in following the seasons. It’s almost as if the seasons give me permission to slow down (winter); to be busy (spring); to spend extra time with friends and family (summer); and to spend time working on goals for the future (autumn). Every year I follow some iteration of this pattern.
As I think about the Wheel of the Year, I’ve been thinking about the contrast between following nature’s lead and my own reality. In our capitalist culture, there is no slowing down. Too often efficiency and production are the markers of a job well done. There is no time to slow down, no time to rest. We have to keep moving, moving, moving no matter the season. I struggle to reconcile the fast pace of everyday life with the my desire to follow nature’s rhythm.
I used to think I must be lazy because I didn’t eat, sleep, breath my job, like some people do. But as I’ve grown in my career, I’ve come to realize that my work-style and leadership style are just… different.
My strengths come from the fact that I do try to follow the seasons as much as possible, even in the office. I take more time off in the winter and summer. I capitalize on the energy of spring to start projects. I use the back-to-school energy of fall to get organized and start planning out new initiatives. And I encourage my staff to do the same. Of course, this doesn’t always go as planned, but following nature’s lead helps keep me from being swallowed whole by my job, running from fire to fire, with no end in sight.
Along with following the seasons, I use each of the Wheel of the Year holidays to pause, reflect and align/realign with my core values and intentions. If I am feeling off kilter, checking in with myself, even just briefly, during a WOTY sabbat helps to move me off autopilot and be more intentional with my time and energy.
Basically, my personal philosophy is kind of like the popular quote:
“Nature doesn’t hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” - Lao Tzu
Nature keeps me grounded, while the Wheel of the Year offers a path forward.
How do the seasons and the Wheel of the Year show up in your life?
You Might Also Enjoy
Follow the Mabon House Adventures on Instagram
Core Values: Creating a Life of Authenticity
This post may include affiliate links* and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I use myself or that I believe my readers would enjoy. Thank you!
Our values serve as the guiding principles that shape your beliefs, behaviors, and decisions. To live with intention and build a life that feels purposeful, it’s important that you understand what your values are. Figuring out what you value in life will help you to discern the kind of life you want to cultivate, while also being realistic about your actions. It's easy to set goals or desire things that align with societal values but may not necessarily support the life you truly want to have. Following societal values can inadvertently steer individuals towards the wrong career or the wrong partner, making life more challenging than necessary. By acknowledging personal values, you can make choices that will help you build a life of purpose and joy, as well as make you more resilient in the face of challenges.
What Are Values, Exactly?
Values, in essence, are your fundamental beliefs and principles that serve as a guiding force for your attitudes, behaviors, and decisions. They act as a compass, helping you navigate through life and make choices aligned with what you deem important. Your values encompass a broad spectrum, ranging from moral and ethical beliefs to personal and social principles.
These core values play a pivotal role in shaping your perception of right and wrong, influencing your priorities, and contributing to the formation of your identity. Deeply rooted and influenced by factors like culture, family upbringing, personal experiences, and societal norms, your values act as a foundation upon which you build the life you want to lead.
Understanding your values is crucial for living authentically and intentionally, allowing you to make decisions that resonate with your beliefs and contribute to a purposeful life. They are an integral part of who you are and guide you in navigating the complexities of the world around you.
Raising children helped me to identify many of my core values. As a single mom working full time, it was important for me to have quality time with my kids. This meant prioritizing a career that kept me close to home, over more lucrative corporate options that would have required a two hour daily commute. For me, the 10 hours saved a week from not having to commute was more important than earning a higher salary.
Values Can Change Over Time
As you move through the various phases of life, your values naturally undergo shifts and transformations. In your youth, priorities may center around exploration, independence, and personal freedom. Transitioning to adulthood, responsibilities, relationships, and career aspirations can reshape the importance you place on different values. Parenthood might introduce a heightened emphasis on family, security, and stability. Experiences, cultural exposure, and evolving perspectives may lead to a reevaluation and adjustment of your values. Life's challenges and successes also play a crucial role in shaping the principles that guide your decision-making. Recognizing and embracing these shifts contribute to a more nuanced understanding of yourself and can improve your adaptability as you navigate changes in your life.
Sometimes negative experiences help shape our values
Growing up in a chaotic home where we sometimes had money and sometimes did not, I’ve learned the value of financial stability. Even though I didn’t make a ton of money when my kids were younger, I was (and am) very good with my finances. I prioritize savings first, and can always stretch what’s left in my checking account til the end of the month. That’s not to say it was always easy. I definitely had a good amount of mom guilt that I wasn’t taking my kids on vacation to Disney or buying them all the newest electronics. But there was no way I could do those things without going into debt or being late on my bills. Because I was clear about my financial goals and the value of stability associated with them, it was easier to make hard decisions. I was never really tempted to overspend and this allowed me to build meaningful memories without compromising my financial stability.
Rejecting Society's Values
Society and culture play an important part in shaping our values. Traditional Western values like marriage, higher education, and earning a lot of money are what often drive our decision making. But when you take time to think about what kind of life you really want, you may find that your values don’t always align with the majority.
I found that the pressure to get married again after divorce was Intense. I don’t know why. I obviously wasn’t very good at being married the first time. But my friends and family thought I should get married again ASAP. For a while, this emphasis on being married in order to be whole left me feeling confused and a little depressed. I have a wonderful partner whom I’ve never lived with, never co-parented with, and never mingled finances with. We keep completely separate lives and are only together because we want to be together. We take turns staying at each other's houses and spend holidays together. But during the normal 9 - 5 week, we don’t see each other much. We both value our independence and our alone time. When I finally accepted the fact that I really didn’t want to get married again - at least not while my kids were still at home, I felt much lighter. I value the love and connection I have with my partner, regardless if we check society’s box of acceptable relationships.
Choose Values for Growth, Not Validation
Pursuing education or career paths for personal growth, not external validation, is an example of understanding that personal fulfillment comes from within. This involves aligning life choices with intrinsic values and avoiding the pitfalls of seeking validation solely from external sources. I call this the “It Looks Good On Paper” trap. Have you ever met someone who chose a career because it paid it a lot and/or is considered prestigious? And they hate their job? Perhaps it’s a misalignment in their values, or they truly do value money and titles over general happiness. For me, I value building community through my work. I would never feel truly fulfilled in a business - corporate setting that was focused on profits over people, no matter how much it paid.
Prioritizing Mental Health and Work-Life Balance
Another important value for me is taking care of myself. It is so easy to push our health to the back burner, because our day jobs become all consuming. Avoiding excessive dedication to work at the expense of my mental and physical health reflects my recognition of the importance of work-life balance.
Balancing Your Values with Reality
As you examine your personal values, resist the urge to create an idealized version of your life — a "Perfect You." Idealization may lead to an exhaustive list of improvements and experiences that may not be realistically achievable. In the age of information overload, focus on what truly matters and identify realistic actions for your day-to-day life.
Finding Authenticity in Decisions
Understanding and living by your values is not about creating an unattainable ideal. It's about embracing the authenticity of your decisions, making choices aligned with your beliefs, and finding fulfillment in the midst of life's complexities. Reflect on the real-life examples shared, and consider how your values shape your decisions, relationships, and overall sense of purpose. By staying true to yourself, you pave the way for a life that authentically reflects your values and brings lasting satisfaction.
Do you have a set of core values that help guide your life?
Follow the Adventures on Instagram
More Blog Posts You Might Enjoy
My hair care favorites for perimenopause