Products for Perimenopause & Menopause. Are they Safe?
My Yoni wants to know.
When I first started having symptoms of perimenopause I scoured the internet looking for supplements, and products that would help. At first, I had a hard time finding anything that catered to my changing body, hair, and skin. Now it seems like they are sprouting up everywhere, but are they helping or are they creating more confusion and possibly making your symptoms worse?
I created my skincare line a few years ago because I was having a hard time finding skincare products that were designed with less than 10 ingredients, for sensitive skin, and without chemicals, or fillers. I wanted simple, yet effective ingredients that were transparent in their effectiveness.
The confusing part when looking into these companies is that they claim to be “clean”, and “simple”, seemingly transparent looking. But, when you take the time to research the ingredients it doesn’t add up.
Take for example the list of ingredients in this vaginal dryness lotion-
Water, glycerin, niacinamide, dimethicone, polyacrylamide, stearyl alcohol, panthenol, stearyl dimethicone, tocopheryl acetate, sodium hyaluronate, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, C13-14 isoparaffin, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, sodium citrate, citric acid, polymethylsilsesquioxane, dimethicone, sorbitan caprylate, sodium benzoate, laureth-7, PEG-100 stearate, cetearyl glucoside, cetearyl alcohol, disodium EDTA
TRUE OR FALSE?
Is the ingredient dimethicone necessary in a vag lotion?
HELL NO! FALSE.
Why would I want to stick dimethicone up my yoni? It is a silicone, (and used way too much in this product), mainly used in hair serums to tame frizzy hair, by coating and adhering to the hair. Silicones can change the PH of our skin and change the integrity of our mucus membranes, so, I’ll pass.
MY SOLUTION
Keep the silicones for your hair, or better yet just don’t use them. This vaginal dryness product claims it will moisturize and hydrate your yoni, but all it is doing is providing you with a slip agent for when you want to get frisky with yourself, or your partner. Let’s just call a spade a spade and move on. Or, try using coconut oil and save your yoni from all that nonsense.
Another product that has become popular for hot flashes is cooling mists. When we experience these “power surges” these companies want you to spray yourself with synthetic ingredients, alcohol, and fragrance.
Take for example the list of ingredients in this cooling spray-
Water (aqua), Alcohol, Isopulegol, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate, Triethyl Citrate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexl Isononanoate, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Enteromorpha Compressa, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Menthol, Menthoxy-Propanediol, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethyaminoethanol Natural (Bitartrate), Ribose, Poria Cocos Polysaccharide, Carbomer, Glycogen, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Fragrance, Vanillyl Butyl Ether
TRUE OR FALSE
Do you need alcohol in a cooling spray?
NOPE. FALSE.
Unless it’s a fatty alcohol, which is designed to lock in moisture, there is no reason. It will dry your skin out! Initially, it will feel cool, but it will strip away your skin's natural oils and damage the skin barrier.
MY SOLUTION
Find one without alcohol.
TRUE OR FALSE?
Do you need fragrance in a cooling spray?
SURE DON’T. FALSE.
If you have sensitive skin stay away from added fragrance! Fragrances are known as one of the leading causes of allergic contact dermatitis.
MY SOLUTION
Find one without added fragrance. Try a rose hydrosol spray instead.
It can be confusing and frustrating to trust these companies’ intentions. The next time you are searching for a product whether it be for your lady parts or your face, make certain you know what you are buying, just because it’s labeled Hot Flash Spray doesn’t mean it's helping your perimenopausal symptoms. They could, be making them worse.