Getting older is getting very expensive!

[JMAngel1]

Anyone else feel like this?
I’ve always been high maintenance since my teens but in the last year or so, the list of what I need to keep me looking well presented and feeling “normal” seems to be getting longer.

This morning I’ve just placed orders for what I now consider essentials - plumping serum, vaginal moisturiser, hair dye, neck and chest cream, hair styling cream, 4 different supplements and progesterone cream. I’m 48 and my budget seems to be going more and more on these types of products and there is less and less for clothes and pretty things like make up.

At this age I thought I would be shopping at Jaegar and John Lewis and buying Bobbi Brown or Charlotte Tilbury. Instead I have to buy from eBay and Primark and most of my makeup is MUA or NYX.
Anyone else feel like this?

@pictish

Snake oil isn’t it? For the most part.

Snake oil is expensive though. I have a friend, his business is high end skin care. It’s all about looking wonderful at any age.Yes he does huge amounts of r and d, he’s a trained bio chemist. Would I buy his stuff if I was rich? Probably not. But people do and that’s why he’s a millionaire.

@something2say there's nothing patriarchal about hot flushes, dry vaginas, joint pain, brain fog, headaches, depression, insomnia, dry skin, hair loss etc that comes with the menopause! Fuck that!

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously I get my vits from Holland a Barrett And the ABC ones have everything in and are often on sale

for centuries women's life expectancy was only around 45-50

As always, including now, a low life expectancy mainly for the poor.

I sailed through the menopause, I was in a very physically active job at this time, and wonder if the five day 12 hours excercise helped. It certainly ensured I got quality sleep!

Yes you've hit the nail on the head re HRT - I'm seriously tempted but not sure I could get a GP to see me just for HRT at the moment.
I absolutely believe the products I use do something or else I drop them from my routine - I demand visible results or I don't buy again.
Someone upthread put it well - it takes a lot of products just to look normal!
If you saw me in the street, I don't look glam or anything - I don't wear foundation or concealer for example. I have to do all I do just to keep my face UP and lifted and my skin texture under control. Plus my hair is 3a curls and I can look like an electrocuted scarecrow if I'm not careful 😆

I think there are lucky women who effortlessly look good but I have never been one of them - it just feels like an upward battle now so maybe I do need to go down the HRT route. I would be nervous of reigniting my acne though ( I currently have it completely under control with an anti oestrogen metabolite supplement DIM ).

What would be a starting regime for HRT? Would it be an eostrogen/progesterone combi patch?

@trumpisaflump I was denied hrt years ago. I'm wondering if it's too late to ask to go in it now at 61.

Thanks for the heads up: I'm going to mug up.

HRT Nice guidelines. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23.

Doctors aren’t refusing to treat patients due to covid. They can still do a telephone consult and blood tests are still going ahead.

A week ago I would have said I didn't have a skincare regime but I now have to use a rich moisturiser and night cream because my skin has suddenly dried out and was getting uncomfortable. I'm a possessor of good genes, both my grand did start looking older until their late 70s.

@JMAngel1 I use tablets and had to try a few before I found the ones that suited best so bear that in mind. I think the best regime is oestrogen applied through the skin either in a gel or patch taken with progesterone tablets (assuming you still have a womb) Oestrogen applied through the skin has no side effect of blood clots as the drug bypasses the liver.
I also use testosterone gel too as believe it or not this is our most abundant sex hormone. We produce more testosterone than oestrogen and the production of testosterone also reduces at the menopause. Lack of testosterone in women can cause low libido, low muscle strength and brain fog. Unsurprisingly and quite depressingly this isn't licensed for use in women so I had to ask for a referral from my GP to a menopause specialist and she prescribed it for me no problem.
The lack of knowledge by health professionals and the public in women's health in the menopause is appalling I think considering half the world's population will go through the menopause. We are expected to suffer in silence and get on with it. OK I'll get off my soapbox now and you can get back to talking about face creams 😂
FWIW I recommend tretinoin cream as per previous posters. Available only on prescription from Dermatica or Skin and Me . Gives an amazing glow! Costs £20 per month and you could ditch all your other serums after starting this

You haven’t mentioned teeth!!

I have a friend who encountered resistance to prescribing HRT from her GP until she mentioned the loss of libido and vaginal dryness that was adversely impacting sexual relations with her husband.
Sad but true.

I’m 45 and took bioidentical hormones for two years. Testosterone and progesterone with all the promises that went with it. My thought process was that I would ease into menopause instead of slam into it.

Over lockdown I couldn’t make an appointment to see my doc then when they opened again I didn’t fancy a big bill and a Zoom meeting. So I let the prescription lapse. Weirdly I feel much better for it. I’m far hornier without the HRT than I was on it!!! I really don’t get it but for the moment I’m leaning it alone.

What massively helps me is diet. I’m very low carb, moderate protein, high fat. Fat is HUGELY important when it comes to making hormones and many women are low fat, high carb. This diet has improved my weight, my mental health and my sex life. Otherwise I use Astral Cream, high dose vit d, lots of pumpkin seeds for magnesium. Once/twice a year I have some fillers. I do need to sort out a decent retinol and I’m considering a home laser device but put it off after I couldn’t decide.

God that's sickening isn't it!

Thanks for all the info.
Has anyone found on taking HRT ( with progesterone) that acne has flared? I couldn't go back to acne - it ruined my life for 36 years before I started DIM.

I can't tolerate tretinoin unfortunately - I use A313 ointment for my retinol.

I would love to be able to just use any old cream on offer but I have rosacea (cured with soolantra) and acne (DIM) that I have to be careful with.

Teeth - pretty low maintenance - brush twice a day and ocassional teeth whitening. I don't floss (I know, I know) .

HRT in the U.K. is now is body identical and made from yams. Taking it as HRT protects against a number of health issues in future older years. For most women the health benefits make it worthwhile.

@justanotherneighinparadise. which fats? walnuts/avocado/salmon or are we talking full on butter/cream etc?

No acne on HRT . And I had it badly in my teens.

@Abraid2. thanks.

Dm’s Dr said the levels in HRT are much lower than in the pill. We’re both contraindicated from the pill but she had HRT.

Patches are meant to be much better than pills. It needs to be released below the waist iirc.

I've already spoken to my gynaecologist about HRT. She's in her late 60s and looks amazing, works full and doesn't plan on slowing down any time soon. It's has so many benefits and as mentioned the risks were overstated.

[quote JMAngel1]@justanotherneighinparadise. which fats? walnuts/avocado/salmon or are we talking full on butter/cream etc?[/quote]
Cheese, cream, avocado, saturated fats etc. Good omega three fat sources are great but so is the dripping off meant. We’ve just been conditioned to think it’s bad for us and gives us heart disease and makes us fat. It doesn’t. At some point they’ll update their advice as data is being collected all the time.

*meat

@JMAngel1

God that's sickening isn't it!

Thanks for all the info.
Has anyone found on taking HRT ( with progesterone) that acne has flared? I couldn't go back to acne - it ruined my life for 36 years before I started DIM.

I can't tolerate tretinoin unfortunately - I use A313 ointment for my retinol.

I would love to be able to just use any old cream on offer but I have rosacea (cured with soolantra) and acne (DIM) that I have to be careful with.

Teeth - pretty low maintenance - brush twice a day and ocassional teeth whitening. I don't floss (I know, I know) .

I have rosacea too! Hence me not using retinol until I know what the hell im doing.

I'm a few years older than you Op and didn't know vaginally moisturiser was a Thing!

Nor did I know that you can buy progesterone creams . Am I missing out here??

I’m 43 and even on HRT

The oestrogen vaginal cream is a life saver. I suffered really badly with dryness and it’s made such a difference.

I’m still suffering with brain fog, zero libido though and thinning hair and I need to get testosterone so I either need an appointment with a menopause specialist or go private as my GP already told me she doesn’t prescribe it

Spf 100 on the face and neck and hands everyday does help combat the signs of ageing. Drinking lots of water. Why do you need vaginal moisteriser?