How has aging, perimenopause, or menopause affected your style and hygiene ?

[MomWithChinHairs]

Today I had my hair cut and dyed. My hair was long and the natural hair was dark brown. It's now a pixie cut and it's dyed blonde. There were a few factors for the change, one of them is perimenopause and aging. I was getting some grey hairs. My hair was frequently sweaty.

Unless it's a special occasion, I have abandoned dresses, jeans, and skirts. I wear leggings for my fluctuating weight. I were tank tops because of hot flashes, night sweats, and other sweating events.

I feel like I can't do my makeup anymore. So many wrinkles and age spots. My pores are so big and my face is easily sweaty.

Not only that my body, face, and skin is different but my style is changing. Then there is the hygiene aspect for the sweating and body odor. I shower more and use stronger deodorant but I'm scared I'll get smelly around people if I'm not vigilant. This is an interesting time in my life.

Are you on HRT? That might help the sweating. It will all settle down eventually, the feeling of being in a transition phase and not sure what to do anymore. Your hair sounds fabulous. I got a few facials to clear up my pores, and then started using a vitamin C serum to brighten my skin. I also got subtle powder brows which helped with the increasing scarcity in that area. There’s lots you can do, most of it trial and error. Best wishes. 🌷

I haven't really changed anything, but I never got hot flushes even before I went on HRT and if I've sweated a bit I just have a shower. I wear what I like, I've used the same deodorant for as long as I can remember and I have a mattifying face primer for if it looks very shiny.

My hair has been the same for a few years (I haven't been in a hairdressers since covid and I just trim the ends off when they get a bit thin), and I don't wear makeup, or very seldom. I like to use nice skin and haircare products and always have - I'm currently working through the Space NK advent calendar which is lovely.

If I gain enough weight that my clothes get tight I just restrict until I've lost it. To be honest, I don't give the amount of time elapsed between when I was born and now any headspace at all.

I'm going to ask my doctor about HRT

Is it's not too personal for me to ask.
How old are you ?

I use patches
and I try not to look in the mirror when i undress for bed as the paunch depresses me
have built up to 6000 steps twice a day walking my dog I live in cargo pants and husbands t shirts

and just trying to be positive

It’s not the physical changes of perimenopause for me so much as the suddenly not giving a fuck if I look like a mad old bag lady.

Also hard to look stylish when I’ve got on average 2 pairs of reading glasses on top of my head simultaneously.

I wear yoga pants a lot because I’m too irritable to be fucked with doing up buttons.

I’m nearly 50 and my weight and shape hasn’t changed too much yet, but in the past year I have developed jowls like a bloodhound. Sometimes I want to stick my head out the car window and let them flap in the wind.

Which I guess takes us back to the not giving a fuck anymore piece.

Don't get me started on the paunch. I can do on a whole rant about that.

I love your energy. I wish my attitude was more like your's.

Of course not - I should have said! I'm 53.

I've been on HRT for about three and a half years and my doctor switched me straight over from the combined pill (when I went to ask about mood swings, unpredictable fits of incandescent rage and crippling brain fog) so I've taken artificial hormones for pretty much my entire adult life.

Whether that's relevant I really don't know, since I never gave much of a fuck when I was younger either

Thank you for answering my question.

BTW, I also like your attitude.

I just bought my very first lipstick.
I bought some hair dye and considered getting a curling iron but then decided not to use the dye and return it.

It’s not the physical changes of perimenopause for me so much as the suddenly not giving a fuck if I look like a mad old bag lady

I'm 10 years post menopause and I never intend looking like a "mad old bag lady."

I haven’t changed anything, though the pandemic has! I got used to not wearing make up for example, since I only wear it if going out out. I also don’t carry a bag most of the time - everything’s on my phone and I never use cash.
But I still dye my hair and wear the same clothes.

I didn’t intend it either! Just kinda snuck up on me one day.

I think I feel and look better than I did 10 years ago. In my early 40s, I was in peri-hell, feeling dreadful all the time and piling on weight and worry. A decade on and I've lost the weight, sorted out my wardrobe and am through the menopause. No sweating/hot flushes/perma period has been a huge relief. My skin and hair are very dry now but I can live with that.

Yes I’m early- mid 40s and peri.
things I’m doing to manage it -
cut my hair into bob length. Previous long lucious Beyoncé style hair was massively thinning out
Dye it with a natural looking box dye - I will have to revert to highlights in a few years to manage the grey roots
Regular exercise - combo of yoga and circuits
Oily fish twice a week
Good sleep hygiene (although I still sometimes wake at 4am!)
Natural fabrics only - no acrylic or polyester
Slather my face with rose oil every night

I’m 55 and I’ve been on HRT for years. I look and feel better than in my 40s. I dress better than I did 10 years ago and I love trying new makeup, skincare and perfume. I’ve got zero interest in going the mad old bag lady route. I work with colleagues who are pretty much all younger than me and I compete in my industry with people 10-15 years my junior. It keeps me on my toes and I enjoy the fresh ideas and interactions.

I'm post menopause so I've probably forgotten a lot of the day to day stuff, but the long term effect was that it made me realise time is running out and that I need to make the most of it.

I focus on:
a) healthy eating, daily moderate exercise and mental stimulation although I could do more.
b) clothes because that's what I enjoy.

I wear far less make up and have a much more basic skin care regime than I did when I was young. That's partly because I developed sensitive skin in my 50s and partly because it doesn't interest me. I have however got into lipstick because it's quick and it's fun.

I’ve taken up weightlifting and I bloody love it. Life changing. Have always had short hair, it’s probably going shorter the next time I get it cut though as the bob length it is now needs quite a lot of ‘doing’ to not look mumsy. I’ve had a bad, and long, bout of dermatitis which means I stopped using all but the most basic skincare, which made me realise I’d really ramped up my skincare without noticing! Going on antibiotics for that meant having to give up all of my supplements and tbh I’ve not noticed a difference, so I don’t think I’m going to restart them.

I’ve worked from home for 20 years and think that’s had a bigger impact on my wardrobe than any of the menopause stuff, I do sometimes stress over clothes, but only for five minutes because ultimately I don’t give a fuck.

HRT has worked wonders for me. I work out most days in the gym and run a few times a week too. I'm in such a good place now. Full of energy and better then I was in my late 30's. I started HRT a year ago now at the age of 42. It took a while to get the right balance. I'm on oestrogel, Utrogestan and testosterone. It's honestly been transformative for me.

Affected my hair it's now thinner and grows slower, more rosacea and slower weight loss. Oh the joys!

My teeth are also shifting more despite nightly guard

I now have hideously dry hair. I deep condition regularly.
I have accepted my face becoming jowly and my hanging eyes. I’ve adjusted my make up to suit.
I felt like my body sweat changed! So I’ve been trialling new/different deodorant products.
I’m fat now. So all clothes need to be long enough to cover my belly. This is the annoying one for me.

When I was peri I noticed that the smell of my sweat had changed, I found it more offensive, but it seems to have abated now I think I'm almost out the other side. I use a natural deodorant because I worry about the aluminium in anti perspirant and it does the job. I've been fortunate not to ever have hot flushes.

The worst side effect for me has been the change in texture of my hair and it thinning at the front, currently weighing up whether to try minoxidil. I miss having thicker and shinier hair. Currently have subtle highlights mixed in with my grey three times a year, but will grow the grey out next year when my dd leaves primary school and I don't have to worry about looking like her granny.

Otherwise I don't worry that much about it all. I would probably make more effort if I still worked in the office, as I work with a lot of younger people, but wfh for the last five years has been quite freeing. Can be mostly found in dog walking clothes without a scrap of makeup. I also feel fitter, and am lighter than I was in my forties, am almost 52.

HRT has been a lifesaver.

I pay more attention to my overall wellness and appearance than when I was younger.

Changed my exercise regime to include Pilates and more heavy weights as well as cardio. I’ve always eaten healthily but barely drink alcohol now, eat fewer carbs and more protein and try not to snack too much. Make sure I go for a lunchtime walk when WFH even if it’s raining as I need the fresh air and exercise.

Increased hair maintenance to cover roots. Hair is thinning so if I’m making an effort I spend more time giving it a blow dry.

I take HRT which has reduced night sweats but I shower before bed and then a quick shower in the morning to feel fresher.

Skincare is generally just heavier weight day and night cream and more moisturising, I use an LED mask too which I think has helped.
Make up I still keep it basic but now use cream blush/eye shadows if I’m wearing them as better for my drier skin, less cakey. Do like a good lipgloss or lipstick to brighten up my look.

I still enjoy clothes and outfits and try and look put together and styled - but only wear natural fabrics to reduce the sweaty feeling! I don’t want to look or feel any older than I need to!