Daily/weekly routine for 50 something who has lost their way?

[LovelyDonkey]

Realised in the office yesterday that my every other day shower with in between washes and deodorant combo just not cutting it for me and I smelt. I have had health issues and been v depressed (and with it lazy) so I need to come up with a routine of what you do daily/weekly to try and structure myself better.

Don't need specific products (though if you have goodies please do share) but have various health conditions inc skin cancer so don't be offended if I can't take up your suggestions, but seeing people's routines would really help.

Hair is shoulder length wavy and I do wash it every other day and do curly lite - it is v fine and am losing hair so have to wash as it gets greasy but currently reacting to product/s unknown so trying to to bare mininum.

Thanks

Hair and scalp oil - really light - from a natural brand.

I had some very heavy medical treatment. Recommend checking ferritin, vit d, b12 etc levels in case there have been any issues with medication.

best wishes.

I shower at least once daily (even if it’s just a quick 5 min shower) and wash hair every other day. I have young kids and sometimes it’s the only ‘me’ time I get all day but I absolutely must do it.
I also try to moisturise after most showers and apply deodorant. If I have exercised in the day or got sweaty then I will do a quick 2 min shower before bed too.
in terms of smelling, don’t forget clothes too- I sometimes find people’s clothes smell unclean (weirdly especially coats smell of food to me sometimes?)
sounds to me like you need to prioritise yourself a bit more if possible - can you find some ‘nice’ products you would look forward to using and are compatible with your skin and hair?

50 something here 👋🏻 Like anything if you try and make massive changes all at once, you're doomed to failure.

If I'm having a depressive episode or struggling, non negotiables for me are a shower before work and a shower before bed. Teeth cleaned twice a day and a mouth wash rinse. Hair washed 2 or 3 times a week. Deoderant every day.

Once you're doing that without it feeling like a monumental effort (may take many weeks), I'd add in a gentle skin care routine. Not an 8 step influencer style one. A decent moisturiser/serum.

Stuff like fake tan, doing nails, defuzzing hairy bits are just window dressing and may make you feel more polished, but getting your basic hygiene sorted will make you feel 100% better and has immediate benefits.

Try downloading the Finch app and just put in goals like:

Morning shower
Clean teeth
Deodorant
Medication
Drink a glass of water
Evening shower
Clean teeth
Moisturise face

Then start adding more things in as those basics start becoming a habit.

💐

I found recently I smell really bad in the morning so have taken to using sanctuary products and (sorry about this) but washing in between my legs and then using Femfresh for that area.Using roll on, impulse and perfume to be sure.

not much help but take care x

Ooh thank you - love the idea of the app, stuff like that (I love spreadsheets) is really motivating

I have just had a sort out of my stuff as I am a hoarder and buy too much, but often don't love it but keep it out of obligation but then feel like i have to use stuff but it doesn't spark joy - might try and stop off at Boots to try some new deodorant and some body lotion with gradual tan and see if I can start trying to use these

Thank you for kindness too

You don’t need a complicated skincare routine. I’d get a gentle face wash to use in the shower, a moisturiser and then spf 50 on your face to protect from
sun damage .
I like Cerave or cetaphil which aren’t expensive.
I won’t be seen without mascara either but up
to you!

Sadly currently I am reacting to a lot of my skincare and makeup so I'm also having to cull stuff, which is making me sad and also feel guilty about the waste. Menopause has completely disappeared my eyelashes (though given bleeding, hair loss both on head and body maybe it's worth me getting my iron/ferritin etc checked)

In my fifties too OP. I wash my hair every other day but I do shower every day. Also wash towels and bedding at 60 to keep them fresh smelling.

If you’re worried about smelling I’d wash your dressing gown and bedding this weekend and whilst the bedding is off, air the room. Then wash your work clothes.

Hopefully this will keep you smelling fresh

Sorry only just seen this post. I have to be really careful which products i use too.

If you’re worried about don’t like throwing products away will a local night shelter or homeless charity take them? We donate our through a charity a colleague is involved in.

Little bit younger than you, but very "care lite".

Every morning: shower (soap on pits, facial cleaner on face) deodorant, brush hair, clean teeth. Most mornings some moisturizer with spf.
Twice a week: shampoo and conditioner - tho it sounds like your hair needs more.
I have to switch brands after each bottle of deodorant. If I stick with just one, I get pongy. Switching between 2 seems to keep things under control.

Every night: quick splash of warm water over face to remove the moisturizer and daily grime. Teeth.

Wishing you well.

Hi OP. Let me give you a simple framework. Daily basics: shower with a gentle, unscented body wash (since you're reacting to products), and focus on underarms, groin, and feet, which are the key odour areas. Apply unscented deodorant right after drying off. Brush your teeth twice daily ideally after meals, so the routine becomes automatic. Hair: if every-other-day washing is working for you and your scalp isn't irritated, keep that schedule. Since you're reacting to products, strip back to the most basic, fragrance-free shampoo and conditioner you can find, and only condition the ends. Use dry shampoo on non-wash days if your hair gets greasy (but skip it if your scalp is sensitive). Hope this helps!

I like a simple face wash - use cerave in the shower. Then just moisturiser and spf. I used Aveeno body wash when I had hives a while back - was simple on the skin. I also find d menopause hormones do affect the way you smell. I use a sanex roll on, but you may need to try and few deodorants out.
I also cleared out a load of unused shampoo and conditioner a while bavk
Put q post on local Facebook, and a lady from a local women's refuge reached out to collect

Bath with magnesium salts. Not soap.
try oats in the bath if any irritated skin.

Bioderma do a gentle oil cleanser that can be used on face and body.
k18 do a fantastic water based dry shampoo that might help cut down the amount you have to wash your hair to give your skin a chance to recover.
moogoo do a very gentle shampoo that might suit your skin too.
we are a house of very sensitive skin with eczema and find these products good.
hope some of it helps

www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/11/antiperspirant-deodorant-night/680710/

"The best time to apply antiperspirant is right before bed. Seriously."

I got v hot and sweaty on commute back last night so got straight into shower. Put bar of dove into one soap saver bag and a dial antibacterial soap in other. Use dove all over and even shaved legs with it then dial under arms, then out, put cream on and some natural deodorant. I still don’t smell this morning.

i had been using Mitchum which used to be ace but seems to have changed and it causes stink. Will shower again this morning and try another deodorant. And sort through bras and chuck some as sure that’s where a lot of the smell is held.

Baby steps but thank you

All of that sounds really positive and yes, definitely chuck some of your old bras and maybe wash to rest and get them on the washing line for extra freshness

Hydration and sleep (easier said than done). Feeling rubbish today after a broken night. Magnesium glycinate helps me a bit. I know it’s not what you asked but makes a huge difference.

Use an actual soap, rather than Dove or shower gel. Use one of those solid 24hour deodorants like Dove or Sure or Mitchum.

The dove is for not stinky bits, I have dial and another soap for actual armpits. And that was the deodorant I was using til it suddenly stopped working but think it’s not just me, the changed the formula. I had to chuck the roll on away after two goes as made everything so sore

Agree with the previous posters who suggested getting on top of a simple, daily hygiene routine so you feel fresh and get your basic ‘self care’ routine embedded before trying anything fancy!

Shower in the morning
Put on deodorant
Wash and moisturise face
Brush teeth (get an electtic toothbrush if you haven’t already)

Shower in the evening
Wash and moisturise face
Brush teeth and floss

Moisturuse body and hands as often as I have time to / remember to!

These are my non-negotiable when I’m feeling low, tired etc

I’m a complete ADHD scatter brain so I literally have a reminder in my diary every day to take meds, brush teeth etc. I told this to my best friends recently and they were incredulous ‘you have to set a reminder to brush your teeth at the age of 48?’. Yes. Yes, I do .

Skin and body care is my me time. My routine is excessive but it’s my self care. I shower twice a day most days. Not a huge long 15 min shower every time! Usually 2/3 mins just enough time to rinse off and wash unless it’s hair wash day.

am I clean my teeth and put on a cleansing balm so it sits on my face as I mask. I get in the shower and have a quick wash. Out the shower and finish washing my face at the sink. Shower cap off and hair oil on (if need it). Then spritz my face with toner, use a hydrating essence. Eye cream. Vit c serum. Moisturiser and then suncream. I apply my skincare in stages so as each product is drying I get dried, apply antiperspirant, apply body lotion or oil, foot cream and get dressed in between each stage. Then I apply some
perfume or body spray. Then if I can be bothered I apply make up.

pm routine very much the same as am. Although I use a retinal or hydrating serum instead of vitamin c and ill
put pjs on instead of clothes.

hair I wash as needed. Every 3 or 4 days and on those instances I do have a longer shower and also use a body scrub as makes sense whilst conditioner is sitting on my hair to do a scrub.

Iv gone super simple.

Get up and brush teeth

Quick shower with shower brush and soap (I prefer Faith in nature lavendar as im allergic to most things)

Wash face with aveeno in shower

Dry. If I can be arsed aveeno or coco butter lotion. Olay or avenno cream on face

Deodorant - I use wild.

Dress - clothes laid out night before, clean every day.

Put hair in a bun or updo.

I only wash hair at weekends as have it up during the week for work. May refresh with some powder puff dry Shampoo.

I find listening to audiobook helps with monotony of getting ready

Personally I think showering twice a day is too much. Well it would be too much for me and if the OP is struggling, suddenly being faced with showering twice a day might be a bit overwhelming.

And like a PP i put reminders in my phone. It’s not that I would forget to shower, it’s just a reminder tgat I need to do it now.

I use an app called Habits and find it really helpful.

Peri made me stinky and I found Sure Maximum 96 hour deodorant works great for me. I stock up whenever it's on offer.